by Sherri Sylvester | May 3, 2018
Hey there, it’s finally getting warmer outside! We’ve been listening to the birds (with the windows open!), walking to school and searching out our local convenience store for slushies. Ahhh…. feels good!
To celebrate, I’ve teamed up with A Material Girl, a Canadian online fabric shop, to bring you and your kids a brand new pattern tutorial – the Simple Springtime Skirt in 3 kids’ sizes. (P.S. A Material Girl is also offering a discount and giving away fabric to you lovely readers. Enter for your chance to win below!)
This post is sponsored by A Material Girl Fabrics and they have provided the fabric for this post. As always, I only work with sponsors that I love. Enjoy the tutorial!
Before we start, I’d be remiss not to let you know about this new-to-me shop. It’s just around the corner from me in Milton, Ontario. Owner Nicole started her shop in 2014 and noticed that her customers loved having access to organic fabrics. (Yay!)
Branching out from there, she also sells knit prints, woven character fabrics, double gauze and so much more by the yard. As a bonus, all A Material Girl shipments within Canada are only $5.75 and she can make arrangements to ship to the US as well.
The knit organic Birch Fabrics bows I used for this tutorial washed up buttery soft and so easy to stitch. And my youngest was over the moon excited when she got to choose the magic rainbow shine fabric by Alexander Henry.
4 Prizes:
A Material Girl is giving away the fabric you need to make a Springtime Skirt. Four lovely readers will win their choice of 1 yard of fabric, enough to make a skirt for their favorite kid and 1/2 yard extra just for fun! You can find your favorites in advance in their shop.
These giveaways are open to everyone, internationally, from today until Thursday, May 10th, at midnight EST. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter – and if you don’t have Facebook to sign in with, just use your name and email address. There’s a “click to enter”, non-social media login entry too!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Recieve 10% off at A Material Girl using the discount code: STUCKINTHE80s
A Material Girl is also offering a month-long 10% discount! Valid from today until June 3, 2018.
How to Sew a Simple Springtime Skirt
This tutorial comes in 3 sizes, for an average fit on ages 6/7, 8/9 and 10/12. It can be made in both knit or woven fabrics and requires only a 1/2 yard of fabric. The elastic waist pulls on for easy dressing and (I’m told, lol) that also makes them so comfy! Plus, a nice sized hem allows the fabric to lay flat and look great.
Of course, it’s also called “Simple” because it only requires 10 steps and a couple of hours to finish. Your kids will love their quick spring wardrobe pick-me-up!
Size Chart:
Fit the skirt to your child based on their hip measurement. When in doubt, choose the larger measurement.
Size 6/7 fits a 22 1/2 waist and 26 1/2 hip, finished length is 14 1/2″
Size 8/9 fits a 23 1/2 waist and 29″ hip, finished length is 14 1/2″
Size 10/12 fits a 24 1/2 waist and 31″ hip, finished length is 16 1/2″
Helpful Links:
For tips and tricks for sewing knits please see these posts:
You will need:
- 1/2 yard woven or knit fabric
- under 1 yard of 1 1/2″ or 1 3/4″ wide elastic
- fabric matching thread
- elastic matching thread
- removable fabric marker
- ruler
- sewing machine
- your usual sewing supplies
- optional: Stretchy Fusible Seam Tape for knits (Knit-N-Stable Tape)
- optional: serger for sewing knit fabric and finishing edges
Cut Your Fabric and Elastic:
Cut your fabric as indicated below according to the size you need. The elastic can be cut to your child’s waist measurement or you can follow the size below.
NOTE: These measurements are slightly different for knit and woven fabrics to allow for the extra ease and hem depth needed in a woven skirt – be sure to choose the right one!
