How to make a scrappy gathered skirt

Today I made this sweet little skirt for Isabella.  It is a very simple project - one for beginner sewers.  It takes a bit of time to put together but there are no complicated techniques.

It is gathered at the waist with one row of elastic.  The skirt is lined - with the lining peaking out below the hemline.  The hem is edged with two rows of ric rac.

You will need...

1.  Scraps of fabric for outer layer - you will need them to be the skirt length you like plus 5cm.  You will need enough to allow for a skirt that is about three times your child's waist circumference in width.

2.  Lining-  I lined my skirt.  Again you will need the desired length of your skirt (I added an extra 2cm than my outer layer as I wanted my lining to peak out the bottom).  You will need the same skirt width as your outer layer - approx. 3 x waist... but cut your lining after your outer layer is assembled.  For example, Isabella's waist measurement was 57cm, so I used 180cm in length of lining.  You don't need to buy 180cm of lining though.  Fabric is usually 115 - 150 cm in width.  With a seam, you could achieve the required amount for Isabella from twice the skirt length (ie. 45 x2), so you would need 90cm off the roll of fabric.

3.  Some 2.5 mm width elastic (You will need 10cm less than your child's waist circumference).

4.  Ric rac - 3 x waist measurement again.

5.  Pins and safety pin.

How to make...

1.  Measure your child's waist.  Isabella's was 57cm.
2.  Measure the skirt length you would like: measure from waist to finished hemline - add 5 cm (this includes 4 cm for waist and 1 cm for hem).  I wanted Isabella's skirt to be 40 cm long so I cut 45 cm strips of fabric.
3.  Cut several pieces of fabric at differing widths at 45 cm in length.  Iron your pieces before sewing.

My cut pieces looked like this...I paid little attention to matching colours/patterns.

Start sewing your pieces together down the long edges (with right sides together).  Neaten each seam.

 

Repeat this process until you have a strip of pieced fabrics that will look something like this.  My length of fabric now is 180cm (So a little more than three times Isabella's waist circumference).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ta da!  Hope you like it!

 

Linking up with Sew Country Chick.

Debbie's Birthday Dress - View 2

In the spirit of Vintage May (a vintage sewing series hosted by Jess from Craftiness is not Optional and Kristin from Skirt as Top), and following my first version of  Debbie's Birthday Dress, here is view 2 of the dress.  It features the same A-line shape and but differs in that it has a centre front seam, peter pan collar and optional pocket.  After sewing this dress up in size 5, I have decided to lengthen the hemline just a little.

The fabric was given to me from the friend of a friend and is a light wool blend.  The pocket is made from a vintage doily.

The bodice is lined with a sweet spotted cotton - Garden Pindot by Michael Miller from Sew, Mama, Sew!  (Their shop is closing down and they are selling lots of their fabrics at discount).

This view of the dress is inspired by another dress Debbie wears preparing for her party...

I remember loving this illustration as a child - all that delicious food!

 

 

 

Stefan is coming home from work wondering if he has stepped back in time! The Wiggles bandaids on the knees give it away!

 

I have one more view to show you of the dress and then it is time to get busy with drawing and digitalising!! Exciting.

 

For more vintage inspiration, have a look at the Vintage May flickr pool.

 

Also joining in with Show and Tell for the first time.

Debbie's Birthday Dress!

Here is my latest creation - a vintage dress that was inspired by my favourite children's book, Debbie's Birthday Party, by Gilbert Delahaye and illustrated by my favourite illustrator of all time, Marcel Marlier.  Delahaye was Belgian, as was Marlier.  Marlier started his career by winning a drawing competition at the age of sixteen.  He illustrated hundreds of books that have been translated into many languages.  Marlier illustrated well into his senior years and died two years ago aged 80 years.

 

I have decided that instead of developing the Mini Pinnie as my first digital pattern, that I will instead develop Debbie's Birthday Dress.  I am so excited about this design - I can't wait to get it out there!  The Mini Pinnie will have to wait!

