Thursday, March 06, 2008

New Vintage Wardrobe #15 :The Major Modification Project Series part 1





This skirt was from a pattern (Butterick See and Sew, 3813) that I was going to leave on the thrift store shelf. I didn't really dig the Perky Girl Scout Leader Vibe. Couldn't picture myself in a cotton neckerchief and white loafers. In addition I don't think a rear opening wrap skirt is a good idea. I have made a rear opening on the wrap dress and although I adore the style the pattern and the fit that particular aspect leaves me feeling a trifle vulnerable.

Then, as I was responsibly leaving the item for the next guy, inspiration struck. (I swear this happens a little too often at the thrift store... which is why I was trying to keep the pattern from following me home. More inspiration=more UFO's.) I think, "Turn it around. Exchange the darts in the front for the darts on the back, check the waistline before adding the binding and do 4 buttons instead of that chintzy tie!"


Simple... Just completely redesign it!
Oh! you mean now that it doesn't have the binding tie I have to put in facings and create the patten for those myself? Oh well, a Betty's got to do what a Betty's got to do!

( If you attempt this at home:
you can use the instructions from Sew What Skirts and do the "Got No Ties" skirt but use a heavier weight cotton. Then follow the steps below.

  • Modify the instructions by curving the edge that you will be binding of the lower corners of the front panels.You can use a plate to make the curve.
  • Sew the darts into the main skirt panels first.
  • Then make your facing pattern off of the fabric pieces. trace out pieces that match the top of your skirt pieces ( waist and sides) but then go down, lengthwise about 4 inches. You want your facings smooth and if you make them off of the pattern they will either have darts in them or there will be excess fabric. Both will pad your middle, which is generally considered undesirable by most.
  • sew skirt pieces together.
  • sew facing pieces together.
  • sew skirt to facing along the top. (the waistline)
  • bind the bottom edge of the facing and all around the outside edge of the skirt
  • turn the facing to the inside of skirt , press under the the raw edges on either end of the facing then top stitch into place, just inside the binding. There are an annoying amount of thread color switches implied here.
  • next try on and mark your four button and buttonholes with tailor's chalk or an advisable alternative method. Not Sharpie.
  • install button and buttonholes. I only made my top two and outside bottom button functional. The inside lower button is just sewn to the uncut buttonhole stitching. This will help prevent a weird pulling effect if I eat too much Easter candy... which is likely.


Now that we have that all figured out! I just want to rave about my binding foot. It made this project a lot less time consuming. Binding and Piping always seem so tricky and I noticed that Sally Stitch had this machine foot that fed in the binding and fabric together. So I headed to Ebay and snapped one right up. How's that for resourceful? Gotta Love Those Internets!

My first fabric covered buttons for a garment... They are just tooooo cute.


and I started 365 on Flickr.... I need more modeling practice and I was inspired to try by Becktress, Ms. Cleaver (+blog) and by These Photos over at Pia Jane Bijkerk.

Aren't they all so cute?

21 comments:

robiewankenobie said...

good call, m'dear, because that skirt is freakin' adorable.

Jennifer said...

Love the re-make, just love it. But, ahem, where's the perky kerchief? ;-) Yeah, even though I dug being a Girl Scout at the time, something about that particular green and yellow combo just gives me the willies....

BTW, have you ever noticed that some people can't get past the fabric that's used for a pattern (or for a quilt or anything else?)? They can't picture it looking different from, well, the picture. SO limiting...

Anonymous said...

Cute skirt! The best part about your blog are your FO photos. So freakin' fun!!!

Amy said...

amazing job on the redo. i love it!

Cathy ~ Tadpoles and Teacups said...

Where were you when I was wandering aimlessly (and hoplessly)through my sewing class in 7th grade!?

Love the skirt-and I enjoyed my visit!

Cathy

Kathi D said...

That is so CUTE! I never would have pictured it from the pattern envelope!

Maddie Kertay- The Domestic Anarchist said...

How cute are you!!! It's so FUNNY that you said the thing about the girlscout vibe since when I saw the photo all I could think of was Thin mints! :)

Maddie

p.s. Nice camera.. I now have some hard core camera envy1

Anonymous said...

could you BE any cooler in your red tights? that skirt is divine. when my waistline is back again, i'll be following your instructions and making one for myself.

Anonymous said...

Love the skirt. I've never done any pattern modification so I'm super jealous of your skills.

As for the photos, I'm loving them!

Anonymous said...

you are so cute. and so talented. love it!

Hyena In Petticoats said...

The skirt is great!
I always actively sought out wrap skirts with tie waists because I had a morbid fear of buttonholing, but now that I have an auto buttonholing machine, I am sorely tempted by your button up waist......

Love the colour combinations, and those red tights!

Leah xxx

Unknown said...

So amazingly fabulous! The buttons are a super touch. they make me swoon.

Drewzel said...

I'm with you on the back opening wrap, way too exposed for my liking!
Looks fab, and I love that 2nd photo of you. Wrap arounds are one of my faves, sort of the skirt equivalent of "extra loose pants"!

Mary-Laure said...

Love the pics! I love wearing bright colored tights, too!
You look fabulous and cooooool. You rock, for all your Bitterness.

Carrie said...

Wow! Ya did good, girl! Wonderful re-vamp. The outfit is lovely and those shoes! I'm so drooling for those shoes!

Mary said...

*Love* the re-design! Your FO pics are always sooo fun and inspiring.

I must confess to having a skirt very much like the pattern in 3rd grade - I was a Blue Bird and the skirt was reversible red/blue and my Mom made it for me. Ah, those were the days!

takewrning said...

Oh, I love this skirt and am jealous over your ability to tranform the girl-scout into the glam! The red on black/white can't be beat!

Sarah and Jack said...

The skirt is awesome. (Except when I was reading about the rear wrap thing I was wondering why you didn't just turn it around. I did not think of the implications of that clearly!)

Now I need yet another foot for my sewing machine.

Linnea said...

This is so cute! I am a little freaked out by the opening in the back too! It came out so adorable, I am going to have to give it a shot now.
Your modeling is great too, I love the pictures!

Loudlife said...

Cuh-uuuuuuute skirt! Fab modifications!

Laurie

Arianna said...

well Food must be surveing in a unique style. and Dhow cruise Dubai knew the art of How to entertain their customers.

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