Paper bag skirt tutorial

This is SOOOOOO easy!

THings you need:
fabric (1-2 yards)
1"elastic
thread
a sewing machine
safety pin

Pick your fabric. I found this yard of fabric at joanns on clearance for $2. I only need a yard of fabric. If you are a little bigger or smaller or you want it gathered more or less you might want to get 1 1/2-2 yards. Better to be safe than sorry!

Cut off the edges. I always forget what thats called!!

Wrap the fabric around the thickest part of your hips/body (wherever you are the biggest around). Then you can decide if you want it loose or tight. I probably wouldn't do it super tight. Give yourself at least a few inches. I actually just used a yard even so it was super easy. I wanted it to gather a little more. Cut as desired

Sew up the edges with right sides together

Fold down the top (you are still working on the wrong side of the fabric. I folded mine down 5 1/4" because I wanted a 3 inch top above my elastic. Pin in place

Using your sewing machine guide (or whatever that thingy is called). Sew all the way around 3 inches from the top.

Then mark 1 1/4" from that seam and sew another line.


Measure your elastic around your waist. You want it a little snug. If you try on the skirt and need to fix it you can always make it smaller.

Make a slit in the middle section and slide the elastic through using a safety pin.


Sew together the elastic and adjust the fabric around it.

Put it on and then see where you want the hem to be

Hem it up and you are DONE!!!

I think 3 inches may be a bit too much, but it's kinda funky at the same time. I like it.

I wasn't planning on wearing this belt with this skirt but I wanted to give you an idea of what it looks like. I want to make a satin flower belt the same thickness as the one I'm wearing or something like that. This skirt is kind of holiday-ish so I probably won't end up wearing it for awhile. Fun though huh? For $3 and about 40 minutes!

(it has a lot of wrinkles!!! i tried ironing but it didn't work. any tips?)

shoes

I needed new black flats but I have big wide feet and these at walmart fit perfectly. They were $9. I added a ruffle with some hot glue and I think they are pretty cute. Possibilities are endless since they have so many colors! I'm thinking of adding a felt flower, rosette, whatever! COOL!

"J Crew" ish??

I just couldn't resist!

I didn't realize it was offset a little bit, but fun none the less!

And for only $5

round 2

I shortened it (a little too short now...especially when I would be wearing it to church with kids all over me) and used elastic thread on the waistband but it still ripped a little when I put it on...whatever. Nathan still doesn't like it but its probably because he doesn't like the print. I'm a lot happier about it and I am sending it to my sister. I learned a lot.

A new dress

I had this brown shirt that I HATED so I added some fabric to the bottom and made it a dress. I am not a fan of the fabric I chose. I am the WORST at picking things out. I guess it will be okay for summer and if I ever go to Hawaii I know what I'm wearing to church.

I think I need to make them a little looser because i think it sits funny and maybe if it was bigger it would look better? I don't know. Its the simplest skirt ever.

Oh and I tried to make another skirt with a slippery fabric and I reaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllly failed on that one. BAD. I'm mad since I spent $11 on the fabric. Any pointers? The seam up the back ended up all gathered looking. YUCK

Finished product

Ta Da!

Up close

*can't wait for the next week or so. I'll be making 2 cakes. A smash cake (nothing new) and a birthday cake for my niece!

shirt refashion

I had this shirt I got at old navy for ten cents and it looked horrible on me.(kind of a long story because it really wasn't supposed to be 10 cents it just worked out that way because they made a mistake) I liked the color but it fit SO bad! It was a size bigger and loose fitting anyway. So I took my scissors and sewing machine to it!

First I cut off the sleeves and set one of my shirts on top of it to see where I needed to cut it to fit me better. Pinned it and sewed it up. I opened the sleeves put them together and cut 1 1/2" strips. Then I sewed those strips with the gathering setting on my machine. Then I laid them on the shirt and pinned them in place and sewed them in place. I wish they were a little longer, and one of them is kinda off, but heck! I'll take it!

I wish I had like a gray cardigan to go over this. Oh and I made a lavendar pipe cleaner flower. Yes I know they are meant for little girls but can't I be young at heart??

A new skirt

My sister in law helped me make this yesterday! It was so easy and fun!


So should I wear it with a black shirt, brown, or cream? I have extra fabric I was going to make some sort of accessory with too.

I love sewing! (sorry these pictures are pretty bad...I'm too lazy to take another)

Oh and I saw this on cake central today. They are cookies with brush embroidery. OH SO PRETTY!!! I want to try it!