8 years ago
I'm Julie from Sum of their Stories and I'm thrilled to be guest posting with Minerva today.
I have 5 weddings to go to this year and so I'm needing some new wedding suitable outfits. Social media photo sharing these days makes it more difficult to outfit repeat, even if different people are at the weddings, friends will see the photos and will know if I wear the same thing TOO often!
I'm a colour lover so this vivid pink Chiffon Fabric is just my cup of tea and the pearl border makes it feel super special. Chiffon can be tricky to work with so I decided to keep things really simple and make that pearl border the star of the show. I made a really easy full skirt with an elastic waistband and then added a belt to make the overall look more sophisticated.
Elastic waist band skirts are so easy to make and comfortable to wear but as a grown up lady you don't necessarily want that elastic to show. This method means there are no zips to worry about getting caught on that chiffon and getting even gathers is a piece of cake.
This chiffon was really easy to work with as chiffon goes. The main tips for working with fine fabrics like this are: always use a new needle in your sewing machine, always hold the threads at the back as you start a seam, don't start your stitching too close to the edge of the fabric and TAKE YOUR TIME - no putting your foot down!
To make a chiffon skirt and belt for yourself you will need:
- 3 or 4 metres of Pearl Border Chiffon
- A length of 3cm wide elastic long enough to go round your waist plus 5cm
- Matching thread
- 1/2 metre of matching thin ribbon
- 4 buttons
The length of chiffon you need will depend on your size.
To give you an idea, I'm a size 10 with a 70cm waist and I used 3 metres of chiffon for my skirt.
If you are considerably larger I would recommend using 4 metres of chiffon, you need to remove a section for the belt and you still want plenty of fullness in the skirt.
First remove a 50cm wide strip from one end of your chiffon. Put this to one side to make the belt later. If you waist is more than 1m then remove a 1 metre strip; you can only use the pearlless section of the fabric to make the belt so you may need to join 2 lengths.
Remove the pearls on the short sides from the edge to about 2cm in, you can just pull them with your nails. They'll get in the way of your seams if you leave them on.
Join your main piece of fabric on the two short sides using a french seam to form a tube.
Lay the tube on the floor wrong side out, and fold down 54cm. It's like making a massive 54cm hem. You can adjust this if you like; the more you fold down the shorter you finished skirt will be.
Use lots of pins - chiffon can be very slippery and more a lot.
Stitch a seam 1/2cm from the folded top edge all the way round.
Stitch a second seam 4cm below the first but leave a 8cm gap so you can insert the elastic.
Thread the elastic through this casing you have created, A good tip is to use 2 safety pins. One on the end to help you thread it through the channel you've created, and use the other on the other end of the elastic to secure it to the seam by the opening. That way you won't pull the elastic right through by mistake.
Safety pin the elastic closed, and try your skirt on. Adjust the elastic as necessary and when you are happy with the elastic length, sew it together and then sew the gap closed. Even out the gathers.
Hem the skirt. I used a fold, stitch, cut and stitch again method which worked really well on this chiffon.
Fold the fabric wrong sides together to 1/4cm longer than you want the finished length to be and top stitch. I found loosening off my top tension a little gave me a smooth result.
Cut away any excess hem really close to the stitches without actually cutting them.
Fold the hem again and stitch over the previous stitches.
That's it, your skirt is made. You can wear it just like this or make a matching belt to cover the elastic.
Take the 50cm wide piece of chiffon you removed at the beginning. Cut off the pearl part.
Measure you waist and add 6cm. Mine is 70cm + 6cm so my fabric was 50cm x 76cm. I only had a couple of cms to remove for my size so if you waist is more you may need to join 2x 50cm lengths of chiffon.
Lay the piece of chiffon flat and make 5 even pleats in the bottom half leaving a 13cm gap at the top and a 2.5cm gap at the bottom. (the photo shows it best)
Press then pin and tack these in place.
Fold in half lengthways then stitch round the 3 open sides, leaving a 8cm gap in the middle of the long side.
Turn out and slip stitch the gap. Press again.
Cut 4 x 8cm lengths of ribbon and fold to form loops. Attach these evenly to one end of the belt with 2 rows of stitching.
Try the belt on so you can mark where to sew on the buttons. Whilst it's on, mark the side points of the belt too then take it off and add a line of stitching to help keep the pleats pleated.
Sew the buttons on.
Take 2 x 10cm lengths of thin ribbon and sew them to the waist band on either side of the dress. You can thread the belt through these ribbon loops to keep the belt snugly over the elastic.
This is the most lovely swishy skirt, and I'm loving this midi length, it feels so elegant.
As the chiffon is doubled on the top half and the skirt is very full I'm feeling covered enough You could wear a slip too if you thought it necessary but I did check and nothing is showing that shouldn't be!
The wind caught it a little whilst we were taking photos. The pearl border weights it a little though so nothing embarrassing happened!
Thanks for reading,
Julie @ Sum of their Stories
#minervamakes #minervamakers #isew #memade #memades #sewing #sewist #sewists #sewinginspo #sewinginspiration #sew #sewcialist #sewingproject #sewingprojects #sewingideas #sewingprojectideas #sewingpatterninspo #lovesewing #ilovesewing #sewsewsew #sewersgonnasew #makersgonnamake #sewaholic #sewaholics #shareyoursewing #sewinglove #handmadewardrobe #handemadeclothes #isewmyclothes #diyclothes #dressmaking #fabricinspo #seamstress #memadeeveryday #imakemyclothes #imakemyownclothes #fashion #fashioninspo #memadewardrobe #memadefashion #diyfashion #diywardrobe #fashionsewing #sewingskirts #sewingpartywear #occasionskirt #sewingwithchiffon #chiffonsewingprojects #pink #beadedchiffon #elasticatedwaist #selfdrafted
I have 5 weddings to go to this year and so I'm needing some new wedding suitable outfits. Social media photo sharing these days makes it more difficult to outfit repeat, even if different people are at the weddings, friends will see the photos and will know if I wear the same thing TOO often!