It is a simple design that I am hoping will appeal to all sewers as a quick and gorgeous dress to sew up with a few design variations (the second is currently on the ironing board!).  The hemline is short but that is what gives it the sweet vintage appeal.  The bonus of this dress will be that as Juliette grows taller, she can wear it as a top with pants.  The dress took only an hour to sew once all cut and prepped.  I love a quick project! So satisfying.

 

The dress is made from a light weight wool - leftovers from Isabella's winter coat.  It is faced (lined) with an Aunt Grace print.  The bodice is embellished with a sweet crocheted lace I found at Spotlight.

 

The back has a simple button and loop closure - so no scary zips or buttonholes!!

 

 

Aren't these the most beautiful illustrations you have ever seen? So innocent and sweet.

 

 

 

 

Juliette really lapped it up reading in bed, saying, "Mummy, I'm not finished the book.  Come and take more photos!"

 

 

Did you love this book too?  Turns out my friend An is also a huge Marcel Marlier fan - makes sense, since she is Belgian!  Keep an eye on her blog over the next few weeks for her new pattern release. 

 

For more Marlier beauty, have a look at my Marcel Marlier board on Pinterest.

 

Stay tuned for the next variation of Debbie's Birthday Dress!

Juliette's birthday dress

 

Today Juliette turned three years old.  This is her birthday dress.  I had lots of fun drafting my first (hand drawn) pattern - The Perennial Dress, but wanted to challenge myself and attempt a digital pattern.  The 'mini pinnie' is my new design.  I am going to make a variation on the dress also with a tunic option with larger piped bib pocket (more creations to follow in the coming weeks!)

 

 

It features piped shoulder detail with a faux strap with button.

 

The back has an invisible zipper...I finally fit one successfully - notice it is...invisible!  I bought a new invisible zipper foot which properly rolled out the zip so that it was concealed fully. 

 

The pocket tops are also piped (I made the piping with piping cord and homemade bias binding).

It was pretty cool this morning when I took these shots, so Juliette is smiling through clenched teeth!

I wanted a 1970's feel and so chose this Hokkoh Japanese retro print I found at my local Spotlight.

 

With tights and a cardi, the dress will be great for cooler days too.

 

Happy Birthday my big grown up girl!!

Joining up at Our Creative Spaces today.

 

Kid's Clothes Week - Days Six & Seven

 

The last garment I made for Kid's Clothes Week is a dress I made for my niece Lucy's 7th birthday.  I used my (free) Perennial Dress pattern.  The dress is made from a soft grey pinwale corduroy.  The contrast fabric is Far Far Away (III) by Heather Ross.  You can find it here.  The sleeves and pockets are edged with miniature pom-pom trim.

Lucy is a slight little girl and is pretty much the same size as Isabella.  Isabella gave Lucy her present yesterday and she loved it! 

You can see other versions of my Perennial dress here.

By the way, thanks to my friend Ros from Sew Delicious, Belle and Boo contacted me asking if they could feature Emily's jacket on their website to show off their gorgeous fabric.  Yay! Thanks Ros!!

I've had lots of fun sewing this week and have some more sewing ideas swimming around in my head for the next couple of weeks!

Project details:
Pattern - The Perennial Dress by me!
Materials -  Soft grey cord and Heather Ross Far Far Away (III)
Cost - approximately $12
Time taken - 1.5 hours

Kid's Clothes Week - Days Four & Five

Here is my next piece for Kid's Clothes Week.  I have had my eye on this pattern since I pinned it a couple of months ago.  I was browsing through the collection of Burda pattern magazines at my local library, when, to my delight, I found the dress pattern.  You can buy it from Burda online here.

 

I made this dress for Issie in the 110cm size (she is about 105cm).  I'm glad I didn't go smaller as it is quite a short little dress.  The fabric is a Japanese jersey I bought at Spotlight.  I used my stretch needle and had no problem with loopy, skipped stitches. I actually didn't bother over-locking, since jersey does not fray.

I love this dress for many reasons.  It was relatively easy to make, will be very comfy to wear, can be worn with tights and a long sleeved tops or as a lighter summery dress, and last, but not least...it does not need ironing!! Gotta love that.

 

I will definitely be making this dress again.

Project details:
Pattern - Flouncy Dress by Burda
Materials - Japanese jersey
Cost - $15
Time taken - 1.5 hours