Ruffle Skirt Tutorial

School starts next week, so I've been busy making sure I have everything ready. I am excited and kinda nervous at the same time, so wish me luck!

So for today's tutorial, I thought I would share the skirt that I wore on Sunday. I got lots of compliments, and I am quite happy with how it turned out.

All you will need an old skirt or slip, and scrap fabric (most of my pieces were from old sheets).

Step 1: Cut your scrap fabric into strips 6in wide and as long as you can make them.You are going to piece together any short ones and cut long ones to length as you go. Zigzag or serge any raw edges (feel free to use the finished selvage) and gather the ruffle about 1/2 in from one long edge.

 

Step 2:  Start with one of your longer strips, and pin it around the circumference of your hem. If if is too long, cut it an inch longer than you need, and pin under the extra to hide the raw edge. If it is too short, grab another strip, tuck the raw edge under and continue pinning. Sew. Join the tucked under raw edges with a straight stitch (perpendicular to your gather). Be sure not to stitch into your skirt. (And no, this is not my first ruffle. I thought the contrast would help you see  better.)

Step 3: Continue pinning, stitching and joining until your skirt is covered in ruffles. You can alternate fabrics and textures to give you skirt more interest. Be sure to stretch your skirt as you pin and sew if it is stretchy material or has an elastic waistband. I alternated where I started each ruffle (right side, then left) so that I didn't have all my ruffle seams in a line. For a zippered skirt, cut your ruffle off at each side of the zipper, and finish the raw edge as described above.

Don't worry about being perfect. The imperfections will give it more charm.

So, here's my finished skirt. I didn't have quite enough of my favorite fabric, so my top ruffle is only 4 or 5in wide.

I hope that all made sense. Please let me know if you have any questions. I would love to hear from you.
Good luck to those starting school soon!

Large button-up to pintuck blouse

First of all, if you haven't noticed, I have moved! After posting last week, one of my friends let me know that in order for a reader to comment on my blog they had to have a Wordpress account... and nobody wants to get another account just to comment on a blog. So, I decided to move over to Blogger where things seemed easier for the reader in general, and Google users can now comment on my posts.

Second, I have a new tutorial for you guys. I got the inspiration from this site, but of course I had to do my own version. (Especially since it will be a really long time until I need anything maternity.)

Step1: Find a large button-up shirt. I think this was a man's shirt.

Step2: If it has pockets, carefully remove them.

Step 3: Cut off the sleeves and down each side along the seam. Carefully take out the shoulder seams. You must leave the seam allowance on the shoulder to re-sew later.

Step 4: Decide how many pintucks you want. Be sure that the blouse will still be able to fit after alterations. I took 4 tucks 1/4 in wide so I marked 8 lines 1/2 in apart, most of the way down the shirt.

Step 5: Pin the tucks, matching the lines all the way down.

Step 6: Sew the tucks along your marks.

 Step 7: Press them. I liked mine pressed towards the center.

Step 8: Turn inside out and stitch the shoulder seam back up.

Step 9: Lay a well fitting shirt on top and, leaving an extra inch for seam allowance (maybe a little more if your example top stretches), trim around it. Be sure the front of your new blouse is buttoned or your measurement might be off. Then, stitch up the sides with about 1/2 in seam allowance.

Step 11: Pin the sleeves on, with the shirt inside out, and the right side of the sleeve to the right side of the shirt, pleating the top of the sleeve to fit the new hole. Once you like it, stitch around the sleeve.

That's it! No one will ever know that this was once manly.

I am really loving the loose sleeves, and the cute fitted front. I would love to see your version!

Pants to Shorts

I wanted to do an easy tutorial to begin with, so why not something season appropriate; turning an old pair of pants into cute shorts. One of my sisters cleaned out her closet recently, and I snatched a few things that I thought I could fix, including a pair of striped pants that were much too short, but the waist fit well. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the "before" since I hacked off the bottom before I thought, "oh, I could use this as a tutorial," but I think you'll get the idea.

Step 1: try on the pants and mark/ pin where you want the edge of your shorts to be, add about 2 inches for the hem and cut straight across.

Step 2: Try on the shorts again. If there's a flare at the bottom like this: 

...then you will need to follow the next few steps. If you like how it looks, you can skip to step 5

Step 3: Turn your new shorts inside out and lay a pair of shorts that fit well on top, also inside out. (This might also work with skinny jeans) Align the seams on the outer edge.  

Step 4: Pin along the inside edge of the top shorts, then sew along the pin line, continuing straight to the bottom edge of your new pants. Cut off the extra seam allowance on the inside of the leg. 

Step 5: Roll your new shorts' hem edge over 1/4 to 1/2 in and press, matching the side seams, and, if you have them, stripes. This will help keep your hem flat. (Sorry, this picture was taken right side out, but I would recommend doing this step with the pants right side in.) 

Step 6: Fold over another 1 and 1/2 inches, and press again. (Still matching the stripes.) (This one is right side in again.)

 

Step 7: Stitch right along the edge of your last fold. 

Step 8: Turn right side out and you're done! Now go wear them. 

Let me know what you think of my first tutorial! I would be glad to answer any questions you may have for me.

First Post!

Hooray! The website is finally up! I'm super excited to start blogging. I have been taking pictures of all of my recent upcycling projects in hopes of making fun tutorials for you.

For anyone I haven't met yet, I suppose I should introduce me. I'm Diane Barney and I'm 19. I am currently working on my associate's degree in general arts. I love reading, and writing stories, playing the violin, singing, drawing and pretty much any kind of craft you can think of. I am the 4th out of 5 kids in my family, and I am so grateful to be a member if the LDS church. I hope that you enjoy the blog, and I would love to hear from you in the future.