Posts Tagged ‘fabric’

As promised, I thought I’d share a few pictures of different stages of making the pettiskirt…Although this is in no way an actual tutorial but purely meant to give you a rough idea of what it takes to make one of these lovelies. Pictures were taken from 3 different pettiskirt projects so the material colours vary. I will be sharing a few links of different tuturials -fruit of my different searches- in my next post, so that you can save time if you decide to jump in!

So you’ll need two kinds of  fabrics: Nylon chiffon for the tiers and fluff and a matching satiny fabric for the waist band. Usually a few yards are needed for the chiffon : which is perfect as it’s a no-fray fabric therefore, no need to hem yards and yards of fabric! (to work out how much you need, refer to different tutorials down below).

A mat, ruler and rotary cutter are also a godsend, I couldn’t imagine cutting through all that with scissors!

There’s an awful lot to cut and so much to handle, I recommend folding your fabric on the length (here 4 yards) rather than on the width, that way you have less cutting to do. The best way to start with an even edge is to check that all the folded layers are flat. Then trim the edge. That way, you’ve got a neat cut edge to start cutting 2inch (for ruffles) and 5inch (tiers) bands ….

Ruffling right in the middle of the 2inch chiffon to create the ‘bottom fluff’ …Also you’ll have to ruffle one edge of the 5inch tiers…This way you have everything ready at hand to get started once your satin waist band is ready. then attach the tiers to the 2 layered waist band, which should look something like this

As you can see, theres two chiffon layers, and each layer has 2 tiers. So here’s how you attach the ruffles to the tiers…

The amount of fabric to handle can bit a bit overwhelming, but you’ve got to make sure it’s all out of the way!

And that SeaFoam skirt is just toddler size!!

my very first pettiskirt done! loads have improve since though

Don’t you just love the volume?! If you wonder what happened to the orange and fushia fabric from the top pictures, I’m actually working on it…Making two infant size pettiskirts for twin baby girls… Hopefully should be done by tomorrow. Hope to post pictures at the week end as one of them is already completed. When I showed it to my husband the first thing he said was like ‘sooo cute’

Will keep you posted on photo updates and tut links!

This week I’ve enrolled into my first ever dress making class: 2 hours for 6 weeks, learning how to make your very own garment.

So there I am, checking www.sewingdirect.co.uk out for dress patterns. My thinking behind it was that the most complex pattern -as far as beginners go- I’ll go for, the most I’ll learn…and I’ll have help at hand anyway…hum…Here’s what I had in mind;

Day dress by Donna Karan Vogue 1220

I think it looks stunning. I like it. But then our Tutor said something about how disheartened you could get if you were to take on a project that was too much. That really taking on  and finishing a simple project would actually boost our confidence.

It got me thinking – this woman knows what she’s talking about, let’s not play it too hard. I was a bit ambitious.  Let’s not run before we can walk. Especially because adding to the level difficulty of the dress, I’ve got to remember that whatever pattern I’ll take on, I’ll have to lengthen here and there (I’m over 6ft tall)…

So taking it all in and thinking that I’ll always be able to do V 1220 when I get more experienced, I’ve finally settled for…

Very Easy Vogue (I didn’t make it up, that’s what it’s called) 8683

I thought it would be quite versatile, with or without leaves. In extra I was thinking of an Obi belt either to make or buy. I spotted a gorgeous one here from www.voknits.etsy.com

Next, when I receive my pattern (I do HOPE I’ll get it before my class wednesday :O ) I’ve got to pick the fabric…

What kind of material would you see?

Soul Blossoms is the new range of fabric by Amy Butler and apparently won the first prize at the american quilt market this year. lovely patterns as always!

We had a fabulous time on saturday with the girls at the RDS in Dublin. It was the stitch and knit show, but there was much more than just yarn and fabrics…There was paper crafts and cross stitch and designers showing their textile work and quilts and workshops and sewing machine demonstrations….If that’s what you are into, it was great! I loved being able to actually see what I was buying as opposed to always buy supplies on the internet and then you have to wait for the items to be shipped and then anxious wait for the postman’s ring of the bell. Plus for once, didn’t have to use the credit card: It’s got to be a good thing right?!

So here’s a few pics of my finds…mostly fabrics…;)

The shop Pippablue from Galway had a great range of Amy Butler fabrics, and I especially was attracted to the laminated cottons. I was a bit cheeky there because there was 3and different rolls and the minimum to buy was 1/2 yard. But because there was another woman interested in them, we managed to get them to give the 2of us a fat quarter of each roll. That bundle of polka dot fabrics by Amy Butler is a fave too!

They had a few japanese fabric imports, but most of them were gone. I still picked one though and hope to use it in a pouch or a purse.

Scissors! I loved the print and got the lady to swap a scissor fabric for another one in that cute square little bundle. (I know, cheeky me…)

Great Alice in Wonderland fabric, here’s a few bits of it. And there again, I didn’t want a whole meter so I kinda got a little less….;)

And a few bits and bobs, mainly jewellery findings and stuff. Also got to make a cute hairbow for free that I wore straight away. so cute!

Where my family in law lives in Surrey, there’s 2 gorgeous shops where I know I’ve got to stop each time I visit: the Quilt Room for patchwork and quilting supplies and oh so lovely fabrics wherever you look….

and the felt making shop called:

Where you can get the loveliest wool, yarn,felt kits, buttons,bag and thread supplies. One of these shops you wish you could spend hours in.

 Here’s a little fabric box prototype I’ve been really wanting to make. It looks a bit rough because I had never used my machine to zigzag edges that way. So it’s been a wee learning curve and getting to know my machine a bit better.

It’s double sided as you can see and quilted too. But then again this is a sample so will look much better next time.

Really handy to take with you when travelling and bring back some bling Great keepsake little box that has a lot of potential…holding all sorts of girlie things. I really enjoyed making it and I already know what to improve to get that cute little box to the next level. So watch this space!

Hostesses: Natalie from HUNGRY HIPPIE BLOG and Shelley from HONEYLAMB & I

This is the new swap I’ve joined, what am I getting myself into, I’ve never made a wrist cuff before!! But then neither did I alter a box before right?!

And you never know if it works for me, couldn’t I widen out my jewellery creations with wrist cuffs? Let’s see what I can come up with first shall we LoL.

My bead Partner is Angela fromwww.mousehousetales.blogspot.com . Pop over, she’s got the most exquisite items and lives just around the corner in the UK.

I’m really looking forward to creating this cuff, and already getting inspiration and ideas. Obviously, it’s not just a simple wrist cuff, there must be a victorian twist to it…Can’t wait to get started. As soon as my ATCs and little gifts  are finished, I get down to business ^_^