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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Drawstring skirts..  |
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LizDarnell
True Blue Farmgirl
102 Posts
Liz
Gulfport
MS
USA
102 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 28 2007 : 05:54:23 AM
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I have seen on several of you talented ladies postings that you have made skirts with drawstrings at the waist. Can you pass along some tips for a beginner? I think that my 4 1/2 yr old would live in that type of skirt if I could make her a few ankle length ones. Do I need a pattern, or can I 'wing it'. I am starting on pattern jumpers this week for them but I'd love to make them some fun everyday long skirts. I am picturing multi colored fabrics pieced together......something DH will probably get a giggle out of but my girls will love. Thanks Ladies!
~Liz |
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LizDarnell
True Blue Farmgirl
102 Posts
Liz
Gulfport
MS
USA
102 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2007 : 06:16:29 AM
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Okay I am a bit backwards today....I remembered after I posted this that there is a seaech option to check the threads! So I got some tips on drawstring skirts from checking older topics. But I am still looking for some tips and also what is best to use for a drawstring? Can I pick something up at Hobby Lobby? I did really like the one post, sorry can't remember who said it, about using beads on the drawstring. My girls will love that! I am now more excited about this skirt idea than working with patterns, which I admit I am a little intimidated by-worried I won't be able to follow it. Thanks Again,
~Liz |
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katie-ell
True Blue Farmgirl
1818 Posts
Katie
Illinois
1818 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2007 : 06:33:16 AM
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Liz -- I think it would be fun for you to sew the drawstring skirts first, before you do the pattern jumpers -- get your feet wet, so to speak, and raise your confidence! You can sew up a drawstring from fabric -- just cut it the length you need (be generous-- you can always cut it shorter) and 2" wide. After cutting the drawstring, I'd 'try it on' the girls to be sure you have enough to go around the waist and make a generous bow. Here's more specific directions, from an Amy Butler purse pattern I have:
To make a drawstring:
A. Take the fabric and fold it in half lengthwise WRONG sides together and press (this will create a center crease).
B. Open the drawstring piece and turn each long raw edge into the center crease; press. (Each long edge now is folded to meet at the center crease.)
C. Fold this piece in half lenthwise and topstitch along ALL of the edges all the way around to make your drawstring sturdy (including short sides).
If you want to string beads on the drawstring, you'll want to have a knot above and below the beads to keep them in place. Maybe that would be too bulky for this kind of self-string?
Hope this helps! |
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LizDarnell
True Blue Farmgirl
102 Posts
Liz
Gulfport
MS
USA
102 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2007 : 06:40:38 AM
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| Thank you for the idea on a self made drawstring. I am thinking about making camo skirts for the girls out of DHs old uniforms, that way the fabric is 'free'. I am thinking of using pink thread to make it girly though, if I have pink thread. I think that I will take your advice on starting with these skirts to 'practice' stitches and get a bit better with my machine before tackling the patterns. That and it sounds more fun! |
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2007 : 10:05:03 AM
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Other drawstring options:
Shoelaces- if you need them longer, square knot 2 together and trim off the plastic ends, if they're there.
Sturdy ribbon- grosgrain is good
Make your own out of yarn or twine by twisting here's a link http://www.woolenwhimsies.com/twistedcord.html
Skirts are super-simple, you're just making a tube!
Faith
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2007 : 12:01:50 PM
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You know what I do for my draw strings for the girls and their jumpers? I lay them on the fabric and cut generously around them and the length that I want it to be. I most always go for a-line, that way they have give and can still play in them without running around little Geishas. I sew them up, preferring a French seam over my serger, then I make a bias tape out of either the same fabric, or a different one that coordinates but contrasts, for the waist band. Sew on the waistband and then thread the string, sew up my hem and i'm done. One skirt for Grace usually takes about 1/2 hour start to finish. Zoe takes a little longer because she is smaller, but we are getting past that as she gets bigger.
Jumpers take a bit longer because of the bias tape needed around the arms and neckline, or if I am putting a collar on it, or if I have applique to do on it.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://frugalwitch.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage: http://mysticwoodsfarm.com |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2007 : 6:18:48 PM
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Ok Ok, you have spiked my curiosity to the point that I can no longer stand it. lol I had to look up what a french seam was and then tried it on my machine. I'm ashamed to admit I hadn't touched my machine in so long that I actually had to stop and think about how to thread it! shameful!! lol But I did it! I found some fabric I've had laying around to make scrubs that I'm no longer going to make so tomorrow I am going to attempt a drawstring skirt. I'm sure it will take me a few tries to get them to look decent. wish me luck girls!
sarah |
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Aunt George
True Blue Farmgirl
1476 Posts
Georgann
Midlothian
VA
1476 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2007 : 6:32:42 PM
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Good Luck Sarah, they are easy and fun! I am making them right now...just took a short break from the sewing. I have three adult size ones almost completed. No pattern here either. They are easy and very fun to make. I unfortunately am a little bit of a plus size woman and don't really look good in them, but my daughters love them!! They are spinning and primping in their skirts. (I've done about 4 of them this past week.)
I have been making paneled ones. Each skirt has about 6 or 7 different fabrics in them. I just sew and turn down the top, string cording through, put beads on the ends of the cording. I'll try to post some of them on my blog when I get a chance.
Have fun Sarah and Liz!
