easy comfy skirt
There have been better photos on this blog. I could have used an iron and that is baby food there on the wall and floor. But let's not focus on that, or the outlet behind my right leg. Let's look at this skirt I made from this fabric I have had for about 6 months. I finally decided to cut it, and felt a bit selfish I didn't use it for the girls, but I need this to be in my life, not cast aside when the girls grow bigger or doesn't fit into the week's dress-up rotation.
The girls have requested I wear tights and skirts more—so they were quite pleased with this. It has an elastic waist instead of a back zipper. To do this, I take my favorite skirt pattern and instead of the zipper, I make an elastic waist. The trick is to not stitch up the darts at all and to add a little extra wiggle room. Then I stitch a casing, use a length of elastic that fits my waist and thread it through. I have to really tug it over my hiney, cause it's fitted, so when it's on, the elastic pulls taught—it doesn't even look like an elastic waist, you know what I mean? It's even more forgiving if you use a stretch cotton or denim. Super easy.
The pocket and the hem are trimmed with yellow bias tape, and I did this all by machine. I am thinking about showing this no-swearing way to get the binding on. . . I want to shoot a short video tutorial of it with my flip! So, now that I have written this, it's supposed to motivate me to do it.
cute!
I find great comfort in not being the only one who wants to see the binding tape tutorial. :o)
lori
Posted by: lissilulu | March 21, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Great Skirt! My three-year-old has been harassing me to wear skirts more, too. She actually just noticed the picture of your skirt and asked for one! Nice job. I'd love to see the no-swear-bias-tape tutorial.
Posted by: lynne | March 21, 2008 at 12:03 PM
That looks great! If it makes you feel any better, I have food on my walls here and there too. With kids it's a fact of life.
Posted by: Ula | March 21, 2008 at 12:18 PM
What a good idea, elastic instead of a zipper. I will confess, it has been one of the time consuming things that has prevented me from cloning my favorite skirt. Although I fear I am far to wide in the hip for this trick to work, unless I am missing something.
Glad you kept some great fabric for yourself!
Posted by: deerdominique | March 21, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Oh, please give us your bias tape hints. I am in desperate need, having just ripped out and restitched a simple clothespin apron three times.
p.s. what beautiful fabric!
Posted by: tracey | March 21, 2008 at 03:44 PM
i love your skirt.
i love the imperfect and humaneness of your photo. it's actually perfect.
beautiful fabric. i totally see why you needed this for yourself. glad you realized that.
Posted by: jen | March 21, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Love it!
Got your book in the mail today from B & N and love it too!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: HobbyMommy | March 21, 2008 at 06:02 PM
I love the baby food on the walls. That's my kind of prioritizing.
I've been blurking for awhile but I've run into a design dilemma for a quilt I've been working on so I decided to come out of the woodwork. I was wondering if you or any of your readers wanted to stop over at my only partially craft blog and help me.
www.princessmax.blogspot.com
Thanks,
Rebecca
Posted by: Rebecca | March 21, 2008 at 07:12 PM
I'm glad to see you are human, baby food and all!! lol!
Posted by: Kim Campbell | March 21, 2008 at 09:43 PM
i absolutely love this skirt!
Posted by: amy | March 22, 2008 at 05:54 AM
I really like that, and I think the black tights look great. I have to wear my footless tights more often. I'm always afraid they'll make me look like I stepped right out of 1993, but I don't get that vibe from your picture. I guess if I refrain from wearing them with denim short-alls, I'll be fine, LOL! They look great with the skirt.
Posted by: Lisa Clarke | March 22, 2008 at 03:27 PM
The skirt is adorable - I wasn't at all distracted by the background noise. However, I am fixating on the shoes. Are they the ones of Halo fame? If so, good for you for putting them on!
Posted by: sulu-design | March 23, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Cutest skirt EVER (but I'd give the tights to your girls...but that opinion may have something to do with the fact I live in the tropics!)
Posted by: Jennifer | March 24, 2008 at 11:35 AM
I know what you mean about needing that fabric in your life. I recently added a few bits of it (in blue) to a quilt for my bed. The rest I am hoarding for later.
I also just signed up for the swap, I'm really looking foreward to it!
Posted by: Lisa Alexander | March 26, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Isn´t it funny how our kids request us to dress certain ways? My son won't let me wear a skirt to a school function. ;)
Posted by: Rebecca | March 26, 2008 at 04:19 PM
The skirt is very cute! I am anxious to try out your binding tutorial. I haven't made binding yet, but I remember my mom doing it a lot for edging on baby bibs.
I need to make myself some more clothes. I want something that is different from what you find in every store, but I just can't seem to find the time!
Posted by: The Downtown Boutique | March 27, 2008 at 10:46 AM
I love this print and I love the Repodept. They are so sweet and have fantastic fabrics!
Posted by: Jennifer | March 29, 2008 at 07:19 AM
i love it!
Posted by: Zelia Evora | April 02, 2008 at 01:23 AM