circle(d)skirt
i have been doing a tremendous amount of sewing lately. once upon a time, not so long ago, i was addicted to knitting, and my sewing projects had fallen to the wayside. the reverse is now true…sewing is the obsession in my creative life that appears to be taking the lead as of late.
on that note, a recently completed design/sewing project:
it’s a simple full circle skirt, made of vintage denim that i thrifted way, way back. the pattern was drafted by me, to fit myself. super simple. all seams and the hem were finished with hand-cut bias binding, cut from the scraps of some hand-dyed indigo blue cotton i bought at a quilting fabric shop many moons ago.
i’ve been loving the idea of circle skirts lately: the sheer volume of their fabric, the swish they make when one walks, the ease that is inherent in their both their creation and their wear. very feminine, very classic, very versatile. sometimes on-trend, but also outside of the trends…always and forever relevant.
May 30 2007 | Posted in creative dabblings., fashion musing, yarn insanity.
May 30 2007 at 3:17 pm
JeannineYes, I too love circle skirts =)
May 30 2007 at 3:56 pm
AshleyCircle skirts are lovely, and the one you made is no exception! It’s hard to tell, but it looks like there is some contrast in the lines on the skirt, which looks lovely. I love the stitch detailing in the denim (which seems like it would add a greater swish, etc.)
I’d love to see a close-up of the collar on the form, too! It looks beautiful! (Perhaps something to see on the Bits and Bobbins Shop section?)
May 30 2007 at 4:18 pm
PaperDollyGirlLove it!! Does it have a zipper in the back? I am with you on the switch to sewing. I think I’m giving up knitting for the most part while I’m in grad school. It just takes too long to finish projects and it’s so frustrating. Thanks for sharing your work!
May 30 2007 at 4:43 pm
triciapaperdollygirl: yes, there is a zipper in the center back. i personally don’t want to give up knitting altogether. i love them both….but i want to achieve some sort of balance.
May 30 2007 at 4:44 pm
pamela wynneFabulous skirt!! And the bias binding is a really lovely detail.
May 30 2007 at 5:25 pm
SusanI love full skirts, too. Make the gams look thinner. And girl, you really know how to finish!
May 30 2007 at 5:46 pm
Joyful AbodeI’ve moved from crocheting to sewing too…maybe it’s the warm weather? How do you use that tiny bias binding without it slipping off? I wrestled with some last night before I just decided to use a wider version.
May 30 2007 at 5:51 pm
triciajoyful abode: the bias binding isn’t tiny. when i start, it’s about 1.5 inches wide. i sew a 1/4″ seam, fold/wrap the binding around to the other side, stitch in the ditch, and then trim off the excess.
May 30 2007 at 6:10 pm
jenniferyou’re such a sewing maven. i’ll never be able to sew so well. do you finish by hand? also, i love that all your pieces are fully finished. there’s nothing like a well-made garment.
May 30 2007 at 6:14 pm
triciajennifer: i finish some things by hand, sometimes. like, for instance, the hem of the skirt was hand-stitched. but what can be done by machine is done by machine, of course.
May 30 2007 at 6:18 pm
natalieI love your circle skirt! Your seams look absolutely perfect. Can’t wait to see a pic of you wearing it.
May 30 2007 at 8:39 pm
jordanalovely work!
do you have any advice for making one’s own bias binding? are those little arrow-shaped tools helpful? i am going to have to make a lot of linen binding for my historical clothing project and i am a bit intimidated, having not tried it before.
May 30 2007 at 8:54 pm
triciajordana:
this link might be helpful: http://www.sewnews.com/resources/qa/qa0306c/
basically, i fold the fabric on a 45 degree angle at one end, and use a ruler and rotary cutter to cut strips of the desired width. i then make sure the edges are also on a 45 degree angle, and sew each end together, forming a continuous strip. the ruler i use really helps: it’s a 3″ wide, 18″ long quilting ruler that actually has some of the angles on it for easy reference. you can get it at joann fabrics and other sewing notion stores, from a brand called “omnigrid”. the rotary cutter makes things quick…you don’t have to mark the fabric and cut it with scissors…it saves a step.
i’ve never used the bias tape makers, and as such, know little about them.
good luck!
May 30 2007 at 9:15 pm
stacyIt’s beautiful even on the inside!
On the bias tape makers, they can be a real lifesaver if you have lots to make.
May 30 2007 at 9:52 pm
CaseyI love circle skirts!! Can’t wait to see what outfits you wear it with…
May 31 2007 at 9:39 am
rachaelThe skirt looks so great!
This is unrelated, but can you tell me about the bookshelf in the pictures? Where is it from?
May 31 2007 at 9:41 am
triciarachael: it’s from ikea.
June 1 2007 at 10:05 am
hoyani love that striped denim (again!) and the way it’s used here makes a wonderful mix utilitarianism and femininity. it makes me want to go ‘hooray!’
June 1 2007 at 9:14 pm
MarlenaOh! Those seams! What beautiful work. I hope one day to sew beautifully finished, tailored garments… but knitting has been winning over here.
Now that I think of it, I’m so glad you posted your seams, because I just finished a skirt made of boucle, and wondered how on earth I could stop the seams and hem from unraveling. I’m so afraid to wear it that it’s still sitting on my dress form, frayed hem and all.