Autumnal Wrap Around Skirt

I found fabric about a year ago that I fell in love with. Right away I wanted to make a knee length skirt. Now, a year later, I'm finally making plans for it.

I'm trying to envision what it will look like, which is a great excuse to watch excessive YouTube tutorials.

At first I thought leather straps as fasteners, but that couldn't be washed. Buttons, but that would be too cutesy for the flowy texture of the material. I wanted an accent of something, without overburdening the look.

Piping.

I want piping to match the lining and I've always wanted to not only use piping, but learn how to make it.

Below are links to the videos that are the base tutorials. Maybe I'll draw up a design now that it's firmer in my imagination, scan it in and edit this post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRnErmpV48Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA5kbCZNu8g

And here is the skirt fabric I am starting with:

Picture thoughts and purses

Picture thoughts:

A fairy ornament that hangs by my window

A blanket I inherited from my grandmother. That is, I saw it in a plastic bag and a million memories came back to me. I asked my mom if I could have it and she said yes, under the condition that I patch it up. Grandma made it from old clothes of my grampa, and her three children. She passed when I was 13 and was one of the few people who understood me.

Here is a purse that began as a lining experiment. I used red silk ribbon for the trimming.

It's beginnings...

My mother's suggestions and guidance that will help me in my next endeavor.

Curtains Complete and T-shirt Quandries

I finished bf's curtains the following afternoon, having been further inspired by his politely asking if they were ready :)

I ran out of thread, then ran to Joanne's.

Hoping they fit!

While at Joanne's I saw some red fabric. Suddenly a T-shirt flashed inside my head, so I bought enough to make one. 

I've never made a T-shirt before. Knowing I learn better through visual and tangible examples, I went to the thrift store yesterday and bought a T-shirt with the fit I wanted (granted, I found a few other things as well). 

This long-sleeved had the best fit and intended neckline.
I woke up at 5a.m. the next morning for no apparent reason, but with a pull to sew.

So I practiced making short sleeves first.

 

The first thing I did was check YouTube, but there were no useful videos for this kind of project. I did pick up a Crayon alternative to chalk, though.

My machine doesn't make the appropriate stitch, which I learned through experimentation.

…but my mom's machine does.

Assignment: Curtains

My boyfriend has third shift for the rest of the summer. He has one big window that lets in too much light during the day for a proper sleep, so I've been assigned the task of blotting out the sun for him.

This is my first time sewing curtains. I went into the fabric store with specific dimensions, and then the yard-cutter (a wiser sewer than myself) suggested I leave room for seems. From then on I sheepishly let her draw up the appropriate lengths.

I decided to weigh down the bottom by folding the extra fabric over.

I've seen this on curtains often, without having registered it.

I learned to consider what side I'm sewing on.

This time I quit at 10:30pm, about halfway done. 

Mini-Skirt Apron

It was 10pm, and I had the inclination to sew...

Don't do this.

Vuala: one pocket!

I wanted to embroider a mushroom on it.

Next day

This is him trying to escape.

Picking out buttons.

 Cheboo, after all that work, doesn't like the pocket.

Sewing buddy:)

This is one of the videos I used to learn how to embroider:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL2Kv_vo8l0

I split the thread in half, using three strands for the smaller mushrooms.

He's getting acclimated