I'm a colour lover so this vivid pink Chiffon Fabric is just my cup of tea and the pearl border makes it feel super special. Chiffon can be tricky to work with so I decided to keep things really simple and make that pearl border the star of the show. I made a really easy full skirt with an elastic waistband and then added a belt to make the overall look more sophisticated.
Elastic waist band skirts are so easy to make and comfortable to wear but as a grown up lady you don't necessarily want that elastic to show. This method means there are no zips to worry about getting caught on that chiffon and getting even gathers is a piece of cake.
This chiffon was really easy to work with as chiffon goes. The main tips for working with fine fabrics like this are: always use a new needle in your sewing machine, always hold the threads at the back as you start a seam, don't start your stitching too close to the edge of the fabric and TAKE YOUR TIME - no putting your foot down!
To make a chiffon skirt and belt for yourself you will need:
- 3 or 4 metres of Pearl Border Chiffon
- A length of 3cm wide elastic long enough to go round your waist plus 5cm
- Matching thread
- 1/2 metre of matching thin ribbon
- 4 buttons
The length of chiffon you need will depend on your size.
To give you an idea, I'm a size 10 with a 70cm waist and I used 3 metres of chiffon for my skirt.
If you are considerably larger I would recommend using 4 metres of chiffon, you need to remove a section for the belt and you still want plenty of fullness in the skirt.
First remove a 50cm wide strip from one end of your chiffon. Put this to one side to make the belt later. If you waist is more than 1m then remove a 1 metre strip; you can only use the pearlless section of the fabric to make the belt so you may need to join 2 lengths.
Remove the pearls on the short sides from the edge to about 2cm in, you can just pull them with your nails. They'll get in the way of your seams if you leave them on.
Join your main piece of fabric on the two short sides using a french seam to form a tube.
Lay the tube on the floor wrong side out, and fold down 54cm. It's like making a massive 54cm hem. You can adjust this if you like; the more you fold down the shorter you finished skirt will be.
Use lots of pins - chiffon can be very slippery and more a lot.
Stitch a seam 1/2cm from the folded top edge all the way round.
Stitch a second seam 4cm below the first but leave a 8cm gap so you can insert the elastic.
Thread the elastic through this casing you have created, A good tip is to use 2 safety pins. One on the end to help you thread it through the channel you've created, and use the other on the other end of the elastic to secure it to the seam by the opening. That way you won't pull the elastic right through by mistake.
Safety pin the elastic closed, and try your skirt on. Adjust the elastic as necessary and when you are happy with the elastic length, sew it together and then sew the gap closed. Even out the gathers.
Hem the skirt. I used a fold, stitch, cut and stitch again method which worked really well on this chiffon.
Fold the fabric wrong sides together to 1/4cm longer than you want the finished length to be and top stitch. I found loosening off my top tension a little gave me a smooth result.
Cut away any excess hem really close to the stitches without actually cutting them.
Fold the hem again and stitch over the previous stitches.
That's it, your skirt is made. You can wear it just like this or make a matching belt to cover the elastic.
Take the 50cm wide piece of chiffon you removed at the beginning. Cut off the pearl part.
Measure you waist and add 6cm. Mine is 70cm + 6cm so my fabric was 50cm x 76cm. I only had a couple of cms to remove for my size so if you waist is more you may need to join 2x 50cm lengths of chiffon.
Lay the piece of chiffon flat and make 5 even pleats in the bottom half leaving a 13cm gap at the top and a 2.5cm gap at the bottom. (the photo shows it best)
Press then pin and tack these in place.
Fold in half lengthways then stitch round the 3 open sides, leaving a 8cm gap in the middle of the long side.
Turn out and slip stitch the gap. Press again.
Cut 4 x 8cm lengths of ribbon and fold to form loops. Attach these evenly to one end of the belt with 2 rows of stitching.
Try the belt on so you can mark where to sew on the buttons. Whilst it's on, mark the side points of the belt too then take it off and add a line of stitching to help keep the pleats pleated.
Sew the buttons on.
Take 2 x 10cm lengths of thin ribbon and sew them to the waist band on either side of the dress. You can thread the belt through these ribbon loops to keep the belt snugly over the elastic.
This is the most lovely swishy skirt, and I'm loving this midi length, it feels so elegant.
As the chiffon is doubled on the top half and the skirt is very full I'm feeling covered enough You could wear a slip too if you thought it necessary but I did check and nothing is showing that shouldn't be!
The wind caught it a little whilst we were taking photos. The pearl border weights it a little though so nothing embarrassing happened!
Thanks for reading,
Julie @ Sum of their Stories
#minervamakes #minervamakers #isew #memade #memades #sewing #sewist #sewists #sewinginspo #sewinginspiration #sew #sewcialist #sewingproject #sewingprojects #sewingideas #sewingprojectideas #sewingpatterninspo #lovesewing #ilovesewing #sewsewsew #sewersgonnasew #makersgonnamake #sewaholic #sewaholics #shareyoursewing #sewinglove #handmadewardrobe #handemadeclothes #isewmyclothes #diyclothes #dressmaking #fabricinspo #seamstress #memadeeveryday #imakemyclothes #imakemyownclothes #fashion #fashioninspo #memadewardrobe #memadefashion #diyfashion #diywardrobe #fashionsewing #sewingskirts #sewingpartywear #occasionskirt #sewingwithchiffon #chiffonsewingprojects #pink #beadedchiffon #elasticatedwaist #selfdrafted