Time to wrap things up for KCWC! It’s been fun. This is my final project for the week, and I’m pretty excited to take a break from sewing for awhile. And I apologize in advance for way too many photos – I somehow ended up taking 192 of them this morning, and editing down isn’t my strong suit.
Anyway, this skirt popped into my head in the middle of the night last night, and annoyingly, I couldn’t get rid of it for two hours (I could’ve had it made in that time!) – I saw a print awhile back at Land of Nod and I thought maybe I could recreate the textured leaves in shot cotton…one track mind with the shot cotton, I know.
So I’d been thinking about making something based on this print, then forgot about it, then remembered again at the inopportune hour of 1:00am.
The skirt has a simple elastic waist (a la the Oliver + S Lazy Days Skirt or the MADE Simple Skirt – both can be found for free online) and a one-inch hem.
And after a three day hiatus from chambray, I went back to it – the texture is similar to shot cotton, with two colors woven together, and it seemed like a good neutral background for the leaves.
And she likes it!
She thought hiking it up was pretty funny, too.
Anyway, making this was the easiest thing ever. After you have a few simple elastic skirts under your belt, they only take maybe 30 or 40 minutes to sew.
And the leaf shapes are cut from double stick fusible web (Steam-a-Seam 2), positioned along the stitching on the hemline of the skirt, ironed into place (the fusible web makes them stick – no pins!), and sewn around the edges. Just your basic appliqué with fusible web. The leaf edges will fray a bit in the wash, but I don’t mind that look.
My color palatte is kind of haphazard – I bought several 1/4 yards of various shot cotton colors when I was working on Lila’s birthday Ice Cream dress, not really knowing what colors I wanted to use yet. So I cut the leaves from every color I had on hand – scraps from that dress, and from the orange dress I made this week, then all the random colors that hadn’t been used for anything yet.
And of course I couldn’t resist a little leaf tag in the back:
Okay, that’s it. Just two more photos, I promise.
Pattern: Simple Skirt from MADE or Oliver + S Lazy Days Skirt (minus the ribbon hem)
Fabric: Robert Kaufman Carolina Chambray in Light Indigo Washed and various Kaffe Fasset shot cottons.
Now that I’m finished sewing I get to catch up in the Elsie Marley Flickr Pool and see what everyone else made! I love that part the best 🙂
Oh man editing photos down is the hardest part of blogging I think! But I’m sure no-one is going to complain about these lovelies, you really get a feel for the skirt after photo 122 😉
Love it!
I LOVE the things you make. I’ve been scrolling through your blog and it’s so inspiring! Love all the styles of kids’ clothes you’ve been making…
Mia
It’s darling!
This is perfection in it’s simplicity and darling-ness. I love it! And all your creations this week. You should make a clothing line – I love your style.
Oh – that leaf tag! As if the skirt wasn’t already perfect enough with chambray and this wonderful shot cotton I need to find!
great job gail! now you can get some sleep:)
Loooooove this so much. It’s such a great example of being inspired by something but not copying it too, you know? Great colors, and you’re a master of chambray! Not bothered at all, ever, by your beautiful photos!
super sweet. i love what you did with this. it was totally wort the middle of the night brainstorming. if it makes you feel better, i was up at 1a last night too, but i was thinking about stripping my cloth diapers – checking my washing machine for suds by the light of my iphone. i would have much rather been thinking about sewing.
Oh, boy, this skirt is so awesome! Simple, stylish and different from the designer fabrics. Thanks for the new inspiration!
Are you kidding me?! I saw this pop up onto my pinterest and KNEW you’ made it. Seriously adorable. I wish I had time to sew for my Lila lately!!
I’m just loving your use of shot cottons … now why isn’t my local independent fabric store carrying shot cottons? WHYYYYYYYY? This skirt is simple and yet so arty and beautiful. Well done. (Also, her shoes are so cute!)
I love this skirt! I usually don’t copy things, but I think I’m going to do a variation of this. And I found some chambray yesterday and bought it – you’ve inspired me.
Love, LOVE the skirt! What a great idea. Oh, and I’m in love with her shoe, too. They’re so fun with the skirt. Are they All Stars? What brand are they?
thank you!! yep, those are Converse All-Stars. 🙂
I’m having such a hard time finding the Robert Kaufman light indigo chambray in stock online. Anywhere. Has anyone had any luck?
i found it here, and the price is good! http://www.beverlys.com/indigo-chambray-cotton-fabric-light-indigo-washed.html
Thank you so much! I actually checked that website before but they were out of stock. They must have updated their inventory. I ordered some before they run out again. Thanks again. 🙂
that skirt is just adorable. i love that you had the idea in your head (not so much that it kept you up, but that’s happened to me) and that you were able to create it! it’s perfect. those shot cottons are marvelous – what a great way to use them!
Love those little leaves. How pretty! And your daughter is super cute and I also have an editing down pictures problem. 🙂