Needle arts and Crafts

Sometimes we want something that isn’t available anywhere, so how do we get that. The answer is simple – make it yourself. But what if you have never made anything yourself? So it’s time to learn then.

I purchased linen trousers sometime ago but unfortunately fabric wasn’t of the best quality. I wore them once and the fabric next to back seam has split. I mended it and it’s split again. I was so upset, new trousers absolutely impossible to wear and I feel sorry to bin them.

I was thinking what could I do with them, probably repurpose somehow. Then I decided to turn them into a skirt.

We all have seen those skirts made from trousers and I don’t like that "trouskirt" idea. So I came up with proper skirt idea, and to make it more "skity" I decided to add some lace to it.

It was difficult to find lace that would match the style of skirt and a fabric and would be of necessary width and pattern. So I decided to make one.

I started from cutting off the legs and uraveling all the seams

Ironed on all the pieces and folded along the lengh

Placed all 4 folded pieces on top pf each other and marked the centre

Cut them in half to make 8 panels

Measured hips and devided to 8 + 2cm seam allowance, in my case it is 18cm (top of the panel)

Bottom of the panel made as wide as fabric permitted

cuted first panel and used it as a guide to cut the restof the panels

That was my mistake when unraveled the seams i was rushing and cut into fabric, so be careful not to repeat my mistakes. I mended the cut with zigzag or it can be covered with some applique

Placed panel guide on to second piece and cuted accordingly

Did so for the rest of the panels

Now it's time to sew panels into skirt. I used serger to assemble the panels, but zigzag will do too

Next step was attaching the panels to the skirt top

Tip: for plus size skirts you can see the fron part is shorter than the bottom, do not worry, after the skirt is finished this will look even, not like majority of hight street skirts are shorter at the back.
Here we go, skirt is ready and it can go like this, but I wanted to make it prettier so decided to add lace.

I left the hem just overlocked, but here many options available:, heming, adding lace or ribbons, ect

Then I crocheted lase and attached it to the joining seam of the top and panels

Here we go. My skirt is ready

My new skirt

I am happy with my new skirt and got the bug for it, so next one followed immediately

Same technology, Old jeans, some lace, ribbons...

Cut the top off and unravel leg seams. Ironing is crusial to make panels straight.

Fold the pieces in half and cut

Then measure hips and devide into 8 + seam allowance

Cut the panels

Sew the panels same way and attach to the top of the skirt

Add lace ot ribbons ect to your liking

I found somewhere on internet questions on how to finish neck opening on crepe satin dress...

I was actually making one for myself and decided to take step by step pictures along my work.
I hope it will be usefull to someone who struggles with finishing neck opening... And same technique is good for other fabrics too.

First of all I cut the front and back neck facing and very fine iron-on interfacing repeating the actual neck openinghy about 4cm wide.

I layed pieces on iterfacing close to each other in order to save interfacing, I did not notice much difference what way you lay pieces on interfacing as after ironing you will not notice anything
Just remember for soft fabrics interfacing should be even softer and finer

Iron on the interfacing

I have 2pics for back facing, sew them together face to face

I use pins to keep pieces in place...

... and take the pins out when sewing. I used to keep pins in and sew through them but sometimes needle hits the pin and breaks so I pull pin out just before needle sew through