Size 6/7 Knit Cut 2: 14 1/2″ wide x 14 1/2″ high, cut 1 length of elastic 22 1/2″
Size 6/7 Woven Cut 2: 15 1/2″ wide x 15″ high, cut 1 length of elastic 22 1/2″
Size 8/9 Knit Cut 2: 15 1/2″ wide x 15 1/2″ high, cut 1 length of elastic 23 1/2″
Size 8/9 Woven Cut 2: 16 1/5″ wide x 16″ high, cut 1 length of elastic 23 1/2″
Size 10/12 Knit Cut 2: 16 1/2″ wide x 16 1/2″ high, cut 1 length of elastic 24 1/2″
Size 10/12 Woven Cut 2: 16 1/2″ wide x 17″ high, cut 1 length of elastic 24 1/2″
Cut the Skirt Shape:
- Layer skirt front and back matching raw edges and one-way up fabric. fold panels in half, matching the raw edges. You will have 4 layers on the top right and a fold at the top left.
- Mark 1/2″ in from the top raw edge (not the fold!).
- Draw a straight line from the bottom edge of the skirt to the mark at the top raw edge of the skirt.
- Cut along the line.
Sew the Skirt:
NOTE: If you are using a woven fabric, finish all raw edges together using a serger, zigzag pinking shears.
Step 1: Mark the Skirt Front and Back
On the right side of the fabric, mark the center of each skirt panel and draw a line 1/2″ down from the top of both skirt front and back with a removable marker.
Step 2: Pin and Stitch the Side Seams
Place the skirt front and back right sides together, matching raw side edges. Pin and stitch with a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Step 3: Press the Seam
Press the side seams towards the back of the skirt.
Step 4: Prepare the hem (use either the knit or woven instructions)
Prepare a woven fabric: Fold the bottom skirt edge 1/2″ to the wrong side. Then 1″ again and press well.
Prepare a knit fabric: Fold and press 1″ once towards the wrong side (If you are using Stretchy Fusible Seam Tape, apply it before folding.)
Step 5: Pin and Stitch the Hem
Pin your hem on the right side of the fabric, matching side seams. Stitch close to the top edge of the hem fold with the right side of the fabric up on your machine. Note: Use a stretch stitch or a twin needle if you are hemming a knit skirt.
Step 6: Finish the Woven Fabric Edge
Woven fabric only: Finish the edges of the top of the skirt using pinking shears, a zig-zag stitch or a serger.
Step 7: Prepare the Elastic Waistband
Place the elastic right sides together, matching the unfinished ends. Stitch with 3/8″ seam. Press the seam allowance open. Stitch the seam allowance down in a box shape using matching thread.
Step 8: Mark the Waistband
Mark the center front of the elastic by folding at the seam. Refold the matching center front and back to find and mark the side seams. Now the elastic is marked in quarters.
Step 9: Pin the Waistband
Line up the bottom wrong side of your elastic with the marked line on the top, right side of your skirt. Match and pin the elastic and skirt quarters with the elastic seam at the center-back of the skirt. Pin “sideways” all the way around, stretching the elastic to fit the fabric.
Step 10: Stitch the Waistband
Stitch the elastic to the skirt 1/4″ up from the bottom of the elastic with a zig-zag stitch in matching thread. Stretch the elastic to fit the skirt as you go.
Congratulations, you’ve made a Simple Springtime Skirt!
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Woven Fabric: Magic Rainbow Shine in Sky from Monkey’s Bizness by De Leon Design Group for Alexander Henry Fabrics from A Material Girl
Knit Fabric: Organic Blue Bows from Wonderland by Emily Isabella for Birch Fabrics from A Material Girl
Elastic: Dritz Metallic Waistband Elastic, Gold
Sewing Machine: Janome Skyline S9 (on loan from Janome Canada as part of their Artisan program)
by Sherri Sylvester | Apr 30, 2018
And what is that you ask? It’s another purse… (insert down-looking bright-cheeked emoji here, lol) Yup – of course, I needed another one after my long-wearing Chobe was finally looking a bit worse for wear.
Wanting, of course, to try something new I landed on the Boronia Bowler Bag pattern from Blue Calla. The shape was similar to many of the Coach and Kate Spade purses I’ve been seeing around, which was nice as I always aim to make things as professional as I can, so they don’t look handmade.
I took this bag to the Creativ Festival a few weeks ago and it was met with lots of interest. Everyone was especially impressed by the side gussets that hold all of your things in when the zippers are open. Very convenient! (You can see what I added to my fabric stash on Instagram.) I was able to visit the Janome booth and show them as well since I sewed the entire bag using my on-loan Skyline S9 machine.
