New Skirt!

Hello!

It has been a few days since my last post, but I've been busy sewing! Yesterday, I finished a skirt that I have been trying to make. It took me three tries, but I finally got it right! The skirt is from the pattern "Stella Strip Skirt," by Serendipity Studio. There aren't any pattern pieces because the skirt is made entirely from 2 1/2 inch strips. You can make it any length you would like. The skirt has pleats, and it was my first time working with pleats. That is one reason I messed up on the first try. I sewed the pleats backwards!! It was very upsetting at first, especially since I used my favorite fabric. I decided to try again. The pleats looked great, but it didn't fit! I made the wrong size!! Finally on my third try, everything went well. I sewed the pleats the right way, I made the right size and I only had to use the seam ripper for minor mistakes. I had one issue with the waistband though. The waistband has four rows of 3/8" elastic, and it was supposed to lay flat. Well, mine wasn't laying flat so I emailed the designer, Kay Whitt. She is a genius! She knew right away what the problem was - I didn't pull the first two rows of elastic tight enough. Sure enough, after I did that the problem was fixed.

Without further ado, here are pictures of my new skirt.

Me wearing my new skirt.

Close up of my new skirt.

I hope you enjoyed looking at the pictures! This skirt was very easy to make, once I made it the right size and understood the pleats. It took me two days to make. I will be wearing it for my high school graduation and entering in the fair for my 4-H clothing project!

 

Sewing Bug

It's official...I've caught the sewing bug. Yesterday, I was busy sewing all day and I got a lot done! I started the day by sewing a birthday present for my friend. I also made some rag quilt numbers. I just have to put them in the washer and dryer so the edges will fray. Now I have a number and letter set. I want to start an etsy shop, so I might sell the ABC letters and the numbers once I get my shop up and running.

My third project was a purse. I combined two patterns I have and changed them both to make my own design! I'm really happy with the way it turned out. The colors are mostly red and black. One side is made with vertical strips of fabric.The other side is one color with a pocket in the middle. The inside has nine pockets and I put a Velcro closure in it. The handles are 22 inches long. I've decided to call it "The Justine Bag" after a good friend.



One side of the bag



Other side of bag, with pocket.

Inside of bag. The red, black, white and gray stripe fabric is the pockets. The music fabric is the lining.

Today I haven't been doing any sewing, but I've sure been thinking about it and doing a lot of brainstorming for more bags/purses. For example, a patchwork bag with squares, a bag with horizontal strips, a reversible bag, small purses, larger tote bags . . . the possibilities are endless!

First Post

Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Elizabeth and I will be graduating from high school in a couple of weeks. I will be going to college in the fall, which is both exciting and scary! I love to sew! I have been sewing quilts, bags, purses and other accessories for about five years, but I have just recently had the desire to sew my own clothes. I would love to have a whole wardrobe of handmade clothes someday! Purses are probably my favorite thing to sew. I have some of my own and I have given many away as gifts. I hope to write about my adventures in the sewing world on this blog. As I am finished with school for the year, I hope to have a summer filled with sewing! Once I start, it's hard to stop because I'm having so much fun!

That is all for my first post. Enjoy!