Black Gold Skirt on a holiday ...

Remember, the Mehindi dress I made in May... 3 months have flown by already ... Phew !

I made a mistake of cutting the center back skirt portion of it on fold and hence had to discarding as it had zipper opening in the dress... So what do I do with that skirt piece, decided to keep it in my stash and make a skirt for self after some time and there it was all but lost in my memory stash !

One Saturday morning, I got up early with full on sewing mojo, rummaged through my stash (oh yes my sewing room needs some serious cleaning ) and found the skirt piece, made another similar piece to make up for front of the skirt. Hemline took most of the time, with tricky tissue fabric border, which is in fact curved shape and not rectangular, hence it took lot of time getting it right ... Skirt is not lined and i decided to pair it with knit skirt petticoat.

Now that the skirt was made, it still had to wait for its debut for a good 2+ weeks! I had been to Penang for a 5 day vacation, where the skirt finally saw the light of the day :) visit to the palatial mansion of last Chinese mandarin Cheng Fat Tzee in  Lebuh Leith, Penang was the right backdrop to make its debut .... Those blue painted walls were so luring to pose in front of ...

Have paired it with Black Magic Top

Matching Skirts and Shrugs !

The moment I saw crafter hours skirt week tutorial, link to which is given below,I knew I had to make one for self and I did :)

Custom fit skirt tutorial

Cotton satin that I had got about 2 months back when I was in springy mood, gelled well with the plain poly cotton green that my sister had sent through my parents . She had in fact sent lots of fabrics, of which I plan to make atleast one outfit for self , yes, remember I promised to show some self love and this the first outfit of the series !

Made the skirts first and the. Decided to make matching shrugs with leftover material, as I felt complete matchy match look is what I was looking for. 

Now can you spot 8 differences ;)

Also did revamp of my boring flip flops and added a matching fabric button to it !

We got some amused looks, some couldn't control their laughter (I wonder why, are we looking that funny in matching outfits) never mind, that is not going to stop my daughter and me from wearing matching outfits, coz we love wearing them matchy match !

Plan to sew more skirts, in different styles though, atleast one every week, lets see, fingers crossed. I had taken to swimming and it has become an addiction now which takes much of my sewing hours, but I hope to do better time management and have really productive sewing hours. 

Shoulder blades are stiff and sour , they were cramped already and swimming has aggravated is even further and I plan to rest for a while before I do anything in excess , as my body is craving for rest.

Btw, got a printer yesterday and hope to make good use of it for printing free patterns as well as sharing few patterns that I made, any tips on how to share my self drafted patterns, so that can be downloaded by readers as PDF . All advise in this regard is much appreciated 

Custom fit skirt from sewing like mad

Drape a Skirt Sloper - Threads

Check this post about draping a skirt sloper , for those who have dress forms, can surely try this out, it is high time i made a dummy or bought a dress form! This post is line with our Theme - Sew Skirts September!

Drape a Skirt Sloper - Threads:

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Cowl Skirt Tutorial - Sew Skirts September

Dear Readers,

Now it is time for us to see what's next in Sew Skirts September, ever since i had posted Cowl Neck tutorial, i had requests for cowl skirt drafting, i was still learning the ropes then and hence chose to wait before i am clear enough to explain to others!

Based on comments from Purush and Carolyn on Basic Skirt Sewing post, i tried the shaped waistband, what are your thoughts on this. Drafted the waistband as a single piece starting from Half of Back waistband then followed by Front waistband and then again remaining half waistband with extension for closure. Add darts which are about 2/8 inch wide at points where back waistband meets front waist band i.e., 2 darts Closure is the same it was in Basic Skirt , hook and thread loop closure as we use here for saree blouses, (I did not have a matching button, hence did not put buttonhole closure!) I chose this fabric thinking it will drape nicely and the cowls will look lovely, though i have got the drape of cowl as desired, i somehow am not happy with the fall of the skirt in center front. I tried with rough fabric with grainline as bias and didn't like the feel of it as the cowl was too drapey to my liking, hence decided to have the CF on straightgrain on fold, now i am having second thoughts if i should have had CF with seams, so that i could have squeezed in extra fall near the hemline at CF ! your thoughts and suggestions on this!