Things I love:
- The shape. The double zipper allows the bag to open up fully so you can actually find the things at the bottom of your purse.
- The hardware. It’s so pretty! All of the hardware and the zipper were brought from Emmaline Bags. Online shipping is the best! I love the handmade tag and the purse feet make it all very professional.
- A simple sew. It was a fairly simple bag to make with a few things that took a little bit more time. It was not very fast – but making a good bag shouldn’t be. The construction was simple and easy to put together.
- Adding the selvage edge to the inside bottom of the purse – Have I mentioned that I love sewing?!
Things I changed:
- My sewing machine was needing a trip to the spa (read: a good cleaning!) so it was having trouble top-stitching consistently through many layers of vinyl for the handles. I added a fabric layer to the back – which looks super cool! And I also added fabric tabs on the ends of the handles to finish them. This made the handles thinner and so much easier to sew.
Things I’d change next time:
- In my opinion, the double straps should be at least 2, maybe 3 inches longer. I find they are very close to my armpit and am worried that heat mixed with sleeveless summer shirts will create trouble and a sweaty purse. They also barely fit over my winter jacket. I did make the removable crossbody length strap because I like the shoulder-free option and I use it that way the most.
- The bottom contrast piece does not have finished edges. I am finding the faux vinyl frays on the edges and it’s not wearing super well. I’d maybe use real leather or add a facing so the edges are finished.
Hope that helps if you’re thinking about making this bag. I really, really love mine and already have a fun Artisan project with
Janome Canada planned for later this year with it. ‘Cuz, of course, I need another one!
Have you made a purse or bag? Which pattern should I try next?!
Outer Fabric: Cotton and Steel Canvas Picnic Baskets from (now closed) Fabric Spot
Vegan Leather (read – vinyl): from my local big box fabric store
by Sherri Sylvester | Mar 29, 2018
Growing up, my family did a lot of tent camping. Every year we’d drive to our favorite spot for a week or two. As I got older we would book the same park and the exact same campsite. So many amazing memories were built during those summer trips!
Kelly Panacci (a lovely Canadian fabric designer!) designed a Road Trip fabric for Riley Blake Designs last year, and she graciously offered to send me some fat quarters. I couldn’t resist the vintage trailers and camping theme – so I chose a few I knew would match my parents’ home and remind us all of our camping trips. They received the quilt just this past Christmas.
Now that it has been a year, Kelly released a super-cute new line called Panda Love – in stores now – and she’s having a giveaway! We thought this would be the perfect time to show you something with her old line and introduce a new one. If you want to win some fabric (who doesn’t?!) – be sure to head over to Kelly’s brand new shop website. Read her blog for a mini-tour and GIVEAWAY happening March 30, 2018!
Quilt photos are fun and I happened to get some lovely winter photos of this one the day after a gorgeous snowstorm. The opposite of a summer camping trip – but the contrast is so pretty!
This quilt was going to be a copy of this Giant Vintage Star quilt. But it wanted to be it’s own thing, so I made a light/dark contrast HST quilt because making something twice isn’t as much fun! Most of the fabric is Kelly’s Road Trip line, and I added some solids to set it all off.
I quilted it myself with simple straight lines in a diamond pattern and machine bound it as usual using a sage green sheet as the backing. Nothing fancy – but it is finished and usable, which counts in my books!
See you here again soon. I’m madly sewing Easter dresses, nursing a broken baby toe (on my sewing foot, eep!) and preparing for company tomorrow, so I’d better go. Don’t forget to support our amazing Canadian talent – visit Kelly Panacci to win some Panda Love!
My helpful quilt holder and I!
by Sherri Sylvester | Jan 11, 2018
I was thrilled a few years ago to find a fantastic sketchy knit with drawings of Disney Frozen’s Anna and Elsa in my local Canadian online fabric shop, Funky Monkey Fabrics. “Frozen Fever” is still going strong in our house and the youngest, very blond child, has claimed to be Elsa. Our newly pronounced tween, while interest is slightly waning, is still very OK with being Anna.
Canadian online fabric shop Funky Monkey Fabrics sponsored this post and provided the Anna and Elsa Disney Frozen Sketch knit fabric for these hoodies.
