New Modern Skirt Designed by Rebekah...plus videos!

 

Rebekah and I had a special and unusually girly weekend not two weeks ago! We spent the weekend square dancing in Galveston as you probably know by now.

 

Last time, I showed you pictures and a demo of the teenagers in the zebra striped lime green ruffled dresses but I mentioned that Rebekah had designed her own 'modern' style square dance dress. Here it is!

The owner of a square dance dressmaking company is discussing her construction of the pleated circle skirt. It's not an easy thing to make!

He also gave her some information about a possible internship with a fashion design place in Houston. She loves to design skirts in particular and we thought this might be an interesting thing to look into.

 Here's a video of a line dance with Rebekah in her new skirt. I thought it looked lovely! Who would have ever thought a circle skirt could look so modern?

   I designed this trumpet skirt myself. I've found that I had a little trouble with it hanging right and staying snug around my waist. But I think it turned out pretty good anyway.

And of course I made this skirt up as well.. I had trouble with it too. The fabric was too light and I really need to add a ruffle to the bottom to give it some weight.  Personally, I think a circle skirt needs a waistband unless you have a good belt. I just bought one for this dress. It's especially designed for square dance skirts.

Have you ever tried to design your own skirt? Did you have any trouble with it?

Tutorial! How to Make a Circle Skirt with No Pattern and No Side Seams!

30 Minute Square Dance or Poodle Skirt  

 I had a great time making a square dance out of this sheet.  Did I tell you it was a sheet from the thrift store?  Well it was...but the fabric was so cute that I couldn't pass it up. I shared this at Gina's The Shabby Chic Cottage for her anniversary Show and Tell called Transformation Thursday. So many great ideas!

Here's how to make a circle skirt in 30 minutes without a pattern.  First, we need to do some quick math.  Formula for Width and Length of Square:  2 x Length of Skirt  plus at least 1/4 of your waist measurement.  You can always cut it a little bigger. 

Now fold the huge square in half and then in half again like a paper napkin. That gives you four layers. You now have a smaller square which when measured at the diagonal (longest point) is the length of your skirt plus the 1/4 of your waist.

 Fold it one more time so that it's a big triangle.  (You will have eight layers now.)

Now for some more math! Measure your waist and divide it by 8. Add a 1/2 an inch to that measurement.

For me that was 5 1/2". I laid my tape where I could reach both sides below the top point of the triangle and it was exactly 5 1/2 inches.  Draw a line with a marking pencil there. Cut off the point of the folded square at this spot to make the circle for your waist plus some extra which will be gathered by elastic.

Now measure from the cut waist edge all the way down the first side using the length of your skirt (plus hem of course ) For me that would be 18 plus about 2"  or about 21". (In the photo I had not cut the point off so I had to mark it lower.)   Mark that spot with a pin or chalk pencil.

Move over to the center and mark the skirt length again....and then a couple of more times all the way to the other side of the skirt triangle.

Next, draw a slightly curving line which matches all the spots you marked into one smooth cutting line.

Cut through all the layers on this barely curved line which is your skirt edge (hem line).

Now you can unfold it and Voila! You have a perfect circle skirt!! The picture above is the skirt still folded in half because I couldn't unfold it all the way and still get it in the picture or on the table.

Now fold under about a 1/2 an inch at the waist and sew about 3/8 inch from the edge to make a casing for the elastic.  Measure the elastic around your waist and maybe just a bit snugger (whatever is comfortable). Cut the elastic and thread it through your casing with a bodkin threader. Stitch the elastic edges together several times. 

Then hem the bottom with a narrow rolled hem. If you want to add lace or homemade ruffle that would be a great way to embellish this. Or if you are doing a poodle skirt, buy a poodle applique at Wal-mart and some rick rack for a leash to use for embellishment.

Here's the pattern for the blouse...it's so quick to sew once you figure out the ingenious way they have you sew the sleeves so that you don't have to inset the them.

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Caroline of Church Sexy had some very good questions and I'm answering them here...

Caroline, I don't mind answering your questions. In fact, I've got eight little posts done (this one was NOT little) and now I'm free to comment and answer Q's.. more free time! The house looks great!

Waistband: Yes it is elastic, but the way I cut out  the skirt results in a very small opening at the waist--just enough so you can pull it over your head--so no bulk at the waist.

Tie on Sash : I made the sash from the top edge of the sheet. I just zig-zagged the raw edge. It was barely visible. Then I tied it on top. 

Petticoat: No, I actually purchased the petticoat. But I do have a whole bolt of chenille to make my own. Just no time! Yipes!  I will be doing that and it will make a great post. The fact is I know someone has done a tute on that online but I can't remember where.  A ruffler foot, which I have, would be very helpful on a project like this.

I posted this on Wardrobe Refashion and I do actually mention about the sash since I forgot to do so on the post.

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Mickey..at The Works of Our Hands, who DESIGNS costumes all the time for plays suggested we use a just trace our own applique for a poodle skirt..and I agree! So I added this.

For a Poodle to applique on your skirt - Here is a clip art you could blow up, trace on wonder-under ironed to white fabric, and could make your own poodle applique.
Here's a photo of a poodle skirt to give you an idea of what yours could look like...

Tutorial!!! How to Make a Purse from Old Blue Jeans

I've always wanted to make a purse from a pair of old blue jeans, but hadn't had the time to try it out until last night. This is so easy!  The only thing that isn't finished yet is the twisty handles, but I had to share it with you while I had the time to post. First you draw a line about and inch and a half down from the inseam across both legs.

