1.22.2011

In case you missed it- HAWT black lace skirt with scalloped hem

In case you missed my guest post over at Craftaholics Anonymous last week, here it is again! I hope you enjoy it! :)

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Now, I know the elastic waist skirt is not a new concept, (seriously, I just googled it and came up with almost 300,000 results!) but I wanted to take it to the next level. You know, go from "Hey, cute skirt." to "Dang girl! You MADE that?" A skirt worthy of a night out instead of just a skirt for Sunday.

Thank you, black lace and elastic. Want to make one of your own? It's super easy and will only take an hour of your time! You will need:
  • 1 1/2 yards of lightweight, white cotton (more or less depending on your size)
  • 1 1/2 yards of black lace 
  • A few yards of 2 inch elastic (depending on waist measurement)
  • Iron/ironing board
  • A cup
  • Disappearing ink pen/chalk
  • Measuring tape
  • Sewing machine, matching thread, scissors, seam ripper, all that jazz for sewing. 
Getting started is by far the hardest part, because unless you've got a fifth grader lying around you're going to have to do some math.

Get a measuring tape and measure around your hips. Take that number (let's call it "h" and say it's 36 inches) and multiply it by 1.5 (h x 1.5; 36 x 1.5 = 54). Let's call that new number "n." Divide "n" by four. (n/4; 54/4 = 13.5) Round any decimals you get up, so your final number is 14. Remember this number, this is the magic number for the waist of your skirt. Next, measure how long you want your skirt to be and add two (so if you want it to be 28 inches long, your magic length is 30".)

With those two numbers you are ready to make your skirt! Lay our your cotton fabric folded from selvage to selvage (just like how it was on the bolt). Then, fold it again in the opposite direction so that you have four layers of fabric. Using your disappearing ink pen, draw your skirt shape ON THE FOLD. Use a tape measure to measure out the magic number for your waist (in my fictional equation, 14") at the top, and use your second magic number (30" in this case) to mark where your skirt will end. I wanted my skirt to have a little bit of flare, so I used an existing A line skirt I had to help me with the shape. However, this is more work, and it is perfectly acceptable to use a long rectangle.

Cut out your skirt. You should have two equal pieces (if you have four, you forgot to cut it on the fold.) Keep it nicely folded like this, you'll be using it again next!

Lay your just-cut, folded pieces of cotton down on your black lace (that is folded the same way your cotton was.) Using it as a pattern, cut out the shape from your black lace, adding an extra inch to the bottom. (I added a few extra inches but didn't like it in the end, so only add an inch!) You should now have four skirt pieces, two in white cotton, two in black lace that are slightly longer than the white cotton pieces. 

Next, we're going to create the sexy scalloped edge! This is where the cup comes in. Lay the cup down on the very edge of the bottom of your black lace pieces and carefully trace around the bottom of the cup. I used chalk, because my disappearing ink pen wouldn't show up. Pick it up, line it up with the edge of the first traced shape and the bottom. Trace again. Keep doing this all the way around, and then very carefully cut along your scallops. Since lace doesn't fray, that's all you need to do!

Lovely. :) Brush off any excess chalk and start imagining where you're going to wear your skirt. (Valentines Day date maybe??)

Next, hem your cotton pieces. Fold up the raw edge of your skirt 1/4" and press with an iron. Fold it up again another 1/4" so there are no exposed seams. Stitch along your hem to close it all up. It should look like that really good (sarcasm) picture above.

Now we can sew the skirt pieces together! Pin the two matching pieces (cotton with cotton and lace with lace, otherwise it'll just look weird) together, right sides together, and using a 5/8" seam, sew up the sides. (I like to the sew a zig zap stitch right next to it for added strength, but that is totally optional.) Do this for both skirts.

Woo hoo! It's starting to come together! Turn both of your skirts right side out.

Put your arms through the black lace skirt, grab the white one, and shimmy them together. The wrong side of the black lace skirt should be touching the right side of the white skirt. (Hmmmm, kinda looks like an old lampshade, maybe I'll try my hand at a lampshade skirt? Kidding.) Pin all around the top, making sure the side seams and the tops line up pefectly.

I tried to get a picture of the next step but this cutie kept pulling the camera out of my hands while she played with the strap. Sooo the next description will be a long one.

You'll need to ruffle up your skirt now! Set your machine to the longest straight stitch possible, and using a 1/2" seam, stitch along the top (no backstitching!!). Stop when you get to a side seam, and then pick it up and start it again after the seam. Leave long threads. Do it again, but this time with a 1/4" seam. You should end up with four stitches, two on each piece of the skirt. Having two lengths of thread to pull on makes it SO MUCH EASIER.

Get out your elastic and wrap it around your waist without stretching it out. Subtract an inch, cut it, and using a zig zap stitch, sew it into a loop (using a zig zap stitch helps it stretch after it's been sewed.)

This loop will be your guide while you ruffle up your skirt!

To ruffle the skirt, take those long threads and gently pull them. Your skirt will magically start to ruffle up! Gently move the ruffles down the skirt and pull again. Keep doing this until your entire skirt is ruffled up as much as it possibly can. (It will look way to small to be a skirt. This is ok, you'll fix it in a second.)

Using your elastic as a guide, slowly and gently pull out some of your ruffles until it is the same diameter as your elastic.

