Make Yourself A Box Pleat Skirt!

Well, I was just about beside myself with wanting 

a cute preppy big box pleat skirt...

so I made one.

 I just drafted the pattern myself.

 

This was not hard to do at all!
I already had a basic pattern for an A line skirt already drafted.

(If you want to see how to do that you can check out

my Wrap Skirt Tutorial at Sew Mama Sew. 

Don't add in the 6 inches for overlap and boom.. basic A line pattern. )

Then I put in two inverted box pleats (Let Sally Stitch show you how!) 

about 8 inches apart and 2.5 inches deep.

Iron, pin the pleats closed at the bottom. 

Fold the rectangle in half and cut out the A line skirt front.

Trace a little facing and cut 2.
That is like the top  4 inches or so, of the skirt pattern.
An inner waistband for your skirt.

Then use the pattern to  cut out the back of the skirt.

Just a nice plain A line. 

No Pleats.

Put it together front to back. Add a side zipper. (traditionally on the left...)

Add darts to make the back curve with you and the waist fit perfectly.

Then stitch the facing to the skirt (right sides facing, flip to the inside and press)

and hand stitch it to the inside at the zipper.

Wasn't That Easy?

Fashion Friday: Burda One Day-Day Dress: Green Edition

please click photos to enlarge and decrease odd blurring sensation

Here is a sweet green shift I made from Burda. Vintage fabric with green peacocks has made this little dress one that has come out of the closet time and again this summer. It's green and green becase all the supplies used were thrifted by me and my talented thrift fairy step-mother, Diana.

I think my favorite thing about this shift is the neckline in the back which is kind of a sexy little surprise.

The Burda magazine patterns are very simplistic but pretty wearable. They are also fairly easy to alter, which is good because they seem to be naturally on the boxy side.
Using the vintage fabric, this really seems to fit with the New Vintage Wardrobe stuff... But being a modern pattern it doesn't quite qualify as NVW.



I have several other summer garments to share... And I better do it quickly too because I am already itching to make new yummy stuff for fall.

What are you guys going to make?


Comically Yours,
Betty

Sally Stitch: The Final Post

click on the images to enlarge to legible...

Oh Sally, and Dear Mrs. Home Maker...
What will Tuesday be like without you?

("The name of my dressmaker? Why, Yes! It's Me!")

(Saying nothing of the brilliant and handsome Mr. Home Maker...
or 'Homie' as I like to call him.)

Now, go sew something.
Make Sally Proud.

Tutorial Tuesday with Sally Stitch- Cutting It Up

Golly.. I need to make some bound buttonholes too... But I didn't practice first.
Man, why do I ever ignore Sally? I always end up paying in the long run!

( I did get a couple extra tracing wheels at the thrift store.. I'll send one to one lucky commenter. It really is a great way to transfer darts.)

Tutorial Tuesday: Sally Stitch Does Measurements and Pattern Alteration

Another handy chapter from our good friend Sally-
Fix your pattern before you cut your fabric.

( don't forget: click on each image to enlarge for legibility.)

Sorry about "no robots"... My computer is acting up lately. I have had a rough time with uploading to Flickr too. Computer maintenance is in my near future. Oh, Joy.

On the bright side my smock pattern and video are up on Sew Mama Sew!

The written instructions will be up really soon and I would love to see ya'll "Smocking Out"..
The project has excellent stash busting possibilities!

Sally Stitch: Chapter 8: Color, Fabric Selection and Yardage

Here we go... tips on how to buy more fabric. That's just what we all need!

Hmmm, I wonder... Am I a brownette? or a dark redhead? Must be a brownette... Because I can wear some orange. What would I do without Sally? I'd be a wreck. I didn't even know there was such a critter as a brownette, so I was probably doing it all wrong!

Tutorial Tuesday with Sally Stitch and Pockets!

Everything is better, cuter and more fun with a pocket.

Besides, you can put your stuff in it!




That Sally, she's just a smart as a whip.

Sally Stitch: Chapter 6: Buttonholes

Wildly, I am unable to complete anything to post.. By complete, I mean "photograph and write about anything that I am making"... And I am making stuff ( Utili-Obis, Easter baskets, Spring Bling earrings, tiny bunnies, pompom animals, Mrs. Home Maker accessories), as well as big messes. I blame my affliction du jour : Vertigo. It is minor but very distracting. I did go to the doc and it is supposed to clear up on it's own. It gets better then occasionally worse... Now, on day 11, it is quite tiresome. The computer really seems to make it more noticeable. So I have a stand in post today and hopefully something delightfully crafty tomorrow. I am planning a big shop update with Easter-y Vintage-y goodness which should happen about next week. I hope.

Until then: Buttonholes.

( click on the image to enlarge for easier reading)

Tutorial Tuesday: Sally Stitch with Pleats and Tucks

Click on the image to enlarge!

Hello my friends!
Well here it is Tutorial Tuesday, and a long time ago we started with our wonderful sewing comic book which I have been presenting in serial form. This is all thanks to the generosity of my dear friend in craft, Lindy, whom I owe an email! ( I will email you! I promise!)
This is chapter 5, and Mrs. Homemaker is just getting warmed up!

In my great New Year's Organization Frenzy I am hoping to figure out how to put all the lessons on the side bar for easy reference... Because I am all about "the many fascinations of the dressmakers art".

Tutorial Tuesday: Home Sewing Is Easy: Darts and Mitered Corners and Shirring!

Here are my pals Sally Stitch and Mrs. Home Maker with the tutorials for today.
Please click the images to enlarge!

There is even another sample for your sewing practice scrap book!

What? you haven't seen our "Home Sewing Is Easy" gals in action before? Well, Let me tell you!
These women have mad skills.
Click on the label "homesewing is easy" below and see all the tricks and tips , previously published!

Hmmm.. since they are taking care of the tutorial... I better get to my sewing machine!

Sally Stitch: Placket Racket and the swappage update

Okay Kids...
I really am going to try and do my plackets first but I am not really sure what that even means!!! But I am going to try it on the next item I sew. Even if it means slowing down and concentrating.

I have a dozen swappers fabrics "in house" and I owe a couple lovely ladies some thank you emails for the bonus goodies enclosed. ( I am truly touched by your fabulous generosity but despite my mom's best efforts I continue to have the habits of a girl raised by wolves!)

I want to give everyone a chance to get their stuff in or bow out officially...

and I want to announce this swap will happen again.. ( in the "not summer") so more people can join in and not get overwhelmed!

Hemmin' and Hawin' with Mrs. Home Maker

The first hem is my favorite.. and the hanging your dress overnight so that any sagging will show? I mean, this is precision dressmaking! And I think that Mrs. Home Maker is feeling her sewing oats with the clever punning.

Last episode some one asked where they can get this gem. Unfortunately, I have never seen anything else like it.
I do plan to keep putting it up on my blog though because I really think these skills and tricks are so well illustrated and covered in this little marvel. And the humor is something else besides!

Sally Stitch: More seams and some Really Helpful Hints

This Helpful Hints page is getting framed up and hung in my sewing area. When I first started making stuff I had to sew some velvet to canvas for curtains for a family friend and after some serious tears and cursewords I called my Grandma Ruth and she told me to sew the whole thing between cut strips of brown paper bags. It worked. I love handy info like that!




What? Mrs. Home Maker is scrapbooking her seam practice?
Okay, now I feel like a total craft slacker.