Monday 3 September 2018

My New-from-Old Skirt

On a weekend workshop, held at a local community centre, I learnt how to make a sewing pattern from an existing garment.  I chose to create a new skirt from one of my old favourites and I am really happy with how it turned out.

My 'New from Old' Skirt.

The skirt is really just a basic A-line. The original skirt had four panels sewn together at the front, back and sides. I changed this so that there are only two panels, a front and a back, so just two seams at the sides. The skirt also has a very lovely and long waistband tie. Sewing this really gave me some grief; firstly I found it difficult to pin on because it is so thin and secondly because the fabric of the skirt kept fraying and so it kept pulling away from the waistband. After a few "choice words" and a lot of unpicking, I decided the best solution was to make the waistband wider to make it easier to pin on and to ensure I secured the fabric of the main skirt when attaching it.

 Waistband & Invisible Zip.

Zipped up!

An invisible zip is sewn into one side of the skirt. I've never sewn in such a zip but, with the help of this You-tube tutorial, I learnt how to do it and sewed it in so that it is indeed invisible when zipped up. 


Fabric remnants for a skirt.
Look at all those toothy smiles!

I chose remnants of fabric, from the community centre's little haberdashery, to test out my pattern and sew up my skirt. I found a heavier curtaining fabric, with big firework flowers on twisting stems, and a very light fabric, printed with toothy smiles, for the long waistband trim and ties. When cut and folded into a thin strip, you can't see all those teeth!  Altogether, this cost me less than $15. I think they look nice together. 😊

A pattern I will be able to use again and again!

The best part of this course, besides a usable pattern and a very wearable "test run" skirt, was learning from a really patient teacher and spending time with  a small group of really lovely women who all like sewing too. Everyone made different garments and there were lots of encouraging words from everyone as we paraded and twirled our creations for one another. 

I hope to do some more craft workshops at the little community centre soon. It's a lovely space, in an old wooden house with a productive garden and chickens in the back yard too. It's nice that there are places like this in our city where people can meet one another and learn and make things together.

Do you have a community centre near where you live? 

Meg













34 comments:

  1. Such a beautiful skirt Meg! I love the fabric!
    I don't know of a similar sewing group in my area, but there probably is one, we seem to have groups of all other interests around.
    I'm surrounded by great sewers at Boomerang Bags, and if I have a sewing dilemma, I can usually always find help there.
    Last week, I tentatively started tracing myself a pattern off a favourite T-Shirt, I haven't cut it out yet, as I was waiting for some "oh bugger, you forgot to included..." moment LOL So I traced it, and put it away to mull over, and I think I will retrace it, because in my haste/excitement I don't think I paid enough attention to the neckline, also I've decided to add a 1.5cm seam allowance instead of 1cm. Little things, but worth mulling over. What sort of seam allowance do you leave, and do you overlock of zigzag your edges?

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    1. Thanks, Cheryl! The community centre has Boomerang Bag sewing coming up soon!! I have traced a pattern for a favourite blouse but I haven't cut it out either yet. I found that pattern much harder to draw up than the skirt pattern above. I typically leave 5/8" seam allowance and I zigzag my edges because I don't have an overlocker. Meg:)

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  2. No we don't have anything like that. I love that sort of sewing and your skirt looks lovely.

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    1. Thanks, Jean. I'm really happy with how it's turned out. Nice to make use of some remnants though I still have quite a bit of the fabrics left over so I am thinking what else I could make with them. It's a shame you don't have a community centre nearby. Sometimes our local library offers workshops too. Meg:)

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  3. Hi Meg,
    I agree, very wearable, I love those colours and patterns together. I don’t wear skirts as I have a very short waist and they just don’t sit well or look right on me. Pity because I love the look of skirts. I have taken a pattern off one of the old dog coats and I am in the process of making new ones for the little woofs out of thrifted fabric. Have a lovely day, Fi

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    1. I am like this with dresses, Fi. I much prefer skirts because I feel dresses just don't sit right on me. Having said that, I have a pattern for a dress which I would like to sew up one day. Your little dogs will love their new coats; I like that you are using some thrifted fabric to make them. Meg:)

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  4. Sewing is something I wish I had stuck to when I was younger, but I never had the patience for all those fiddly bits like waistbands and zippers. Your new skirt is lovely.

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    1. That waistband was fiddly, Jan! On the original skirt, it is very thin and I felt like I had fumbling fingers trying to pin it on. The wider band looks just as good and was far easier to attach. It does take a bit of patience but I'm learning one new skill at a time as I go along. Meg:)

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  5. Hi Meg, That's a very sweet skirt. I love the sounds of your community center. The garden and chickens must make it feel like home. They are building a new community center near my home. We also have a local library nearby where some of us meet to knit.

