Archive for the 'a-line skirt' Category

Messenger Bags and The Bag Share

Published on November 18, 2007 in a-line skirt, bag sew, classes, Creating, design, fashion design, LuckyStitches, LuckyStitches Jean Class, projects, sewing, The Bag Sew, totes and bags and workshops. 0 Comments

Ok, first – if you are a local yokel – than please visit me Monday night, 11/19 at LuckyStitches 6pm-8:30pm for a Sew-A-Bration. We’ll be sewing up more bags for the Florence Bag Share which launches the same day (celebration). So come on down! Bring a dish to share, a machine to sew and fabric will be available for bags. If you have questions: info(at)luckystitches.com or 413.695.3092 Hope to stitch it up!

On to regularly scheduled business. The latest round of newbie sewers finished their messenger bags this weekend. I know you’ve probably heard me say this before, but I just have to tell you again. Hearing these guys and gals tell me that there is no way this is going to work and be a bag, then watch as their faces light up when they turn their bags out (we sew linings into them). It’s just so freakin’ precious! I love it. I also really love that each person is able to make their bags their OWN individual bags. All the choices are their own, including what to appliqué, how many pockets, inside pockets, length of strap, closure. I really want people to leave knowing that they can really turn what they are working on into something original, even if it is from a pattern. fun right?

LuckyStitches - Appliqué

LuckyStitches - Appliqué

We practice a bunch of different things, just so people can become familiar with their machine. I encourage pressing all the buttons, levers, turning all the knobs, trying all the widths and lengths. Everyone brings different types of fabrics (above is a thick fleece – she’s using a cool fish print and a fun stitch on her new to her (but previously owned) machine and came up with something that looked like seaweed.

On the other, he used some pink satin to appliqué a one-eyed robot demon guy onto his black corduroy bag. It’s so cool! The thread he brought was a little thick, so experimenting with all these things were really fun, and what a cool surprise it was for these to become actual bags they can use.

LuckyStitches - Sewing Machine 101 Messenger BagLuckyStitches - Sewing Machine 101 Messenger Bag

and what lovely “LuckyStitches poses”!

Oh – on to the next…I’m working fast and furious to finish up the JanFebMar 2008 schedule.  Fingers crossed, I can finish tonight!  I’ll be repeating some classes, like Sewing Machine 101 (that will happen every month), Jeans and a few others, and there’s some cool stuff for the late winter and early spring.  A coat class, a skirt class, a wrap dress class.  Some pattern-making 101 classes, like Full Bust Adjustment and Sewing Patterns 101.  I’m also introducing a Homeschooling Sewing Series.  That actually starts in December.  It’s starting to fill up, so if your are interested, please register sooner than later.  I’m also thinking of running the winter hat class again.  I so LOVE the pattern I made, it’s perfect for kids and adults.  So many projects and only 3 months…

pants=skirt

Published on May 12, 2007 in a-line skirt, LuckyStitches, projects, sewing and skirt. 1 Comment

pants=skirt – front, originally uploaded by zannestar.

I made these from a pair of Rob’s pants that he just couldn’t wear anymore. They are so unbelievably soft and worn. Oh and there’s the paint and latex splattered allover, but I think that adds a ton of character. I still ahve to patch the front pockets, there are holes. and there’s a worn knee hole on one side, I’m not sure I want to patch that just yet. I’ve sewn around it – secretly – so I hope it won’t tear much more.

I really wasn’t into flattening the crotch seam, so I cut it away and inlaid a piece so the front was nice and flat.

Here’s the back:
pants=skirt - back

I think the back turned out well. I was a little worried that it would be “flippy” adding the extra fabric. And I think it slightly is, but I don’t mind it so much.

Here’s a side view:
pants=skirt - side

I was really glad that I used a jeans twin needle. I was able to double needle topstitch, and I think that allowed for really flat seams when I was attaching the inserts to the skirt.

I will definitely make more of these. I want to wear them all summer!

LuckyStitches A-line Skirts

Published on May 3, 2007 in a-line skirt, classes, Creating, design, fashion design, LuckyStitches, photos, projects, sewing and workshops. 2 Comments

LuckyStitches A-line Skirts, originally uploaded by zannestar.

Well – we finished! Having missed a class due to a snow storm, we met at a student’s home (thank you!) and finished out skirts! The A-Line skirt is really ultra fabulous because it is perfect for so many different body types.

First – we drafted a basic skirt sloper onto paper using our individual measurements. Then – we traced our patterns onto muslins and stitched them up. It was really fun to see everybody’s expression when they tried their muslins on – and they fit! There were a few minor alterations, but those were transferred back to the paper pattern.

Now, with our new paper patterns, we slashed and pivoted, closing the darts (this is a fitted waist A-Line skirt – and I love how they look without darts…) and creating our A-Line. This new pattern was then transferred to the muslin and stitched up. Another fun facial expression time….they still fit! and they were the shapes these girls had been dreaming of!

Now we were ready for our final fabric. We had a few curves to smooth out so our final was fab…and once that was done we cut them out. One cool trick that I learned in college (and haven’t looked back) is to cut the pattern out using the open piece of fabric, not fold the fabric in half – you wast so much fabric that way. And – we cut these on the bias. Who doesn’t love a bias skirt! Sewing was fun, I was able to share lots of fun tips and tricks and I think everyone learned quite a bit.

I do know that these skirts looked awesome on – and everyone has a pattern so they can make more…all year long. How awesome would these be in wool!!!

Skirts are fun for summer – there are two skirt-a-longs that I know of going on right now – so it’s the perfect time to GET YOUR SKIRT ON!

Check these out:
Sew, Mama, Sew!
Sew What? Skirts sew-a-long