Here is the snap of the sample tried out on Barbie doll (the guinea pig for my sewing experiments!)

This is how the skirt looks Flat on the floor and viola , now lets say A-B-R-A-C-A-D-A-B-R-A ....

Not so clear pictures, i have to get tripod stand to assist me when i do not have any photographers at my service! ;) will post better pictures soon with a new matching top!

Coming up next are relatively simple skirt drafts like A-Line skirt, Flared Skirt , Stay tuned!

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Sew Skirt September - Basic Skirt Sewing continued

Dear Readers,


Hope you have checked out the Drafting Tutorial for Basic Skirt, Now let us see the Sewing Part of Basic Skirt / Straight Skirt! 


Hail Skirts this September! yay!


I would like to mention one thing here - I will not be delving deep into the details of certain steps like attaching a zipper and adding pleats to vent as there are already crystal clear tutorials for them! We have lots of unknown details to visit don't we, so lets concentrate on them, which will help us draft and sew many styles of skirts this September!. 


First lets sneak peak at what are going to make, have a look at basic skirt i have made for self!

Lets get started 


Step 1 : Cut the Skirt pieces

Step 2: Waistband


Height - 1 - 2 inches max as desired


Length :
Waistband for front measuring exactly the same amount as skirt front waist arc (after deducting darts!)
Waistband for back measuring Skirt Back wasit arc (Deducting darts) + 1 inch for closure extension


Note: If you are planning to have opening at sideseam (if prefer not to as at hip curve bulge will expose zipper and it is better placed at CB), then you can have back wasitband as 1 piece itself


If you are planning to have opening at CB (i did!) then you need to cut 2 back waist band into 2 pieces such that 1 piece is 1 inch longer than the other!

Step 3: Interface the waistband ( i have used  1 inch stiff interfacing) and join seams, press open the seams

Step 4: Stitch the darts at Skirt Front & Back


Step 5: Preparing the Vent piece. I like my skirts to be modest for a mature woman like me who drops and picks up her daughter from school, so always add vent pleats at back for straight skirts like the basic skirt or even pencil skirt to allow ease of movement and at the same time ensure modesty!


Have shared photos of it when i added the vent, for your extra reference , here is the Vent Pleat tutorial i learnt this from, this will surely help you add Pleats to your Skirt vents!

Pressed Pleats

Similarly pin and stitch vent to the other half of back skirt

Press the Vent Pleats back in place

This is how it will look like from the RS of the back skirt

Step 6: Once Pleats are added, then stitch the Center Back seam from Zipper end position till the Vent position mark.
Note :  Please see that it is not from CB notch the CB seam is stitched as mentioned in picture, but from end of zipper to beginning of vent pleat attachment at CB

Step 7: Stitch the vents in place as an inverted V on top of them 

On the RS of skirt back top-stitch an inverted V at the top of the Vent pleat as shown below

Step 8: Add Zipper to CB opening; I have used normal zipper here (ran out of invisible zippers he he!; need to restock them!) Open up the Zipper by pulling the zipper pull. First pin RS of Zipper to the RS fabric of skirt (Right side portion of Back Skirt!) such that Zip teeth matches with CB Notch, stitch in place. Edge stitch on RS of Skirt


Then Pin RS of the other side of Zipper to the RS fabric of skirt (Left side portion of back skirt!) such that Zip teeth is about 3/8 inch away from CB seam. Stitch in place and make a top-stitch 1/2 inch from CB Seam and then at zip end point stitch a horizontal line , so the top stitch forms the shape of 'L'

Here is a link to one zipper tutorial using normal zipper, there are various ways of doing it, i have done it using one method, the link shows another way (which i used to do earlier! as a beginner) here again just google to find the one which suits you, i am just sharing what caught my eye!

Step 8: Stitch the side seams ; (no picture needed for this, isn't it!)

Step 9: Attach waist band to the Skirt. Remember the Back waist band with extension should be on the Right half of the Back Skirt  and the one without the extension should be on the Left Half of the back skirt. Add closure at end of waist band as desired, i have added normal hoop and thread loop closures as used in saree blouse! the Loops are added at the extension exactly at 1/8 to right of CB notch and hooks added at 3/8 from CB on the WB piece without extension

Forgot to take picture of this, no probs, here is a link for your reference, you can just google and get umpteen options, just choose one which suits you best !