Finding the Fabric
I love the way this Springs Creative knit is designed and drawn. I get a cool-looking product, and my kids get to wear their favorite licensed character. It has been very difficult to find good quality knits at my local box stores, and the smaller shops don’t seem to carry many either. Enter a Canadian Online Shop to fix the problem!
I’ve known about Funky Monkey Fabrics for quite a while. (Check out my 2015 interview with Melissa.) Recently I’ve started looking for better quality garment fabrics than I can get at my local shops and I’ve begun ordering more from them. Each fabric I’ve received has been delivered quickly and accurately. As a bonus to living very close by to their location, my fabrics sometimes arrive even as soon as the next day!
A quick look through their online shop shows that they sell everything you’ll ever need to create your projects. I’ve personally ordered lots of knits, but also included Pellon interfacing for bag-making and Minky and Licensed Character woven fabric for the Mitered Corner Nap-time Blankets I made a few years ago. Honestly, they really stock it all – needles, cork, batting… I could go on.
Exciting News!
Funky Monkey is currently working with a new solids supplier that will allow them to always have stock readily available. So good! Look for that coming up in the next couple of months. They also have a weekly sale, so you can save on the fun stuff you need!
Since I know some of you are like me (blergh!) and will need a reminder to check out their of their sale info, go ahead and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. For all of you with amazing memories *so jealous*, you can also check the Funky Monkey online shop regularly so you don’t miss their stocking announcement.
P.S. They are planning a big expansion for later this year as well! Can’t wait to see what they have in store for us. Pun intented!
Making the Hoodies
I’ve wanted to try the Kitschy Coo Reversible Zippy Hoodie for a while now. While I was scrap-busting it turned out that the Anna and Elsa Sketch knit was just long enough for two raglan sleeves and a hood. I happened to have enough cozy blue and purple knit to offset it and some shiny knit in silver and gold to use as an accent.
The pattern was easy to change to a non-reversible hoodie. The Zippy Hoodie includes a regular sleeve, and I wanted to feature the Sketch knit with a raglan sleeve. Altering the top of the sleeve with the Hey June Greenpoint Cardigan pattern was really simple and I was thrilled when it all worked out. Whew!
I added the gold and silver to the hood and pocket edges – silver for Elsa and gold for Anna – of course! My daughter’s also love the trendy armband thumb hole, and it was fun to sort out how add that as well.
The not-so-bad fallout of writing a blog and working with online Canadian shops?
While we were planning this post last month, I happened to fall in love with a few knits from their shop – of course! I posted these gorgeous Art Gallery knits and pink French Terry on Instagram and they are now pre-washed and waiting not-so-patiently in my stash. Yay!
Honest Conclusion…
In my personal experience and opinion, Funky Monkey’s online shop really is amazing. As sewists, we put a lot of work and effort into our projects and I am regularly dismayed by the state of fabric quality and pricing in most of our local Canadian box stores.
We need a great go-to shop and Funky Monkey Fabrics really fills that void.
Their fabric stock is huge and includes thread, zippers and notions, plus they have unique fabrics I can’t find anywhere else in Canada. The fabric quality is good, their service is fast and their pricing is competitive. This makes them a great stop on the perfect supply search for your next project, I’d highly recommend them.
by Sherri Sylvester | Jan 8, 2018
Good 2018 to you!
This new year brings in some extra-frigid weather and a curated black and white bundle for my sponsor Fabric Spark‘s Monthly Sparks fabric subscription. Combining some favorite white and cream backgrounds with great black accents was so rewarding. I feel like it screams at you to get creative!
Why did I choose a black and white bundle when the weather outside is causing enough grayness of it’s own? (There is a reason for my madness!)
I think a good black and white bundle is (as said above) a fun base for a creative sewing experience. And I really hope that everyone subscribing to this bundle thinks so too. There are so many directions you can go with it! I wholeheartedly agree with Fabric Spark’s written note – the bundle says:
It’s a great mix that you can use as is, or add a single colour to. Wouldn’t it be fun with yellow, or lime green. You can add a number of clear bright solids too, even the whole rainbow.
