Yarn Heaven

This week I am in Austin, TX, with my students on a school trip. I love this town for so many reasons (like the food), but I think number one on my list is Hill Country Weavers. This store is amazing. Every time I go in there I get lost in the colors, textures, and overall appeal of the store. I think you would have a great time even if you aren't into yarn crafts really, it is just that great. The staff is just wonderful, they are always incredibly friendly when I stop in. 

This time I noticed, in true Austin style, a sign above the register that said "see it here, love it here, buy it here, keep us here". Really a great reminder to us all to support small business. I have many friends who buy their yarn online just to save time and a few bucks but I couldn't go without touching, feeling, and seeing the yarn in person before purchasing. I think that takes the fun out of deciding on the perfect yarn for a project. 

What project you ask? Stick around, as soon as I decide on what to make I will let you know. I did pick up a few skeins of Blue Sky, worsted cotton in a beautiful gray and light teal color. I just love them. I'm thinking a granny square lap blanket. What do you think?

DIY Maxi Skirt

I have pinned so many DIY maxi tutorials, and they are all different. Last summer, as many of my friends know, I made a TON of custom maxi skirts. They are so easy. I have developed my own special method, not that it is any easier or harder really, just my own method. I love to use jersey knit fabric, but any fabric with a slight stretch will work!

Supplies:
2 1/2 yards of stretchy fabric (gives you wiggle room)
Coordinating Thread
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Pins
Measuring tape





Step 1: Measure

Measure yourself. Be honest here. I know some of us don't like our hip and waist measurements, but your skirt won't fit if you aren't honest. Measure around your hips (or wherever you want your skirt to sit) and from there to the floor. Write that down. Next measure your step. What? Yes, your step. walk around a little while and stop, mid step, and measure from ankle to ankle. This is how big (plus a few inches) you want the bottom of each piece to be. I'll explain later. 


My measurements (size 10/12, and really tall):
Hip:39"
Hip to Floor: 40"
Step: 24"

You will see how they are used later, I will refer back to my measurements for consistency.

Step 2: Cut

You will need four pieces. Well, two sets of two different pieces. The first one is for the body of the skirt. You will want to fold your fabric right sides together, hotdog style, so that when you cut your piece is symmetrical. The top part is 1/4 of your hip measurement, the bottom is 1/2 of your step. So mine was almost 10" at the top, and 12" at the bottom. Measure down the fold your hip to floor measurement, out the top and bottom lengths, and then connect with a line. It should look like a right isosceles trapezoid (sorry, i'm a math teacher). I generally put a ton of pins in here to hold the fabric while i'm cutting. Remember, DO NOT CUT THE FOLD. that would not be good. 

Cut two of those. One is the front, and one is the back of your skirt.

Next you need the band that will hold it on your waist. It should be two rectangles, so you can just fold your fabric and cut two at the same time. Length is half your hip measurement, then the other is 8". Got it? Two rectangles, mine were about 19.5"x8"

Step 3: Assemble!

Your band is already there, right sides together, so just pin them so they don't move around and you're good. Sew down the short sides with a straight stitch.

The skirt pieces need to be opened up (unpin, if that wasn't obvious) and put them right sides together. Align the top, bottom, and sides as best you can. They may or may not have turned out exactly the same, but thats okay. Sew down the sides (the legs of the the isosceles trapezoid for you math nerds). Just a straight stitch, nothing fancy.

Now it gets tricky.

You need to invert the body of the skirt so its right side out. Now fold the band in half right sides out, its a tube now and you're folding to keep the tube shape (does that make sense?). You need to pin the band to the skirt right sides together, with the band on the outside of the skirt (think of it as inserting the skirt INTO the tube, non fold edge lining up with the top of the skirt).  Line it up so that both side seams are together. Confusing, I know. Pin all the edges together around the top of the skirt, there should be 3 layers. 

Step 4: Sew! (again)

Sew around the band/skirt edge, all the way around the top of the skirt. It is one big circle at this point (just making sure we are on the same page). The tricky part is at the side seams where it is super thick. Just go slow, your machine can handle it. At this point I use a zig zag stitch, it allows for more stretch. Now unfold the band and voila! You have a maxi skirt! I bet you feel pretty good about yourself huh?






An option at this point: you can hem the bottom of the skirt by folding it under half an inch and stitching, but I don't always. No one looks down there anyways. 

Another option: If you have a larger...umm.... butt area..... add a few more inches to the bottom measurement of the skirt. This will allow it to open faster at the top of the skirt, and not fit so tight.

Thanks! Leave comments, post pics of your finished work, ask questions. Happy crafting!

"You should blog" they say.....

Well, I've had three suggestions this week alone to start a blog. Maybe people are getting tired of my Facebook posts? Maybe they are wanting more information on my many weekend projects? I'm going to choose to be optimistic and go with the latter. 

Welcome. This is my blog. I guess I can be considered trendy now since this is what all the cool kids are doing right? Well, regardless, this is simply going to serve as a platform for my many hobbies and interests. You will be able to find DIY tips, project how-to's, photography (as I am now attacking that as a new hobby) as well as websites where I gather all of the tips and tricks from the greater minds out there. 

Now, its time to play.