The Maxi Skirt (and Amazing Sisters)

Well, it looks like my sewing has turned from quilting to garments.

For now at least.

I am learning once again that I like quilting sewing better.

But a successful garment really makes me feel accomplished.

My sisters came to visit (hijack my child) for a long weekend.

They also brought projects to accomplish.

To be fair, they also did projects while I went to work.

Lisa texted me on her way into town and asked if I knew how to make a maxi skirt.

A quick google searched confirmed, “I could try.”

Steph has her sewing machine all set-up at her house, waiting to make a quilt.

She picked this one to make from Moda Bakeshop, and just needed some help starting out.

They live eight hours away, so everything HAD to be crammed into one weekend.

I also live an hour and a half away from any decent store.

All that said, they arrived on Thursday evening and received a crash course in baby care.

They kept Molly home from daycare on Friday for some quality Auntie craft time.

Friday evening we had some very important things going on.

Saturday morning we (4 girls) headed out to go shopping.

Saturday evening they babysat while the hubs and I had some good grown up friend hang out time.

Sunday all five of us hit up the pool and Molly went swimming for her second time.

Sunday evening, sunburnt and panicked we jumped into quilts and skirts.

They kept Molly home again on Monday in order to bake cookies and make freezer meals for us.

(Best sisters ever!)

We finished on Monday evening with a successful skirt and a quilt ready to be worked on.

So for the Maxi Skirt we followed this tutorial here.

I will break it down on how some specifics we did.

Fabric

We knew we wanted some type of jersey.

I should have done more research, we had a heck of a time finding anything we liked at JoAnn’s or Hobby Lobby.

I think cotton knit or jersey knit is what I would ORDER next time.

(Next time meaning that we will plan ahead on stuff like this).

Lisa came away with some gray knit something.

I am not sure exactly what it was, but we had a couple of issues with it.

Measurements

The tutorial says to measure the waist, divide by two and add an inch.

I would change the word waist to hips.

Lisa tried on the band and it did not even go over her hips to get to her waist.

(Nevermind that the women in this family have this issue often ;) )

This could partly be because the fabric we had was WAY less stretchy than what we expected.

Once I readjusted the measurements to hip size, it worked perfectly.

I forgot to change the length from waist-to-ground to hips-to-ground.

So I just chopped it after she put the finished skirt on.

Stitching

I did a lot of research on this.

I knew tackling the stitching on jersey would be tough.

I found this little tutorial here.

I ended up using the triple stitch on every seam.

IT WORKED GREAT!

I also bought a double needle and used that for the first time in a few spots.

Loved it.

Finished Product

Perfect.

Lisa thinks she will be able to use Stephanie’s machine to make more of these for herself.

And just because.... here are a few more fun July snapshots.

We have started up a new fitness goal.

#50milesinJuly

We were rockin' it... then it got HOT.

So now I am rockin' it without my two companions :(

Fun morning smiles.

 More walking.

When the Aunties come, we get dressed to the nines!

Mom's at work.... craft time with the Aunties.

A break from the sun.

Family photos should never be taken in swimsuits... HA!

-luv-

Kristy Lou