Skirt Week for Me!

So, I have been busy but my blog's been quiet- I can't post my newest creations yet because they are gifts or for my sister's shower and I want them to be a surprise... and she would peek! Oh, you know you would, Jamie!

But I did finish a skirt for my entry into Skirt Week over at Crafterhours. Here is the adult flickr group. My Rainbow Butterfly Applique Skirt I entered into the child category seen on flickr here.

For this skirt I decided I needed to make something with a little more flare to it. So I thought I would use the same technique and Flat Tulip Fabric Paint that I did for my Hand Painted Earth Day Dress for Project Run & Play Sew Along. This time I decided to paint a big graphic swirl pattern onto the side of my skirt.

Here's how I did it:
I took my waist measurement -4 inches= width of the rectangle
Then the length I wanted the skirt= length of the rectangle
For the back rectangle I added 1 inch to the width (for seam allowance for the zipper) then cut this second rectangle in to two pieces.
For the top piece you will need the length to be your waist measurement + 3 inches (so the ends overlap like a belt) and the width should be 6 inches.
Here are the pieces you just cut out:

Next I sewed one of the side seams together and sewed the zipper into the back pieces so that I could lay the skirt out flat like this:

Now is a good time to hem so that you paint over the stitching and it won't interfere with your art work. I forgot (and if you want to try on the skirt first before you hem you can do the same) so I had to go back and touch up with paint onto the white thread that ran through my design. It was extra work but it ended up ok.

Next I drew out a design onto the fabric.

Now all you have to do is paint.

Takes a little bit of time, but not really hard. Then iron your design to set the paint, but make sure it is completely dry first!

Now assemble the skirt, sew the second side seam and gather the top of the skirt.

Then using the top "belt" like bias tape, sew the belt to the skirt wrong side to right side, flip over the belt and roll under before top stiching around the right side of the skirt.

I just used cheap little loop & hooks to close the skirt (since they aren't seen I didn't think it would be a big deal).

And you're done!

I really think that fabric painting and appliqueing dresses up solid fabrics which are often the cheapest ones you can find.

Well, I am off to dinner and a movie with my lovely husband of 11 years, yesterday was our anniversary, (he was working) in my lovely new skirt.

Hope you all had a nice weekend!