Procraftination #1 (or how to make a wraparound skirt...)

I'm not sure what mornings are like for you, but they kind of go like this for me once the kids have gone to school...

Take in surroundings. Sigh. List everything that needs to be done - be it hoovering, mopping, washing up, hanging washing out, clearing breakfast gubbins away, cleaning bathroom, tidying bedrooms, putting clothes away, sorting piles of paperwork, food shopping, sorting cupboards (although now we are getting REALLY ambitious!!) Anyway - all of it needs to be done. So, what do I do?

Ummmm.....

Anything, absolutely anything to avoid doing any of it. Normally I check emails, then faff around on facebook for about half an hour clicking buzzfeed links or watching "hilarious" videos people have posted. But what I ALWAYS want to do, and what I mostly can't resist doing, is making. Making anything, but it has to be with fabric. 

I go to my cave, my little fabric haven and make. Make a skirt. Make a lampshade. Cover a chair. Make a cushion. Make a curtain. Sew. Sew. Sew. I don't need any of it, but it's so much more fun, don't you think?!

So, this post is to show you what I made the other day. When my kitchen needed cleaning, when the washing up needed to be done, when there was a billion and one things that HAD to be done. I decided to make a wraparound skirt. I have quite a few shift dresses I have made in various vintage fabrics, but I decided upon a skirt. A simple A-line wraparound skirt. Easy peasy lemon squeezy and can be done in less than an hour. Once you've worked out the mathematics of it!!

So. First things first. You need measurements. This depends on your size and shape, but the beauty is you can make it to YOUR specifications! Decide upon where you want the skirt to sit - whether it is round the waist or hips and measure this. We'll call this measurement X. Next, decide on your length - mini, midi, knee length, it's entirely up to you. We'll call this measurement Y. I am working in inches by the way, so if you prefer cm's then you will need to convert accordingly!

Next, we need to draw a trapezium shape based on our measurements. You can make a pattern piece out of newspaper, or I just draw it onto fabric once I've worked it out.

You need to use these sums...

A = [1.5(X + 3)] x .3

B = Y + 1.5

C = [1.5(X + 3)] x .4

But don't worry, I'll talk you through it using my own measurements.
My X (hips) is 39, and my Y (length) is 24. So here we go.

39 + 3 = 42 x 1.5 = 63 x .3 = 18.9
(I've rounded it up to 19, and this is now A)
24 + 1.5 = 25.5
(this is now B)
39 + 3 = 42 x 1.5 = 63 x .4 = 25.2
(I've rounded this down to 25, and this is now C)

I hope you are still with me!!! Here's a handy (really rushed, rubbishy) drawing as to the shape that needs to be cut out from your fabric, and you need 3 of these shapes.

To mix things up, I've used two different fabrics for my skirt, and a third for the waistband...

So! That was the hardest bit!! Now you've got to cut out the fabric and sew them together! Remember the run of the fabric when you are cutting out - you don't want the pattern upside down or sideways on...



Just to complicate things even more, I fold the fabric and then halve the measurements at the top and bottom and draw a line between the two points. Then cut, and you have the full trapezium. It has to be a symmetrical shape, just remember this, and this technique just makes it easier for me.









And when sewing (right sides together), sew piece A onto piece B and then piece B on to piece C. You can overlock the edges if you so wish, and yes, if I was making these to sell then I wouldn't leave any raw edges, but this is for me, I've got half an hour to make a skirt before I can put the washing up off any longer and so I'm breaking a few rules!!





You can then hem both sides and all along the bottom. Best way to do this is to press a cm in, and then press again. Then sew. (I am presuming while typing this that my readers have a basic knowledge of sewing so please shout if you get stuck at any point!)







Next is the waistband. I made a reeeeaally long one as I wanted it to be a feature, I can tie it in a bow if I like or just let it dangle. So mine is 5" wide by 145", but to be fair I think this is too long even for me! You need to be able to wrap the length round you twice to have a comfortable length to be able to thread through and tie. I had a big vintage sheet so I could cut a couple of really long lengths and sew them together, but you may need to cut quite a lot of lengths and sew them together to get what you need. Just remember to press the seams open when you've sewn the lengths together.



Fold in seams (about a cm) and fold in half, and press. Find the centre point of the waistband and the centre part of your skirt and pin in place with the raw top edge of the skirt tucked inside the band. Pin all along the top of the skirt, making sure you catch both sides of the waistband with the pins. Then sew along the whole looooong length!