(Can you tell I did this over the course of a few days? Sorry if the changing light hurts your eyes!) Once it's all matched up, pin the elastic right on top of your skirt. Then, using a ZIG ZAG stitch, sew the skirt onto the elastic. Trim any excess threads aaaaaaaaaaaaand...

Show it off girl! Call a babysitter, grab that hottie, and take this skirt out! I added a silk sash to dress my up a little bit more. Aside from wow factor (don't tell your friends it was easy, just let them think that your the world's most talented seamstress) this skirt is ridiculously comfortable! The elastic waist makes it easy to wear for you preggers folks out there or for those of us me, who might have had one too many of Linda's amazing brownies!

Make sure you check out where I party in my link parties tab! There are a few new ones. :)

32 comments:

Ashley said...

Wow! I love this and really want to try it. However, I've only sewn pillows and curtains. I may need to add this to my attempt list though! Too cute!

Julie said...

Beautiful! I think I'll have to try this out :) Do you do anything with the hem of the lace?

myvibrantdesigns@gmail.com

Julie

Johnson Family said...

I just love, love, love your ideas!!! I am dying to try this skirt once I am feeling better from my surgery I just had.
And that last necklace is to die for too!!!!
How do you find time to do anything except create adorable things?! I love your ideas!
Christa Johnson

SarainAkko said...

This is a superb skirt from start to finish. I'm already thinking of someplace fancy I'd want to wear it to. Also, cup scalloping, brilliant.

Erin {A Girl and Her Craftbox Designs} said...

Hi! I wish I could sew! However, I have given you an award on my blog! Come check it out!

Erin
agirlandhercraftbox.blogspot.com

Fonville Farm said...

I'm loving the skirt! I may have to go buy me some lace;)

LakshmiRP said...

I have a similar black lace fabric hmmm now i know i will have to find a contrast lining, i may try white or even pink! what say!

Erin {A Girl and Her Craftbox Designs} said...

Don't forget to come get your award :)

http://agirlandhercraftbox.blogspot.com

Julianna said...

Great project! I'd love for you to link up at Inspire Me Mondays!
http://singingthreelittlebirds.blogspot.com/2011/01/inspire-me-mondays-1.html

Jennifer Juniper said...

You totally need to get a babysitter!

Dominique @ Craft Couture said...

such a cute skirt!
Come link up to Craft Couture Mondays if you would like :)
http://dominiquescraftcouture.blogspot.com/2011/01/craft-couture-mondays-1.html
Hope to see you there.

Nicholette said...

You were featured on Craft Envy! http://nv-craftenvy.blogspot.com/

Katie @ Creatively Living said...

Very clever...and cute!!!

--Katie
www.blah2beautiful.blogspot.com

Dominique @ Craft Couture said...

Thanks for linking up! again, very cute skirt! Would love it if you put my button or link back to on your post or blog :). Have a great day!

Christine @ sugarandtrash.com said...

what an adorable skirt! I love this lacy, layered look. I hope that you will link this up with my Show and Share Sunday linky party, going on all week. http://craftygeordi.blogspot.com/2011/01/show-and-share-sunday_23.html

Agy said...

Oh this is a beauty! Will definitely try it out on my old skirt. Thanks so much for this!

Agy from Green Issues
www.greenissuessingapore.blogspot.com

Christine @ sugarandtrash.com said...

thanks so much for linking up!

Jaime S. said...

Every time I see your skirt, I just LOVE it, so I was thinking I should leave a comment and tell you how awesome it is!! LOVE love love it.

Fowl Single File said...

That IS worthy of going out! And the shoes are perfect, too!

Kristen said...

LOVE this! And going to feature it :)

www.ladybug-blessings.com

LakshmiRP said...

I have made my version of scalloped hem lace skirt, this can be found at Adithis Amma Sews


I made the skirts using Patternless Skirt in under 15 minutes Tutorial at my blog and of course the scallop hem inspiration and lace fabric usage gets credited to this post of yours! Thanks a ton...

Unknown said...

This is gorgeous! I am totally in love with it and since we look about the same size.. if you ever decide that you don't want it anymore you know my address! Thanks for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party!

Shannon @FairfaceWashcloths said...

Okay, I LOVE your skirt! I've been wanting to make something with lace because it's so in right now. It turned out beautifully.

http://shannonsews.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

wow.......
wonderful skirt.
special thanks for your great work.

Jayna Rae said...

Great work! I just picked up a black lace remnant today. It's not enough to do this, but you do have my wheels a spinning now.

Kaysi said...

LOVE it! I'm featuring you tonight on MMM!

Cupcake Dessert said...

This is really lovely!!!

Mrs. Sassy Crafter (Fabi) said...

Oh wow! I love the skirt, and we have the same shoeeessss!!!!! They are beautiful, but they kill your feet haha...I made the mistake of buying them not just in black, but hot pink and white phew!!!

Jen @ EmbellishingLifeEveryday said...

Beautiful! Featuring this today! :)
http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Love this skirt sooo much!

Thendral said...

I got inspired and made one for my daughter but it is a half circular skirt with scallop edges.
http://thendralscraft.blogspot.com/2011/03/lace-skirt.html

Tara @ Tales of a Trophy Wife said...

love this-I think I need to make one

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