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    1. Hi, Stephenie. It will be lovely for you to have a new community centre nearby and I think a library is the perfect place for knitting groups. I do love the community centre, I think cities and towns need places like this so that people can connect with and to one another. Meg:)

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  6. Your skirt is beautiful Meg. I love wearing skirts.
    I'm not sure if there is a community center nearby. I should check. I know there are craft classes at the library, but they are in the evening on weekdays so it's not a convenient time for me.

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    1. Thanks, Nil. I quite like the fabric and I found a little pink balero cardigan at the op-shop which goes really well with the colour. That cost me $5! I know what you mean abut evening classes; I'm always too tired to attend those. Weekends suit me much better! Meg:)

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  7. Your skirt turned out beautifully! We don't have a community center that I know of, but our library does amazing arts and crafts classes, and it has a quilting group that meets once a month that I have been attending for several years now.

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    1. How lovely to belong to a quilting group for so long, Kath. You must really enjoy catching up with the others and sharing what you're making. I would love to be able to make quilts but I find that I get too impatient with the cutting out!! Meg:)

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  8. It looks great, Meg. We do have a couple of neighbourhood centres and one is really good I believe. I have been there once as they have a regular plant swap. I imagine they do sewing as well.

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    1. It's amazing what classes and workshops are on offer around the place, Chel. They are such a great community resource! Meg:)

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  9. Your sewing is coming along.

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    1. Thanks, Kathy. I am learning one new thing each time I sew something up. I'm pleased to have mastered the invisible zipper! Meg:)

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  10. Your new skirt looks lovely and I am sure you will get plenty of wear out of it too. It's good to sew and I must get my machine out as I haven't done any sewing for ages. We do have a lovely Community Centre and I have been going to art classes there for several years and have met some really lovely people and we now even meet for coffee together occasionally.

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    1. Hi, Rosie. I've already worn it a few times and it's lovely. I bought a little pink balero cardigan at an op-shop to go with it and it matches well with the colour of the skirt. It sounds like your Art classes have been a real joy for you and a place where you've made new friends too. I really liked meeting all the women who did the sewing, they were so friendly and helpful. Meg:)

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  11. That looks like a flattering style and I like the material. It sounded like a really useful day. How great to duplicate a favourite.

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    1. The material was a great find amongst all the remnants in the little haberdashery, Anne. It sewed up really well and is nice to wear. I love that I have a pattern I can use to make up a skirt that fits properly and is quick to make. Meg:)

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  12. It was a great workshop and all the better for having your company! I’m wearing one of my creations as I type.

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  13. Nobody has noticed that all my tops are the same yet! What a difference the fabric makes.

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    1. Oh, all those fabrics in that little haberdashery. I have a couple of extra remnants I bought here and keep thinking about what I want to make with them. I love ALL your tops! Meg:)

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  14. Fantastic time spent, love your skirt, sewing is a great skill, I am always on the look out for items in out local charity shop, not for me to wear, but I'm looking at the material.
    I did a course a few years ago, with mixed abilities,which was fun, my tutor showed me quick fixes to perfect results, I made a skirt and trouser suit and wore it for years. The true fun was mixing with ladies who loved to sew. Can't wait to see your next item.

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    1. Thanks, Marlene. It was a great time spent sewing but also talking and laughing with the other women sewing. Lots of fun! Meg:)

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  15. This looks great Meg. Making a pattern from an existing garment would be a super handy skill to have. I didn't even notice the teeth initially - the fabric combo turned out well.

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    1. It's a really simple pattern, Laura, but such a great one to have for making a quick skirt up out of different fabrics. So glad I went along and learnt something new that I can use in my sewing. Meg:)

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  16. I love your little skirt Meg and hearing about your process. You could always use some interfacing on a hard to sew fabric like your waistband, it'll give it some body and make it easier to attach. We have a nice brand new community centre, but it's nothing like yours, a few agencies have office space there, but it's mainly geared to supporting homeless and low income people..food pantry, soup kitchen etc, which is good and necessary...but it'd be nice to have other activities and classes there as well and a community garden would be fabulous. Can't wait to see what you whip up next!

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    1. Thanks, Nanette. Interfacing would be a good solution too I think for the next time I make up this pattern. Meg:)

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  17. Hello Meg, your skirt looks great!! Well done, I love making something new from something old. I think I would definately be doing more workshops like that - No, we don't have a Community Centre near us here. Thanks too for the comment you left me over on my blog. Happy Week to you Meg Xxx

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    1. Happy week to you too, Julie. I think it's always lovely to find ways to use old fabrics, remnants and off-cuts to make new things. Just today, I bought a sweet little lavender sachet made from sweet fabrics and a little piece from an old doily. So lovely! Meg:)

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