14 March 2012

The Skirty Dozen

Sometimes I like big, involved projects that challenge me and expand my skills.  Other times, I prefer quick and easy.  These twelve skirts (I like to call them the skirty dozen*) fall soundly into the second category.

 
Anyone can make an elastic waist dirndl skirt - all you need is a bit of fabric, some wide elastic and about an hour.  To make your own:

  1. Find a piece of pretty fabric.  Make sure its width is large enough to go around your hips with some wiggle room.  Let's say I am using 50" fabric - that will give me around 10" of ease.
  2. Determine the length you would like your skirt (for me, I usually like 22").  Add 2" to that measurement (24" it is).
  3. So, I cut out a piece of fabric that is 50" by 24" and stitch up the selvedge side to make a big tube.
  4. Cut a piece of elastic (I use 2" wide elastic) that is comfortable on your waist.  Attach the cut ends together to make a tube.
  5. Gather the fabric tube onto the elastic tube.  I pin the skirt to the elastic in quarters.  Then, I stretch the elastic as I serge the fabric onto it, one quarter of the tube at a time.
  6. Finish the bottom with a 2" hem.
  7. Wear and enjoy.
All the skirty dozen are made with light weight fabrics (like rayon and linen) and are therefore, great for the warmer weather. However, because of the darker colours of some of the fabrics, those skirts can be worn with tights and boots in the winter too.  So, many of these skirts can serve my wardrobe needs year round.

Here's one example in action.  The skirt is made from a coral/red/grey/black print rayon woven that Fabric Mart was offering a while back.  The coral ruffle front tank top is from Land's End and the black fulled wool blazer is so old I can't remember where I got it.  I have on black textured tights and pair of black leather boots to cozy things up.

Over the next while, I'll post each skirt as I have styled it for work and/or play.




* So, how many of you caught my awesome play on words?

24 comments:

pdiddly said...

spooky, I have just blogged about spending 3 days cleaning and 0 days sewing and that many of my fellow bloggers are knocking out garments like they are on a production line - and I then read your post......... great skirts.

Ann said...

I caught your awesome play on words.

Nice Skirty Dozen!! The first outfit looks great.

BeaJay said...

Great looking skirts - lovely fabric. I might try this.

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

Ohhhh sewing pictures! What a great easy but necessary project. Love the fabrics you chose for the skirts. Can't wait to see the additional style pictures.

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

I'm back because when I went to look at the skirts again, I realized that I must own at least 6 of those FM fabrics! I've really got to get my fabric unpacked now so that I can make me a couple of skirts, too.

Jane M said...

So glad to see you happy and sewing and the skirty dozen are enough to put a smile on all our faces. Wonderful fabrics and terrific styling.

Sheila said...

You look fantastic and love your skirty dozen.

T. Sedai said...

"Skirty Dozen" made me laugh....

Also, they are so pretty! And I am excited to see you have sewing posts again.

Lisette M said...

You look wonderful modeling one of your skirty dozen ( I got it too!)

Janine said...

your skirty dozen look fab and I suppose when you wear them they`ll eventually become the dirty dozen too. congrats on your 1/2 stone weight lossand increasing fitness .

Dana said...

Hmmm, many of those fabrics look familiar. Maybe because they made it into my closet, oops I mean stash too! They look great!

Sharon said...

Great skirts and you are looking fantastic, love the play on words.

Shelley's Garden said...

Yep! A great play on words. And super skirts.

Elaray said...

The red/grey/black is my favorite. I think that silhouette will suit me. I'm going to try it!

Mariela Alethia said...

The skirty dozen is a definete to do on my spring/ summer list.

Seraphinalina said...

I am quite certain I've watched the Dirty Dozen multiple times although rarely start to finish. Either my brother or dad would be watching it and I'd get sucked in.

Anyhow, love the skirts, I love how worn it looks like so much more than a one hour project and I'd be happy to see the styling of the others over a few posts. Sometimes you need a palette cleanser between projects, an easy win after a wadder, I can see that fitting a lot of emotional sewing needs.

Clio said...

I love your skirty (flirty and flippy!) dozen! Sometimes it's just nice to have a whole bunch of things to wear.

gMarie said...

fabulous skirts! Love the styling of this first one. And the play on words was wonderful. g

June said...

I love swingy skirts, and yours are beautiful in their color and variety. Do you wear a slip when you wear the skirts with tights or hose? I'm trying to figure out what fabric (if any) will not cling embarrassingly to my legs (and bottom!) in the cooler months.

Carolyn said...

You have been amazingly productive; that is a very impressive array of beautiful skirts!

Time Traveller said...

This one... I think I can make it!
Thanks!

http:\\timebite.blogspot.com

Dr. Z said...

Love the "skirty dozen". Great idea.

Anonymous said...

I love the play on words and you are wearing my favorite print of the dozen.

I'm inspired.

Anonymous said...

Question--is that elastic on the waist of the skirts? Sorry, I did not read the instructions yet.
Lovely skirts. I'm new to sewing--I've only had my machine for less than a year. My aunt is a master seamstress--want to be like her "when I grow up."

Current project: New Look Simplicity sundress pattern: W6557