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Farmgirl Fashion:  Long "maxi" skirts  |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 10 2012 : 11:14:19 AM
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I love the look of them but when I go to buy them I can't afford the $40 price tag... I thought about making one but I don't know where to start because I'm a newbie when it comes to making clothes. I can make easy projects like pillows, blankets, toys and totes but when it comes to clothes I'm brand new.
I want to mostly wear it in the summer so I don't want that cottony stuff as it is too stiff and heavy and HOT! I thought something lighter like batik but the price tag is so much I might as well save myself the hassle and just buy one already made. I thought about making one from old t-shirts but not sure how it would look.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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sleepless reader
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
CA
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2012 : 08:03:54 AM
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Check thrift stores. I bet you'd be able to get 5 or 6 for under $40!
Farmgirl Sister #74
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
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beachymom
True Blue Farmgirl
467 Posts
Kathy
Manchester
Tennessee
USA
467 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2012 : 08:53:51 AM
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Yes, definitely try Good Will, Purple Heart, or whatever thrift store is in your area. You might also look for old flowery sheets to make into summer skirts. Really simple. Run elastic through the top where it is already turned down and stitched. Cut the width to it's about twice you waist (or whatever feels comfortable). Cut the length & make a turned up hem then sew up the back and there you have your new skirt! Let me know if you try this.
Farmgirl Sister #3983
Take care of the land and it will take care of you. |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2012 : 10:26:04 PM
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Show me pics of what you want and I'll let you know what I can offer as way of help. The thing is fabric is not that expensive for a skirt, even regular price. If a maxi skirt is what I think it is, you don't need more then one yard, even the upper end fabrics are not above 30 dollars a yard, and most stores have 40 to 50 percent of coupons which would bring that down to 15 (but that would still be one expensive piece of fabric, most fabric is much cheaper then that!).
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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Wildcrafter
True Blue Farmgirl
340 Posts
Suzanne
Seattle
WA
USA
340 Posts |
Posted - Mar 20 2012 : 07:26:36 AM
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Have a clothing exchange at your home and invite your friends, friends of friends and their friends! All women. Everyone brings in their clean, wearable, but no longer wanted clothing. Everything is separated in different parts of the living room, such as tops in one place, pants in another, skirts on the couch, etc. Then everyone goes through the clothing and tries things on and takes home what they want. No money is exchanged, it's a free for all and what is left over is donated to the local women's shelter. Everyone wins and perhaps you'll find your maxi skirt! Clothing exchanges are so much fun and it's a good way to get rid of clothes and find your new wardrobe. And the price is right!
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13621 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13621 Posts |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2012 : 09:17:24 AM
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You might be talking about what I call "broom skirts." I think the idea of checking out thrift shops is a great idea. Also, I've seen broom skirts at places like Wal-Mart, Sears, K-Mart and so on for under $15. The store-bought ones are cut wider at the bottom so they have a nice "swing" to them. Most have a combination of elastic waistband and a thin little self-tie you can use to adjust the comfort. They look darling with peasant blouses, tank tops, or pretty much anything. Avoid the ones with solid liners, or just cut those out, if you want a really cool feel.
ps: They're called "broom skirts" because to dry them after washing (or dancing in the rain!), it's best to tie them to a broomstick at about 4 or 5 positions to preserve the vertical pleating of the fabric and to prevent it from just all floofing out like balloon. I just roll mine into a bun. You can line dry them (especially if you weight the hem here and there with clothespins) or throw them in the dryer, but I think they look nicer if you treat them a little differently. |
Edited by - Rosemary on Mar 25 2012 09:23:42 AM |
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marlee
True Blue Farmgirl
1650 Posts
Marlene
DeRidder
Louisiana
1650 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2012 : 09:39:04 AM
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Check at garage and yard sales. You will probably find some. Because I go every chance I get but I see them all the time.--Marlee
God is the painter, he paints the picture. And his son builds it, for he is the Master Carpenter! |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13621 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13621 Posts |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2012 : 1:45:11 PM
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Sorry, I have been so busy I haven't had much to be online or even update my blog until today! I am actually talking about the maxi skirts because I do have a broom skirt but I don't care too much for the pleating of it. I checked out the local thrift stores a few times now and I was able to find a nice long skirt but it was made out of some super heavy material.I thought I could try to take out some of the lining but then when I checked it out I Realized that it didn't have lining as the material itself was heavy. I wish I had still bought the skirt because I could have made some really neat pillows out of it. Oh well, hindsight again! I'm also looking for the long island style wrap skirts but for some reason I'm just not having any luck with thrift stores or fabric prices. I do have about another month before I get desperate but I would sure like to have a few in my closet before warmer weather hits!
