"Self drafted" skirt

Summer's coming, I know it and when it does this skirt will be great with a tank or at the beach with a bikini top.  Here's how I did it:

My fabric is 60" wide so I cut 60" (1.5m).  I trimmed off the selvages.

I folded it twice and placed the corner with the folded edges closest to me. I used my tape measure and measured a waist measurement. (7x4 layers = 28") Cut off and divide into quarters, mark with pins or a marker.  This really stretches so if you have a tiny waist I'd make that measurement smaller by about 20%.

I cut a waist band 4 inches wide by 28" long.  Seam the short ends right sides together and fold wrong sides together.  Mark the quarters with a pin and match the pins to the main body of the skirt.  You want to place the seam of the waistband to the back of the skirt and for me I wanted the points of the skirt to be front, back and sides.  You could place it differently but I think this is the most flattering for everyone.

Here you see the waist band and waist of the skirt pinned together.  I sewed this on a serger and the big thing to remember is that sergers don't sew over pins so you must pull them out before you damage your machine!

I sewed an elastic into the seam as I sewed the waist band on and I'm glad I did as this knit is weightier than I thought.  I roll hemmed the hem of the skirt and there you have it, an easy summer skirt, it will pack easily for a cruise, too!

If you were adventurous you could wear this above the bust, just another option!

I've Been Sewing Too!

Pattern Description:


Top with gathered bust section.

Pattern Sizing:

34-44 (I graded it up to a 46 and did a FBA)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes, it does look like the pic.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

I looked at the instructions and made a couple of changes because of using the serger and coverstitch so that everything flowed more logically.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

This was an easy top to make and I like the flattering neckline, however it was a little too revealing for me. I obviously didn't read the whole discription, "A cowgirl can also show off her figure in such a bright ring-striped top with gathered bust section to attract a suitable cowboy!" As I previously mentioned I did a full bust alteration so I don't want to show off! I think with a little more alteration I can bring in the neckline so that my brastraps won't show.



Fabric Used:

A lovely light-as-air knit from "Sew Have Fun". Should have used a narrow coverstitch as the hem puckered just a little.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

Graded up to a 46 and did a full bust alteration to the bust portion. You can see how I do a FBA http://sewhavefun.blogspot.com/2010/01/does-it-take-2-weeks-to-make-5.html

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I think once I make the changes I will sew it again.

Conclusion:

This will make a great little summer top for when the hot weather really arrives.

At last, my long absence explained

Hi friends, I'm sure some of you thought I fell off the planet, but I'm back!  I've been here all along, reading your posts and blogs and gathering as much info as I could on building your own business from scratch!  And so now here I am, Sew Have Fun has grown into the real deal, storefront and all.  It's been quite a journey, one I'm not sure I would want to repeat, but some of it, yes, and of course hind sight is 20/20 so are there things I might change. 
So here we are, I'm in my store, waiting for customers who love sewing as much as I do!  A few have been trickling in, I'm waiting for the flood!  Just like Noah, but I hope I don't have to wait 100 years.
Here is a great list I'd like to share.
Everything I need to know I learned from Noah

Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.






Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.





Don't listen to critics. Do what has to be done.





Build on the high ground.





For safety's sake, travel in pairs.





Two heads are better than one.





Speed isn't always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were the snails.





If you can't fight or flee--float.





Take care of your animals as if they were the last ones on earth.





Don't forget that we're all in the same boat.





When the doo-doo gets really deep, don't sit there and complain--shovel!





Stay below deck during the storm.





Remember that the ark was built by amateurs & the Titanic was built by professionals.





If you have to start over, have a friend by your side.





Remember that the woodpeckers INSIDE are often a bigger threat than the storm outside.





No matter how bleak it looks, there's always a rainbow on the other side.





DON'T MISS THE BOAT !!!!