I’ve recently seen white a few quilts with low volume or gray-tone backgrounds and I’d love to do the same thing with a black and white bundle. Separating out the mostly-blacks and mostly-whites and creating blocks with bits of colours in the corners. (Like this one – except with the blocks of colour turned toward each other to create a square.)
I also love this plus quilt. Found while perusing #plusquilt (so addictive!) for ideas to use on one I recently made. And this quilt by Johanna Masko is absolutely gorgeous! The dresden plates are set off perfectly in her low volume background.
I must admit I do have a bit selfish reason for the bundle as well. I’ve been saving up quite a few grays, black and whites and rainbow bundles from Fabric Spark to make some kind of rainbow quilt. I put them together this morning and *POUF* (See below!) perfect quilt. You know, for when I finish the other 5 quilts I’ve got half made… (problem? what problem?!)
You can get more bundles like this from Fabric Spark every month by signing up for one of their 4 fabric subscriptions. Check them (and a lovely set of curated fabric) out on the Fabric Spark website, or visit them in person at their shop in Toronto.
by Sherri Sylvester | Nov 16, 2017
I swore I would never create matching clothing for our family, but then I had an opportunity to do it – and the idea was too good to pass up. So, my oldest and I can now be twinsies with matching wrap skirts. And I love them! (And so does she.) Of course, you can make it as a longer skirt for yourself as well. The panel choices are lovely!
This post is sponsored by Meerkat Shweshwe. They also provided the Yinyang Indigo Makoti Skirt kit.
My oldest is turning 10 tomorrow ~ double digits! ~ and when Céleste (from Meerkat Shweshwe) and I were talking about this post I thought a wrap skirt is a great tween option for her. It’s a little bit more grown up than an elastic waist and still fun enough that she can hang off of walls and such! Case and point…
Plus, I know the South African shweshwe fabric will hold up to any wear and tear she gives it. My youngest’s reversible pinafore (free tutorial) gets lots of wear. It’s been washed countless times and still looks like it’s brand new. Plus, this fabric is so soft that she loves wearing it! I wish you could touch it – the weave looks a bit like linen – but tighter – with the thickness of quilting cotton and beautiful drape! (Apparently my cat really likes it too!)
Anyhow – back to the Makoti Skirt Kit. Makoti means “New Bride” and a traditional custom in South Africa is that new brides wear specific clothing, including a makoti skirt, to show that they are married. The skirt kits are easy to make – honestly, I thought it would be harder to match the border print and it’s not at all. Plus it’s comfortable, drapes well and is easy to fit to any body type. Side note – you should totally snag this red one for Christmas.
Find a mini tutorial so you can make the child’s skirt after a bit of exciting news from Meerkat Shweshwe…
Meerkat Shweshwe 2 Year Discount and Giveaway!
Meerkat Shweshwe stocks more than just skirt kits. They sell precuts and yardage of authentic 3 Cats shweshwe imported directly from South Africa. Plus, you can find quilt patterns and kits as well.
They are offering a 10% discount on everything in the shop from November 17-19 using the code “2yearsold” to celebrate their 2 year anniversary!
PLUS – follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter so you don’t miss the giveaway in December. You could win a Double Irish Chain Mini Quilt Kit in Holiday colours! (Or sign up for the newsletter through the link at the bottom of their website to be reminded!)
- Choose your skirt kit based on the length and height of the border pattern. You will need enough length above the border’s center point for an adult-sized skirt, and below it for your child-size skirt.
- Use the instructions to sew the adult skirt almost to completion. Before hemming it, mark the center of the border print, then cut the skirt apart and hem the adult skirt as indicated.
- For the child’s skirt – wrap the remaining bottom panels around your child to measure how many panels you will need in their final skirt. My daughter is a skinny size 8 and we used 5 panels. Unpick the seam to leave the 5 panels together and set the excess panels aside.
- Cutting the remaining waistband fabric into 2 or 3 evenly sized widths. (I used two 3″ wide lengths.)
- Follow the same instructions as the adult sized skirt to finish your child-size skirt. Insert elastic into the back panel if necessary for a closer fit. (See photos for steps.)
- Tada! Hope you love this as much as I do.
Please share your projects, I’d love to see them! #alongforthreadride
