Thursday, June 5, 2008

Caught the Sewing Bug

This summer at the library, the theme for our summer reading program is "Catch the Reading Bug." The library is giving each of us a tee shirt, which we'll wear to promote the program. We haven't received the shirts yet, so this is a picture from the internet. (I'm going to want to do something about those sleeves!)

Well, being the skirt wearer I am, I started thinking about which of my skirts would go with this tee. Hmm. Khaki? Denim? Too predictable. So, despite my best intentions to refrain from buying fabric this summer, I ended up buying a little over a yard of a bug-and-flower print--all they had left.

I used my favorite skirt pattern: New Look 6843, view D. It doesn't take much fabric, and it's easy easy easy! One way to make it even easier is to ignore the directions for applying the waistband and do it my way! They tell you to apply the waistband with right sides together, fold it to the back and then hand sew the edge of the band inside. People are always insisting they enjoy hand sewing, but I'm all about making it easy.

I sew the waistband face up to the back of the garment...

...flip the band over the raw edge...

...iron it evenly...



...and then topstitch along the outside edge of the waistband.

I still end up handsewing the hem, but I think that's somewhere handsewing actually makes a difference. Besides, I really like having a pretty hem facing!


And here it is all done! How do you think it'll look with the tee shirt?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, I am also a librarian gearing up for a "Catch the Reading Bug" summer program. So cool to see another librarian re-fashioner!

Anonymous said...

How neat, Rhonda! The tee shirt will probably be the subject of a future refashion, so keep watching!

kelly said...

Now I NEED a bug skirt! Great job. Thanks for the neat waistband tip.

Anonymous said...

You're welcome, Kelly. My mom showed me how to do that. I'm glad I'm not the only one who considers a new skirt essential!

Anonymous said...

LOVE that fabric!

I want to make a new skirt too, but I have such a hard time sewing in zippers. A wrap skirt is next on my list.

Darling Petunia said...

Roxanne, the next time I put in a zipper, I'll take pictures and make a tutorial. My way is a little cheaty, but it works okay!

Anonymous said...

Thanks! Cheaty is fine by me. :)

lsaspacey said...

OMG! I bought that fabric too. However, it was too late in the summer so I have to come up with something to make with it next year. I hope I love it as much then.