Then cut the legs off with pinking shears to keep the raw edges from unraveling too much.

Turn pants wrong side out and then pin along a 5/8" seam line. Stitch TWICE for extra strength.

Flatten out the bottom of the 'purse' by pulling the fabric from either side of the seam line out. You will end up with points on the side seams and the inseams.


Pin these flat and stitch 1 1/2 to 2 inches across. Stitch again. This gives you a 'base' for your purse. Trim the points off or fold to the centers of each leg hole to make a stronger base for the purse and tack in place.

You need to do this for both leg holes. When you open out the seams and pull the corners flat, the seam line used to close the leg holes should be at the same level as the crotch. They should match.



Now turn the purse right side out. Great job!!  Now the hard part is done!  On to the fun stuff!

My next step was to pin some really nice leftover cotton lace to the bottom to make it look more like a skirt than shorts. I stitched it on by hand. But if you thought about it in time, I guess you could do that with the machine before sewing the leg holes closed. But I didn't think about the trim until afterwards..Ha!

 
I had some ribbon on hand which I laced through the belt holes, but you could even use a small real belt or cotton rope. Whatever you think would make it cute, would be great!  Also, I sewed some really nice buttons on the front. I was going to put button holes in, but I was afraid it would be too much trouble to use when opening and closing the purse, so I used velcro circles inside the jeans instead. The buttons are just for looks. 


The last thing would be the handles. I had not finished those when I took the pix, but I just cut three long strips from the leftover pants legs, folded them in half lengthwise like bias tape and stitched them closed for straps.

I braided the three strips to make one pretty handle, but I haven't posted a picture of that yet. You could also purchase purse straps to finish this, but that would defeat the purpose of 're-fashioning' just a little.
Enjoy!
Donna @ Comin' Home

Wardrobe Refashion

The Pledge

I ___Donna Rodgers____ pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed_____Donna_____________

Can I tell you why I'm taking this pledge? Here are the reasons...let me count the ways..

1. Because it makes so much sense and it's the great American tradition.
2. Because I want to be a good steward of all that God gives me.
3. Because I love the challenge of making something new from something old!
4. Because I'm a crazy frugal addict who finds so much joy in making something out of nothing or very little.

I just love this website!  I didn't know that I wasn't the only one who loves to do this. I've been doing it all of my life just as my mother and my daughter have. Amongst my favorite projects over the years I have made a nightgown from a sheet using the old one as the pattern, tote bags from a pair of thrift store pants decorated with yo-yo's made from scraps, aprons out of skirts, new candles out of old , square dance skirts out of old curtains.

I've also made a table out of a front door, jelly from peaches off our own tree, quilts from scraps, and homemade journal covers out of leftovers from previously made clothes.Is there such a thing as a scrap that can't be used? Ninety percent of my clothes and my children's clothes come from thrift stores or were made myself.  Our whole family is so crazy about living well on shoe string, that we will soon be profiled in Jeff Yeager's new book, "The Ultimate Cheapskate....Next Door".   I'm proud to sign up for a website that promotes my favorite hobby...using the old to make the new.

If you are crazy like me...let me know! And be sure to check out this awesome website with great ideas at www.wardroberefashion.net.

Copying Store Bought Clothes

Do you have a favorite blouse, dress, or nightgown that you wish you could have a duplicate of without ripping it apart?  Well, so did I!  

  

In fact, I had several items of clothing that I wished I had two or three of. But I didn't know how to accurately make a pattern from a store-bought piece of clothing.  

 

Then a friend asked me if I would be willing to make a pattern from a very unusual and expensive version of a modest bathing suit for her daughter.  She didn't want to have to buy another one. We are talking about an $85.00 bathing suit! 

As usual, through trial and error and a hint from a college sewing textbook, I figured out how to do it and got paid a lovely $40.00 for making a pattern off of that suit and her favorite nightgown!  Not only that, I learned a valuable new skill!

As a result, I spent a month this summer sewing blouse after blouse, skirt after skirt, and even copying my very favorite worn out nightgown. 

Here is how you do it...

Step 1:  Lay out the clothing item on a piece of butcher paper which is laid over a cardboard cutting board.

Flatten out the piece you want and pin it all the way through the clothing item, the freezer paper, and into the cutting board.

Step 2: Remove the pins and clothing item.

Step 3: Observe and mark all the dots left by the pin holes.

Step 4: Connect the dots! These are your seam lines.

Step 5: Measure and draw new lines  5/8" away from the seam lines you just drew. These are your cutting lines.

Step 6. Cut out the pattern piece.

Step 7. Label the piece marking the grain line you want, how many you should cut out, and any other reminders you need. (Mark fold lines.)

Step 8: Keep laying out the piece of clothing in whatever position is necessary to get at the pattern piece you need.

Step 9: Write some instructions to your self of how to put it together. (I know...sometimes easier said than done!)

Step 10: Lay out all the pieces on some cloth from your stash that is still folded in the original 22" wide when folded manner.  Try to come up with the best possible use of the fabric while keeping the grain lines straight.

Step 11: Take a picture..and print it. This is your layout.

Step 12: Measure how much yardage it takes to lay out all of the pieces.  This is your yardage.

Step 13: Put all the pieces in a 5 x 8 manilla envelope and tape a picture of the item to the front of the envelope.   Now you have a pattern of your favorite clothing item and can use it as much as you like!