G
Update: Just posted some photos of the skirts I'm working on. The blue one isn't finished, but I'm finished for the night! Did three of them today, Made a wonderful tasty roast beef, potatoes and carrots for dinner. And mac and cheese for lunch. Hubby cooked breakfast though. Mom and I spent alot of time with her fabulous machines today. She is showing me how to use her embroidery machines. I have a new apron project in mind with lots of embroidery on it!! woo hoo!!
http://auntgeorgeshouse.blogspot.com/index.html
Thanks for checking out my apron and sewing musings! |
Edited by - Aunt George on Jan 28 2007 7:19:08 PM |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2007 : 8:01:23 PM
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The paneled skirts are beautiful. I love the colors and how you put it together.
Sarah |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4192 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4192 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2007 : 05:32:29 AM
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| Aunt George, I just check out your blog, wonderful skirts, I love them. So country!!! Michele |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2007 : 05:46:44 AM
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Your skirts are really pretty and so feminine! Enjoyed reading your blog.
Ephesians 1:17 |
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LizDarnell
True Blue Farmgirl
102 Posts
Liz
Gulfport
MS
USA
102 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2007 : 06:13:04 AM
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AuntGeorge those skirts are gorgeous! I would wear one, and I know I would never get my girls out of them. I really hope that my next attempt at them goes well. I made 2 out of scraps yesterday during nap time, I used uniform scraps. They are sucha thick material and I couldn't get them the same size because I was using scraps from pants. The one for my 4 1/2 yr old was decent but not great, but 'practice makes perfect' so I am going to keep trying! I ordered some fabric from Fabric.com, mostly poplin but I am really excited about getting it to see it and the colors. I ordered royal blue, taxi yellow, jade green, and a medium purple. I also ordered a white cotton of some sort (can't remember right now), I am planning on using these for skirts for the girls and maybe me. All the material was less than $2/yd. + free shipping for being a first time customer!! Buying material online sure goes smoother than dragging the girls out to the store ;) Could anyone please give me some measurements for an a line drawstring skirt? When I get my new material I want to jump right in and want a bit more precise process than I used yesterday which was guessing and eyeballing. If it helps my oldest DD is 21" around belly and 23" waist to floor, Any suggestions on width of top of material and width at bottom? Thanks again you ladies are the absolute BEST!!!
~Liz |
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Aunt George
True Blue Farmgirl
1476 Posts
Georgann
Midlothian
VA
1476 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2007 : 07:29:34 AM
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Liz,
The beauty of drawstring skirts are that they are not an exact science...that is why I love them so!!
Try cutting it 10" at the top and 20" at the bottom then do whatever length you need. Then draw a line that connects the top to the bottom at each side. This will give you your A-line angle of each panel. (Be sure to fold your paper pattern in half so you have an exact middle) Then make a slight curve for the bottom hemline. You can add more panels for more width and can always add any length that you want. This way you can have a skirt and they can have skirts to match. Just play around with it and see what you get. Gotta run, I will try to draw a detailed sketch later this morning and post it on my blog. Cleaning the frig right now.
Have fun and thank you ladies for checking my blog and liking my skirts!!
G
http://auntgeorgeshouse.blogspot.com/index.html
Thanks for checking out my apron and sewing musings! |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2007 : 07:48:18 AM
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Georgann I love those skirts! The red one especially! LOVE IT!!
For a really spinny skirt, in a panel skirt I make the measurement difference between the waist the the hem sometimes up to 3 times bigger. You get a super spin, Grace loves a super spin. I have on skirt that has a 90" spin and one that has 130" spin. the 130" I didn't make but I adore the skirt. I wonder what the spin is on the quilt skirt I just fashioned? Gonna check.
Oh I love those skirts,
and Georann, BTW, I be you would look beautiful in one of them! The best hting about A-lines are that they flatter every body....come'on Georgann, unleash your inner hippie!! LOL!
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://frugalwitch.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage: http://mysticwoodsfarm.com |
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LizDarnell
True Blue Farmgirl
102 Posts
Liz
Gulfport
MS
USA
102 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2007 : 08:52:27 AM
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Thanks for the quick measurement guide, that will help a lot. I just made DD a fleece type skirt out of a sweater MIL gave me for Christmas-2 sizes too big and NOT my style. So I cut it along seams and trimmed it up a bit and made a impromptu skirt using a long seamed trim for a drawstring, again eye balling it. During nap time I am going to make my younger DD a skirt using actual measurements; then I will post on my .mac site and link it here so you can all see.
~Liz |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2007 : 09:30:47 AM
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Ok I'm getting along good with everything but the waist. Do you put on an waistband/casing or just fold the top down to make a casing? And what about where the strings come out...buttonholes???
sarah |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
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LizDarnell
True Blue Farmgirl
102 Posts
Liz
Gulfport
MS
USA
102 Posts |
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suzyhomemaker
True Blue Farmgirl
806 Posts
Clare
Tyler Hill
PA
USA
806 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2007 : 12:58:33 PM
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Great job, Liz. Way to go jumping i nand getting them done so the girls can actually wear them. I get hung up and distracted and then sometimes need to start over from change in size. :-)
AuntGeaorgie, love the adult sized drawstring skirts. When I get these Valentines done and mailed off for the one swap, I am going t ostart making skirts for myself and daughter.
Country girl in NE PA |
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Aunt George
True Blue Farmgirl
1476 Posts
Georgann
Midlothian
VA
1476 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2007 : 4:29:00 PM
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Your skirts are GREAT!!! LOVE them! My girls love them too. Thanks Clare. They are easy and fun to make and they really do make you want to twirl and sashay a wee bit!
Liz keep that machine humming now! Go girl.
G
http://auntgeorgeshouse.blogspot.com/index.html
Thanks for checking out my apron and sewing musings! |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2007 : 4:37:38 PM
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Liz- They are really adorable! And your litte one is a cutie-pie!
Karin |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Drawstring skirts.. |
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Drawstring skirts..
