I recently had the chance to review the book Flirt Skirts by Patti Gilstrap and Seryn Potter. I'm not normally a fan of sewing clothes, but if I were to sew anything for me, chances are it would be a skirt.
I loved this book! It has instructions for 3 basic skirt types: A-line, Pencil and Flare, in sizes 2-14. It takes you through how to determine your size & fit, it shows you how to draft a pattern in your size and how to alter it, if needed. It also shows you how to make each of those three basic skirts, step by step. Then, it shows you how to use those basic skirt skills and kick it up a notch. It has 20 different patterns for customized skirts. It also has a section at the back of the book about how to putting your look together. That was a neat addition, I thought.
The authors made it look easy enough, but I wanted to see if I could do actually do it! I'm a simple girl, so I tried sewing a basic A-Line skirt pattern. Overall, things went very well! I did a bit of seam ripping, but that's to be expected.
The fabric I used is Flora and Fauna by Patty Young for Michael Miller. I bought it with the sole intention of making a skirt. (7 months ago) :) I LOVE the border with the 2 toned dots. Anyway, back to the skirt construction. I made this skirt from start to finish today! I pre-washed and ironed my fabric. I drafted my pattern (not a big fan of the process, but it wasn't too bad), I sewed an invisible zipper for the first time ever in a garment (feeling pretty great about that one!), and also used single fold bias tape for the first time. The instructions were easy to follow and very accurate. I LOVE my new skirt. It fits very, very well and I'm sure I'll wear it a ton. I give the book 2 thumbs up!
Happy Monday to you!
That's awesome -- talk about a win! The fabric choice is tremendous, it's flirty and fun without going over the top, and just so complementary. Great job!! You must be so fired up.
ReplyDeleteHeck, yeah! It looks awesome! And I still haven't mastered that invisible zipper bit!!! I think my next skirt will have the zipper straight up sewn to the outside as a "design feature," lol!!! Wonderful to talk to you today! Somehow, that can never happen enough for me!!
ReplyDeletecute, cute, cute. great job!
ReplyDeleteyeah you! Congrats & that is the perfect fabric for a skirt☺ adorable!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful, nice work!
ReplyDeleteNice skirt, looks great on you and I like the fabric. I love to wear skirts.
ReplyDeleteNeato! I want to try!
ReplyDeleteThat is great - very impressed with the zipper! Your sewing garments is as impressive as your quilting - i appreciate your blog and love the inspiration, thanks for taking the time.
ReplyDeleteThat fabric is perfect for a skirt! Great project.
ReplyDeleteVery cute skirt. Great job! I can't believe you did it all in one day. How do you make that much time to sew?
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to make a skirt for a month now! I'm so inspired after seeing your lovely new skirt! I think I might have that same fabric in my stash. I used to sew clothes as a kid, so now I miss it. Good for you for challenging yourself and doing so well!
ReplyDeleteOh that is an adorable skirt. I love it! Congrats on making clothing. g
ReplyDeleteVERY pretty and fun.
ReplyDeleteLucy~
your skirt is very cute. I want this book so I'll have to go and find it somewhere.
ReplyDeleteVery cool skirt, Love the material choice. might have to look this book up at some point :D
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about sewing clothes-- it's so often disappointing! But I liked the look of the skirt tutorial on Sew Mama Sew the other day and I am going to try it out. Yours turned out so cute!
ReplyDeleteReally cute skirt! I don't do any garment sewing, but this project is one I would try. Thanks for the review :-)
ReplyDeleteIt turned out great!
ReplyDeletesuper cute!
ReplyDeleteCute skirt, and the book sounds interesting. Since I teach at a quilt store, I might have to pick it up. It could be a good class idea.
ReplyDeleteSuper cute!
ReplyDeleteSuper cute skirt. I don't sew garments either. I am better off sticking to quilting. I have tried garments, but the only thing that I have ever managed to make come out right was a poodle skirt for my youngest daughters 50's dance. Congrats to you on the skirt, it looks amazing!!! It is sometimes hard to make people understand that I can make beautiful quilts like I do, but I can't make clothes. So many people just think that sewing is sewing. It isn't the same at all. Your skirt is amazing and I hope you have many good memories in it.
ReplyDeleteCute skirt - I'm thinking that I need to start wearing them more often (after a certain age, shorts look, well, like TMI.) DIY is definitely can keep the cost under control. Thanks for reviewing it.
ReplyDelete(Stacy, I hear ya, sistah. Quilting is NOT clothing construction!)
Great job! I love projects that successfully teach new skills. Your skirt looks great and the fabric so cheery. I'm on a skirt kick myself. That is, I'm dreaming of making them right now. I even bought the fabric and gathered the pattern. Now, I just need to get busy.
ReplyDeleteThe skirt is awesome! The fabrics were the perfect choice.
ReplyDeleteOh I like it. It makes me want to make one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review on this one...I might even pick it up where normally, I would not. Your skirt is very cute.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome skirt fabric. WOW! Great job. ~ Kimberlee at The Spunky Diva
ReplyDeleteCute! I luv it! Well done!
ReplyDeleteReally darling skirt.
ReplyDeleteHey, I remember when you bought that fabric! The skirt is awesome, you did a great job! My skirts all have crooked seams and wonky spots. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat skirt! The fabric is just perfect for summer.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! See, garment construction really isn't that hard. :)
ReplyDeleteLove how your skirt turned out! I'll go check out that book, sounds like one to own!
ReplyDeleteI've always loved that fabric but never imagined making a SKIRT with it. Thanks for the inspiration! :)
ReplyDeletei really really really really really really really really really really really really really really love the skirt....really!!!!
ReplyDeletexo
eva
There are a lot of garment sewing books coming out lately with really cute patterns, but yet again, those of us above Size 14 are being ignored. This book, the Wendy book series, and many more. These publishers need to WAKE UP.
ReplyDeleteTotally off topic, but I had a chance to see the Princess Di dress exhibit. The zippers were all hidden. They were so well constructed you couldn't see a zipper at all. I would go see that again and again.
ReplyDeleteNeat skirt, BTW!!!! I too love the dots!
Addressing Anonymous. So true, isn't it? With Americans being larger than ever in history you would think that manufacturers and pattern makers would figure out there is an entire market they are missing.
ReplyDeleteAs I read this post I was thinking, "it would be nice if she actually made one to tell us how easy it really is" Low and behold you did! thanks for the review. I might have to try this one! Your skirt is super cute.
ReplyDeleteFun fabric for the skirt. I have some fabric that I need to sew into a quilt before it gets cold again.
ReplyDeleteYour skirt is beautiful! The book sounds so intriguing, and I do love making skirts so I am going to add this one to my never ending wishlist on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! It looks great. I drooled over that fabric when I was there...
ReplyDeleteLovely. A perfect summer skirt.
ReplyDeleteI have looked at that fabric for ages, but never jumped. Turns out I had the wrong sewing hat on. That is an adorable skirt! Great job!
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you!! Sewing your clothes and super cute to boot! Now you can move on to something else right?
ReplyDeleteVery cute skirt! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting! I am loving skirts at the moment and would love easy instructions to make some for myself in the style of fabric i like...it's such a chore sometimes finding clothes out there now that I actually like. Thanks again!
ReplyDeletei'll have to check this book out. it sounds like a winner. your skirt is super cute!
ReplyDeleteLove the style and the fabirc, I may just have to give it a try
ReplyDelete