So here's how mine turned out:
Looks pretty good, huh? I can dress it up like this to wear to work, or I can dress it down with a t-shirt and my Sperries. And guess what? The fabric was 60% off at JoAnn's, so the skirt cost me a total of $4 to make. That's what I call dressing on a budget!
I also made a toddler sized version for my niece. It's in a jersey knit (also purchased on sale) with colorful giraffes on it. It didn't turn out quite as well due to my inexperience with knits. The fabric seemed to gather and quit moving through the machine if I didn't stretch it, but got wavy if I did. (I guess it's about stretching the right amount?)
The waviness of the skirt hides the waviness in the fabric pretty well, though, so it still looks alright. Although, I think I made the skirt waaay too long for a two year old. I might have to go back and re-hem it.
On to the tutorial review:
As always, Dana's tutorial was EXTREMELY simple to follow. (If you haven't already, you should really check out her blog! Lots of great, easy-to-follow tutorials.) The tutorial walks you through making your own pattern in this tutorial which is always a daunting thing for new sewers. But Dana's incredibly clear directions break down the geometry so it's as easy as pie.
She even tells you which fabrics will work best with the tutorial. I didn't happen to follow that advice because I got such a good deal on the fabric I used and I didn't want to waste the good polka dot satin fabric I picked out until I tested my pattern on something cheaper. The fabric does bunch around the hips like the tutorial said it would, but it's not too noticeable. (Be looking for the satin polka dot circle skirt when I review the elastic dyeing tutorial from MADE.)
The tutorial didn't take too long start to finish and was a good afternoon project. I would recommend this tutorial for even the newest sewers, so try it out today!
If you experience problems with stitching, try adjusting the tension on your machine. Lower the tension for stretchy fabrics, such as knits. It will cause the thread to sit looser in the fabric, which will allow the thread to move more easily with the fabric when it is being stretched, and to sit better when worn. The stitching should look a little puffy when you run it through the machine.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'd read something about adjusting tension when working with knits before, but didn't remember. Thanks for the advice. :)
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