supplies:
- old t-shirts
- sewing machine
- something to cut with
1. I threw in a pile colors that I might like based on a fun graphic (bad grrrls). I do mean thrown and nothing was ironed or cut perfect during all of this. I ironed when it was finished.
(I was even too lazy to take the polarizer off my camera so the pictures look bit off in color.)
2.Basically you are going to build a giant rectangle. I started with the orange graphic as potential placement on my backside...the "bad grrrl" side that shows how much chocolate I eat. This was done all in whimsy for the tutorial and will be the perfect for the beach.
* From there I work much like the mixed media artist in me by "framing" it with colors that look nice near each other. I tape down the "frame".
*I prefer the bottoms of t-shirts with their hems for most of the skirt. They offer a bit more weight to the hanging of the skirt and they are perfect as a guide for sewing.( I also like to use them inside out) In the above picture I sewed right across the hem stitches to attach the orange piece. The top of the orange piece that you can not see has a lot of excess and is far from straight. Once the seam is done, I trim the excess from the back.
3. have fun and experiment, even if you have to cut a piece off that you don't like, what you leave behind leaves an interesting element. (you can click on the pictures for easier reading)
4. my rectangle is complete so I fold it together with the outside (right sides) together. I do hold it up and wrap it around to test it out several times for size. Remember it is drawstring so a little roominess is fine but too much is a moo-moo.
you can see even my hemline is not even but it works!
5. I used a piece of tape as a line (not pictured) so I knew where to sew. It served as a straight guide line. Then I cut off the rest. This one I sort of did on a diagonal down to the hemline from just below the top part that will be folded over(that part will be straight) . The diagonal adds an interest to it.
6. no pictures to show for the waist, this one is drawstring. For the hole the drawstring comes out of, I just created an opening in the seam about an inch or so from the top and folded the seam side edges of fabric back where the hole is and sewed around it sort of like a square button hole.
7. The top edge was folded down to show on the front of the skirt and I sewed around once. I then inserted the drawstring which is just more fabric strips. I then tried it on, tightened it just enough to fit over my hips. Tied it tight and sewed around 2 more times so the waist would not be so bunchy looking. Be careful when you sew around anything circular that you do not have the other half of the skirt underneath what you are sewing.
The last skirt I made was a wrap around style. I took the giant rectangle and tri-folded it with the right side out this time. Then folded the top over from the inside out and sewed a seam pocket around it and the drawstring ended up on the side.
I feel like a kid with homework...whew! Want to go check out all the Flickr Bench Monday shots but had to FORCE myself to sit here because this was a goal I wanted to finish earlier than now! If you do not understand anything...and it is not because of you it is because of your teacher. I am burnt out on answering all of PJ girl's questions! I also remembered what that brain cell burner question Pajama Girl asked yesterday was when I typed the word "moo-moo" above. She very sweetly in all seriousness asks me "Can cows sometimes have two heads?" Just wait until I get my hands on that Mr.Honey....she did not come up with that anywhere else in this world but from something he told her. Mr. Honey if you are reading dear...guard your t-shirts well boy!