Then a buttonhole! This is to thread the waistband through as you wrap it round your waist. Hopefully you will know how to do this on your sewing machine, although you may need to check your machine instructions (which I did!) You will need to wrap your skirt around you to see where you want the buttonhole to be, but it is usually around where two of the first panels meet. Then measure and sew your buttonhole according to the instructions.

Then another press all over and you're done!!

Ta-daaa!!

 

Attempted selfies of front and back in my studio mirror...



...and one taken by daughter... I love the combo of the three fabrics together!

And here's another one I made with some more gorgeous vintage fabric. You could do a double sided one, add pockets and trims if you were feeling really adventurous!! 

I hope it wasn't too complicated - it is very straightforward when I am doing it but when having to write it there seems to be a lot of garbled instructions... maybe I need to do a little video tutorial too!!

Good luck, have fun, and please show me what you make!!



Anyway - now back to that washing up.....

Helen
xx

First workshop - a success...!

Well the title says it all really - after my initial doubts and nerves, my very first workshop was a success!

Here are a few photos of the day to whet your appetite and maybe tempt you to join me next time... 

Lunch was provided by The Holt and consisted of some freshly baked bread, meats, cheeses, salads and houmous and dips - delicious!! 

Each and every lampshade was just beautifully made, each and every lampshade completely unique and original to the maker...

Downstairs, there was a breadmaking course! And all this - in a pub on a Monday. Fantastic!!

And here are a few pictures of the lampshades in situ. They look wonderful don't they?

I would love you to join me for the next one!!

Saturday 14th June - Blackborough Village Hall

Saturday 28th June - INC, Exmouth

And for an exact replica of the above; 

Monday 21st July - The Holt, Honiton

I look forward to seeing you!!

A new venture...

I am so sorry it's been so long since my last blog post!! *slaps wrist*

I guess the reason for this is that I have been so busy exploring new avenues...

For a number of years now I have been really tempted to start doing some workshops. But lots of things have put me off, mainly my confidence! But also, the logistics of setting up sewing workshops - what ability must people have? Should they have their own machine? Or should/could I hire some? What projects are suitable for beginners? Or should I do a more intermediate class? As you can see, lots of questions, and so it was easier to just put it on the back burner for a while.

And then, since making my lampshades, I had an idea. A workshop where everyone is at the same level, a class where everyone is starting from the same place, no-one needs a sewing machine, no-one needs to be particularly artistic or creative but can come away with something very professional looking that they have created with their own hands! A seed was sown...

I decided that before I committed to the workshops, I needed a trial run. So I got my best girls together (or those who were willing and available!) to try out my lesson. And I am pleased to say it was an enormous success. It was a beautiful sunny evening and I had the use of a friends barn, a few bottles of wine and half a dozen enthusiastic participants! 

 

They all completed a beautiful shade which they were so proud of, and each one was totally unique. They thought beforehand about what room they wanted it to go in, whether it was to fit on a base or a ceiling. None of them are particularly creative, and would admit themselves to being 'completely useless' at anything like that, and were all gobsmacked at what they managed to produce. One friend even said 'I wouldn't have ever thought I would want to make a lampshade, but now I want to make more!'

I was decided. This was happening. I was starting to get really excited by this! 

Next stop - venue. Where would I put these on? I wanted Honiton. It's a beautiful town, I spend a lot of time there and it has a good footfall of people going through. It's also full of independent shops and there is a lot of creativity within it.

I put the feelers out and finally got in touch with Joe, who runs The Holt, a gorgeous bar & restaurant which I find any excuse to go and eat or drink in. If you haven't been, you really should. It's stunning. So I was over the moon when Joe seemed as keen as I was about the workshops! He even said he would provide lunch for my customers - a wonderful added extra. 

And so that is where I am right now. Just about to dip my toe in the world of teaching! I am very nervous but really hoping they are a success as I am so excited about this. I can picture intermediate and advanced workshops as well as beginners. I can picture house parties, hen parties and more. I am determined to make this work, and would love you to join me on my journey.

You can book into my very first workshop (I still have two spaces left) which is being held on Monday 26th May. You will be spoilt with reams of fabric, rolls of wallpaper and piles of trims to create your very own lampshade (even if you didn't realise you wanted one!) There will be tea and coffee on tap and at the end of the morning a delicious lunch. What could be better?! Please let me know if you would like to book. I am asking £40 per person which includes absolutely everything and you come away proud as punch able to say 'I made that!'

And please watch this space as I have more booked - at my local village hall and also at INC - a gorgeous little gem of a shop in Exmouth. 

I would love it if you could help me spread the word. Thank you so much!!

Helen x