Life in Tee Harbor, Alaska

Sewing My First Skirt and Teaching a Kid to Sew

I was inspired last Friday to try making myself a skirt.  On my lunch hour, I went shopping at JoAnns for some appropriate fabric.  I fell in love with a black courderoy with a cool embroidered design at the bottom - pink/tan with sequins.  Very fancy!

I bought a pattern awhile back for skirts and used one that looked pretty simple.  It has a waistband piece and the skirt piece with elastic around the waist.  I was really excited to start when I got home on Friday.  I layed out the pattern on the fabric and got the pieces cut.  I got the waistband made with the pocket for the elastic.  I sewed the edges of the skirt at the sides and basted the top where there are gathers and it joins with the waistband.  It got late, so I finished it up on Saturday.  Sewed the skirt to the waistband, evening out the gathers as I went along.  Then I sewed the hem.  That wasn't too bad - all done!  It came out pretty stiff because of the fabric I choose, but hey it is only my first one!

I had also purchased some brown, soft microsuede at JoAnns (50% off like the courderoy!), so I wanted to try another skirt style.  I need something not so bulky around my waist, did some searching and found a simple gored skirt that sounded like what I needed.  Tonight I layed it out, cut the pieces, and sewed it up all in just a few hours.  It drapes much better than the other one does and I can't wait to wash it and wear it!  Here is the pattern that I used:  http://home.aol.com/lclacemker/goreskirt1.html

I also taught my niece Karissa to use my sewing machine this weekend (I have a Bernina Virtuosa 153). 

She has asked many times if I would teach her.  I saw on Crystal's website where she made a simple dress using a t-shirt (http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/tshirtdress.html).  This sounded like a fun project for us to try.  She picked out some fabric that she liked - navy blue, silky fabric with silver sparkly swirls.  I bought her a white shirt with silver sparklies to use instead of the t-shirt.  We practiced on scrap fabric - how to lift and lower the presser foot, how to use the peddal, what buttons do what.  She did so well!  Then I showed her how to change the stitch type.  Within an hour she was practicing all by herself!  I ended up doing most of the sewing on the dress because the fabric was so slippery, but she had fun anyway.  And she loves her dress!  She couldn't quit twirling around. 

I had a great time and it feels so good to be able to pass on the skills.  It made me think back to when I learned how to sew from our neighbor lady, June.  My mom also taught me on the machine, but June's machine had all the cool different stitches!

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11:45 PM, Sunday, December 3, 2006 .. Posted by katenicholl

Wow! The fabric is just gorgeous! I'm sure the finished skirt is lovely.
My little girl is getting a small sewing machine for Christmas ( a working toy one....I had one as a child!) so hopefully she'll learn to sew on that!

Catherine :o)

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6:57 AM, Sunday, December 10, 2006 .. Posted by Mom

Your skirt material is beautiful - Charissa's dress is really something - She sure is growing up - your snow is really deep - looks like the November of 94 when we had 6 feet in November - love you Mom