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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smiley
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
lea
pea ridge
arkansas
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 05:08:06 AM
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| I found vintage patterns and just use them since what was in style in the 70's is back again. If only my body wasnt "vintage"also. lol |
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westfork woman
True Blue Farmgirl
554 Posts
Kennie Lyn
Emmett
Idaho
USA
554 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2012 : 07:20:18 AM
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Way back when, in the 70's, being the homesteading type, I decided to wear long dresses. I had several, one to wear while doing chores in the summer. It was an empire waisted sleeveless long dress, in a light blue calico. Very pretty, and I felt like a real earth mother. I went to milk one morning in the dress for the first time. I was wearing Dr. Scholl's sandals, and carrying the milk bucket. The cow was standing at the gate waiting. I should have paid better attention to how she was watching me. Just as I got close to her, the wind blew the dress up around my waist. The cow charged, I threw the bucket, didn't stop her, I grabbed one the the heavy wooden sandals and beat her over the head as she blew snot all over me. And this was a cow I had milked for a couple of years! I finally jumped over the board fence, with the cow's help. After that when I was milking or doing something with the cows, while wearing the dress, I tucked one side of the hem into the waist band. So the moral of the story is don't suprise your cows with your long dresses.
Greetings from the morning side of the hill. |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2012 : 09:17:58 AM
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Have you found a maxi pattern, I'm sure there is tons out there. I have one for sure, but it's maternity. lol
Do you want one that flares at the bottom or stays completely straight?
I have a non maternity completely straight one.
I am wondering if you are confused about cotton though. In the summer I almost exclusively wear cotton-every thing from pants, to shirts, to skirts and dresses.
There is lots of kinds of cottons and the great majority is the coolest fabric to wear-breaths, cause it's all natural, is light weight for the most part, and dries fast when you sweat. etc.
Some cotton like say the kind a button down shirt is made out of (like a mans dress shirt) is a bit stiffer, however the more you wash it the softer it gets. Also it is usually not very stiff unless you starch and iron it. On that hand though for a skirt that can be a advantage, if it's starched and stiff it will kind of stand out from your body and not hug your body, and then that allows breeze between the skirt and your body keeping you cooler! I will say the fabric store though this kind often feels much more stiff then it will be after washing. Mainly because of the chemicals put on it-sizing, and pesticides, etc are very rough and stiff, one or two washings and it will be completely out and you will have a totally different feeling fabric.
Then there is very light and breezy cottons that are almost see through (but not quite) that are almost like you don't even have clothes on they are so light. Such as 100 percent cotton gauze. Linen is also very light and gets softer and softer the more you wash it.
So you may be surprised at what you really do want for the hot summer. I will advise though if you do go with cotton make sure to wash and dry it at least 3 times and I personally do it 6 times, as it tends to keep on shrinking through several wash and dries. And you don't want to make a skirt and then have it shrink after it's all done.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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Catherine L
True Blue Farmgirl
408 Posts
Cathy
Newton
Texas
USA
408 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2012 : 09:55:58 AM
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Our Wal-mart has a good stock of "Maxi" sundresses. I normally don't buy sun dresses, but these are not too low in the front. I don't like sleeveless, so I just put a little crochet short sleeved jacket or cotton shirt over them. I am tempted to go back and get several more. It isn't very often I find clothes I like in the stores. They were only around $16.
