Thursday, July 21, 2016

"Skirting the issue" blog tour: multi functional skirt



The month July is traditionally "skirting the issue" month at Simpel Simon and co. Here you can read more about the beautiful idea behind it. Project Run and Play is joining in on the fun with a blog tour on the topic.  The blog tour will feature all kind of cool skirts to get you in the mood for skirt sewing. I personally am more of a dress sewer, than skirt sewer, the project I made is the perfect compromise.



In March, I made a funny picture of my girl in a maxi skirt tied on her like a dress (pre-picture for an upcycle). The skirt had draw strings and those became the halter strings. There was a huge amount of fabric hidden on her back, but I was intrigued by the idea. For this post I therefore drafted a multi functional garment, maxi skirt and dress (earlier this week I showed you another multi functional type of clothing).



The two ways you can wear this garment is either as a maxi skirt with a double folded waistband, or as a halter dress. The neck bands are hidden between the waistband layers if it functions as a skirt. The neckband is fastened with two snaps. This way the ties did not have to be very long. I first experimented with the ties immediately going around her neck, like I did in the original pre-picture. That way the buttonholes started gaping a bit. By crossing the straps on the front that problem disappeared. If I would have angled the button holes, made them a bit smaller or used grommets the gaping would not have been a problem I assume, I do like the front cross, so it was a happy mistake.



I used the Litore* from Sofilantjes* to make my dress. I started with the maxi skirt pattern piece, you could also use this tutorial from earlier on the blog tour that explains how to draw an A line skirt. Then I cut a wide jersey band with the height of two times the bodice (without the straps). The band will be folded to create the bodice, that is why you need the Litore height two times. The width of the jersey band was the total chest width of the finished Litore dress (that was laying next to me on the floor while cutting). If you are drawing the pattern from scratch you just determine how high you would like the double folded waistband to be. That height times four is the needed height for the jersey band (plus 2 times seam allowence). For the length you measure the circumference of your child's body where you want the band to be (my girl is a just-above-the-hip wearer, so that is another measure then her waist. I eyeballed the length of the straps. You can fold your tape measure around your child to get an estimation, jersey stretches, so you have to keep that in mind.



The construction is very straight forward. Sew the two skirt pieces together. Create the strap that will form the halter. Determine the location of the button holes, they should be around the middle of the jersey band both width and length wise. I drew two marks on the back side of the fabric. Make button holes and pull the strap through the holes, close the waistband piece by sewing the short sides together and sew the band to the skirt. I tagged the neck band in place with a few stitches at the back, I already have too many strings floating around the house. Hem or leave the bottom unfinished.


Although I still love my blind hem stitch, I am also still experimenting with possible better ways to hem (still trying to avoid buying a coverlock). This time, I hemmed the  dress with a decorative honeycomb stitch, I was very satisfied with the result. The fabric are from Joyfits, I bought the last piece of the candy stripes fabric, but there are many more very dicounted fabric where this one came from.


Feel free to leave a comment in the language you prefer (although Google translate might have to assist me if you choose something different than English, German, Dutch or Hungarian). If you buy anything through my affiliate links (*), I get a small commission (the price stays the same for you), I am very grateful for everything that feeds my fabric addiction. 

4 comments:

  1. Leuk! Als jurk vind ik deze wel het leukst.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! Ik ben erg onder de indruk van deze jurk/rok. Super!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this idea!! I have a Craft Gossip post scheduled for this evening that features your tutorial: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=88906 --Anne

    ReplyDelete
  4. Heel leuk gevonden! En de manier waarop het koord rond haar nek zit, vind ik heel elegant. Topfout ;)

    ReplyDelete