Step 10: Finish Hem (I have used 2 inch Hem to give couture finish!) 

Here is the finished Straight Skirt / Basic Skirt

Hope this tutorial helps you out in sewing up a straight skirt / basic skirt with vents at back! Did you like this tutorial, any doubts, please do leave your feedback in comment section! 


Also feel free to Pin this to Pinterest, share it on facebook, tweet it by using share buttons available at the end of the post. If you would like to share this with your blog readers, click on Create Link button at the end of the post, so that a back link for this tutorial will be created!


To view all Sew Skirt September Posts - Click HERE

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Circle Bustle Skirt Tutorial & Blog Hop

Dear Readers,


Today i am Co-hosting Blog Hop with "Home Maker on  a Dime". 


Meet SJ of Home Maker on a Dime, whose blog is an online journal to celebrate creativity in its myriad forms and to help realize the dream of making a splendid home on a dime! She has been generous enough to co-host this Creative Blogger's Party and Hop (this is 23rdweek!) with many bloggers across the globe, and this week, i happen to be the lucky one! Thanks SJ!


On this occasion, to keep in trend with our "Sew Skirt September" celebrations, i am sharing a "Circle Bustle Skirt Tutorial"












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Please do vote for me @ Bloggers' Wardrobe, i am only one (as far as i checked all contestants!) Indian out there, please do vote for me, all you need to do is :

• First Like Bloggers'Wardrobe Facebook page - Click HERE
• Then Like my Photo on Bloggers'Wardrobe Contest - HERE

Thanks for voting! Now lets view the rules for the link party!

1. Link up whatever creative post you'd like to share - can be a DIY project, decor, photography, crafts, recipes, link party, poem, thrift finds, or that informative syndicated post that can make us laugh, or cry - in short, whatever you're proud of! (No links to businesses or giveaways. We have another party for these exclusively this Tuesday called Market Your Biz & Giveaways at 5 pm, PST.) 
2. Follow as many blogs as your heart desires, preferably starting first with the one before you and after you, before branching out. (Following the host and co-host, too, will be very much appreciated, and we'll definitely follow back.)

Link opens up on 5th September Monday 6:30AM Indian Standard Time! (5:30 PM Sunday,4th Sept PST)

Now here is the tutorial, hope to see more circle bustle skirts from all of you!


A circle skirt is gathered up to act as bustle and attached to lining and ruffle strips are added the point where circle is attached to the lining !


Would you like to have a look at what are we go to do today! here we go!
Here is my darling daughter flaunting it with Contrast top (i coaxed her to wear this top by explaining Color Blocking!)

I had taken half a dozen snaps to get that perfect snap above! ... Now she has had enough!!!!

Lets get started


Fabric used to make this skirt for my daughter whose waist is 20, seat - 21, length desired = 14 inches(excluding waistband!) 


Fabric Required: 


1 meter of Nylon Tissue (Organza) and about 1/2 metre of Silk Satin lining


First step would be to fold the fabric such that Selvage meets selvage (sorry forgot to take snap of that!) Next step is to fold again for which you see the picture below!

In the pic below, x = 1/6 seat round + 1/8 inch instead of what it is typed below, remember we are going to have an elasticated waist and hence our waist round should accommodate our seat round + ease!

Prepare the Ruffle Strips which will used later!

Now let us attach the circle skirt to satin lining! Before that we need to,

To make our job easier, it is advisable to do the below 2 steps, before we proceed further

Now let us get back to sewing ...

Now that we have attached the hem of circle skirt to inner lining, it is time to look at the waist , 

Hope the steps are clear, excuse the typos! in case you have any doubts, feel free to ask them, i will clarify!   

Please leave your feedback in comment section!

Please do vote for me @ Bloggers' Wardrobe, i am only one (as far as i checked all contestants!) Indian out there, please do vote for me, all you need to do is :

• First Like Bloggers'Wardrobe Facebook page - Click HERE
• Then Like my Photo on Bloggers'Wardrobe Contest - HERE

Thanks for voting

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