Tuesday Tutorials: Make Your Own Skirt Pattern

image Hello Fellow Fashionistas! I like using patterns, since they keep me more organized, but I prefer making my own instead of buying them. That way, I can tailor them to fit me properly and I can get the perfect style that I’m looking for. Patterns aren’t things I use that often, since I’m more of a half-hazard sewer, but they’re useful when I do use them. Today I’m going to show you how to make your own skirt pattern from scratch, and next week we’ll cover making a shirt pattern. image   You need:

  • A Sharpie
  • Tracing Paper or Newspaper
  • Scissors
  • An old skirt
  • A measuring tape (optional)

image   There are two ways of doing this. One way is to measure your waist, cut that in half, trace it on the paper, measure your waist down to where you want the skirt to fall…it’s harder. The way shown in the picture is easier. All you do is fold your skirt in half, lay it on the newspaper, and trace with 1 inch seam allowance. Or, if you want a long skirt, use a longer piece of newspaper and trace it longer. image   Next you just cut, and voilà! The pattern can be used over and over again, and it took under two minutes to make! When you go to make the skirt, just fold your fabric in half, line your pattern on the fold, cut, then fold your fabric in half again and cut on the fold. Of couse, there are also the details of hemming and adding elastic, but we’ll save that for a different day. See you next Tuesday!

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Guest Post From Sewloveable!

Hello Fellow Fashionistas! Today I’m excited to welcome Sewloveable from http://www.sewloveable.wordpress.com to do a guest post. Once again, a big thank you to her, and be sure to check out her fabulous blog!

Hello everyone,

Welcome to Thread It Thursday!!!!

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Today, I have the great pleasure of doing a guest post here on Freckled Fashionista.

For this post I decided to review/display Simplicity Pattern 1428 View D.

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For the skirt I decided to use a Navy Blue Organza. Since, I was using a sheer fabric I needed a lining. I decided on a coordinating Silk.

The pattern was pretty easy to follow. I did struggle a bit with the curved hem + doing it on the organza made it a bit trickier. But I was up for the challenge.

Let’s talk about adjustments. The only adjustments I made were to the lining fabric. I used the back pattern piece and cut it 3.5″ shorter and straight across instead of the curved hem. My goal here was to have the skirt lining end right where the side split begins. For the waist band casing I used the silk fabric since it would feel more comfortable against the skin.

All in all working with these two slippery fabrics took more time but it all paid off in the end. I got the skirt I envisioned.

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I will definitely make this skirt again in a different fabric choice. I found the pattern to be pretty easy to follow along with. One thing I really loved is that there were not a lot of pattern pieces to cut out. Which made for an enjoyable sewing experience.

A big “Thank You” to Abigail for this fantastic opportunity!!! If you’re looking for inspiration for your sewing space, please check out Abigail’s sewing room tour here.  There’s nothing like great inspiration to get you in the sewing mood!!

Thank you so much for stopping by, it’s truly appreciated.

Happy Sewing & Until Next Time,

Freckled Fashionista & Sewloveable ☺

Doesn’t the skirt look AMAZING? Be sure to let Sewloveable know what you think about it in the comments.

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Sewing Machine Problems!!

Hello Fellow Fashionistas!

I noticed my machine wasn’t sewing as nicely a couple days ago, so I changed the stich length and tension, and the stiches still were super bad and the thread kept getting tangled, so I sat down today and took it apart, and look what I found:

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DUST. It was clogged up with dust! I opened it up last in February, it and was clean, but I’ve sewed considerably more since then. I took 15 minutes cleaning out all the loose thread and dust. My manual didn’t say anything about oiling it, except for saying not to oil the bobbin case. I’ll have to look into that more.

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Once I was done, I put back all the screws, the presser foot, and the other things I needed to take off, I threaded the machine and bobbin, and what happens when I sew? The thread gets tangled. I cleaned out the thread, and then what happpens? The stiches are tight and aren’t sewing properly. Note that the tension is fine, the stich length is at the largest setting…and it won’t sew.

I give up! I love my Brother machine, but I think it’s time for me to take a break for a week or so.

Tell me in the comments about your most frustrating sewing problems!

 

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My Sewing Room

Hello Freckled Fashionistas! I’m sitting on my back porch right now in a sundress soaking in the nice breeze and fresh air.

My sewing room used to be in my bedroom until my mother suprised me with a separate space for me to sew. Today I’m going to give you a tour.

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First are my framed vintage sewing patterns over my vintage table and machine and sewing box. (I just  realized after taking the pictures that one of them is crooked.)

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I had 2 yards of this beautiful fabric and I ended up using it to make a couple throw pillows and pillowcases. It may not have been the best thing I could do with it, but I’m pleased with the outcome.

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You might recognize this dress from last year.

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This basket is just for extra fabric and bits and bobs.

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This fabric shelf is pretty much just filled with children prints (I’m working on a child collection, but more on that later), because I keep my clothing fabric in a seperate container in my room.

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Sneak peak on a vest I’m working on!

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How’s your sewing room (if you have one)? Let me know in the comments! Happy Sewing!

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Design Of The Day

Hello Fellow Fashionistas! Last night I managed to get in a design before I fell asleep.

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The main look in the three outfits is the interesting pattern made by triangles and squares mixed together. I chose not to color it in, because I’m not really sure what colors would go with it.

What do you think? Give me some feedback in the comments.

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What’s In My Bag

Hello Fellow Fashionistas!

I’ve seen many bloggers do a What’s In My Bag post, so I thought I would do something similar to it. But when I ran to grab my purse and take pictures of what was inside it, I felt pathetic.

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Because there’s pretty much nothing. Just my wallet and a Target gift card. The rest of my clutches and purses don’t even have anything,  which shows what a neat freak I am. Once a gum wrapper or paper finds its way into my purse, I make sure it gets back out. So I guess I’ll change this post to What’s In My Caboodle.

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The caboodle was not set up for failure. It’s packed with mismatching bow earrings, a headband or two, TONS of hair ties, nail polish, and some little lipglosses that came in a set. I have more makeup and hair type stuff in a different container.

What’s in your bag or makeup box? Email me a picture at freckledfashionista.wordpress@gmail.com and I’ll post it on the blog.

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