~Cathy~
Farmgirl 2428 http://www.my-fairhaven.blogspot.com/
http://adaywithnonnaandboompa.blogspot.com/ |
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Farmer Judy
True Blue Farmgirl
433 Posts
Judy
North Aurora
IL
USA
433 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2012 : 11:00:00 AM
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I have one that I found at Good Will and am trying to copy. The front is flat and the back has elastic. It has 5 inch slits on the side seams and comes to the bottom of my calf. I really dont want to dismantle it so I am going to measure it and me and see what I come up with. I will let you know what I find. I am also going to go to Walmart to their fabric department because they always have rolls that are 1.50 - 3.00 a yard.
God bless,
Judy
Farmgirl #3666
Born a city girl but a farm girl at heart!
http://farmtimes.blogspot.com/ |
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annielaurel
True Blue Farmgirl
912 Posts
nancy
fernandina beach
florida
USA
912 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2012 : 1:20:57 PM
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Kathy the use of the sheet is great. I may try that myself. I am always finding pretty sheet and don't know how to use them. :)
Kennie that story is sooo funny. Glad it all worked out for you in the end.
Nancy
Farmgirl Sister #2301
Make everyday a celebration of the heart. |
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westfork woman
True Blue Farmgirl
554 Posts
Kennie Lyn
Emmett
Idaho
USA
554 Posts |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 3:41:02 PM
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My grandma told me that my great grandmothers, both of them pioneer women, wore what she called Mother Hubbard dresses for everyday. They were long and had the fullness of the dress gathered into a yoke. On the Oregon Trail, they were made of something like pillow ticking. Heavy cotton with small blue strips. But after they were home in Idaho, they were made of cotton in summer and wool in the winter. There was no waist band. They just wore a big apron over the top. They wore them when they were pregnant or not, just tied the apron wherever it was comfortable. Kennie Lyn
Greetings from the morning side of the hill. |
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westfork woman
True Blue Farmgirl
554 Posts
Kennie Lyn
Emmett
Idaho
USA
554 Posts |
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 11:19:35 AM
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In Walmart the other day the sewing department had light weight cotton yardage with a very wide elastic top. It could either be sundresses or skirts. Lots of fun summer prints. I don't remember the price, but since all you would need it a back seam and a hem, the skirts would be really easy to make.
Greetings from the morning side of the hill. |
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.Linz.
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
Lindsey
Shippensburg
Pennsylvania
USA
118 Posts |
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 2:52:04 PM
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I bought a maxi dress at Wal-mart and love it. If you have a Cato or Rugged Warehouse nearby, check there - I've seen the skirts for around $12
"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds." - Prov. 27:23 |
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Farmer Judy
True Blue Farmgirl
433 Posts
Judy
North Aurora
IL
USA
433 Posts |
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 8:37:14 PM
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Krystal, I stopped at Wal-Mart yesterday and bought a yard of fabric of four different prints. They were all around 2 dollars a yard. I sewed the outside edge together right sides together. I left 18 inches open for “kick” room to walk. I sewed a small hem on the 18 inch opening and also the bottom. I cut a piece of elastic 3 inches shorter than my waist measurement and overlapped it about a ˝ inch to sew it into a flat loop. I sewed the elastic to the right side of the skirt top but sewed on the inside edge (away from the raw edge). I then turned it towards the inside twice more so the elastic was not going to be against my body. I sewed it again on the inside (away from the top edge) to make a nice looking waistband. This took around an hour each and now I have four new skirts to wear. If you want pictures I can run another one up and send you a how to or email me and I can “talk” you through it.
God bless,
Judy
Farmgirl #3666
Born a city girl but a farm girl at heart!
http://farmtimes.blogspot.com/ |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
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.Linz.
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
Lindsey
Shippensburg
Pennsylvania
USA
118 Posts |
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Farmgirl Fashion: Long "maxi" skirts |
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Long "maxi" skirts
