craftgrrl | Shirred-waist A-line Skirt (Reply)

I was so excited for spring that I actually got off my rear and started making some skirts from the fabrics I've been hoarding. I was very excited by JKaz's Shirred Pepper & Irish shirts and promptly followed Mickncrispy's Shirring Tutorial to get the waistband. This was perfect, as I'm a new seamstress. *grin*

I made the a-line pattern on brown paper by tracing a skirt I have and love. Then I made it about 4 or 5 inches too big, but enough to slide over my... derriere. I used Gutermann's elastic thread that I found at Joann's, but I'm so addicted to shirring that I may have to buy a large spool of the stuff, or go broke. I found the one problem I had was caused by not pulling the bobbin/elastic thread up properly. If I wasn't careful, it wouldn't catch in the tension mechanism, and just pull haphazardly up, and not be taught at all. I enjoy that the lines don't have to be perfectly perpendicular, and it still looks great. And all this without the scariness of a zipper!

I was probably a little wasteful with the fabric, but I've got enough scraps left over for a nice matching headband, and maybe for the liner of a little handbag - I used 2 yards, and it's below knee length. And it happens to perfectly match this uber comfy shirt from Target. I may shorten it, or I may not. I can't decide.