shirts and skirts

So, imagine 12 incredibly creative and lovely women and girls in one shop basement together, playing with freezer paper stencils together for three hours. Yup, you got it. It was fun. I was so in love with all the stencils that were made and how creatively they were used. I did manage to get one stencil of my own done (on Ez, above). I love that photo of him wearing it, caught mid-laugh by the camera. So fun. Thanks to all who came, and especially to Brandie at Edith & Edna for hosting. And no worries for those who couldn't make it this weekend, I think we'll be doing it again this fall, and I'll be sure to post about it when it happens.

At about midnight on Friday night I decided I needed a new skirt to wear to the class (naturally) and a shower I attended on Sunday (shhh....I wore it two days in a row!), and so this half-circle skirt was made. And no, I didn't wear my green shoes. I wore orange. And at exactly 12:35, sounding slightly like a junkie needing one last fix, I promised myself that this really would be the last time I used bias binding instead of hemming. Next time, I'm moving on to hem tape, baby.

Comments

[Amy]

Bias binding isn't so bad... I like the look of the colored edge. I don't even know what the "correct" way to hem a skirt is, but I keep making them anyway. I'd love to watch someone who truly knows what they are doing. My sewing is good enough to meet my needs, but it hasn't progressed much from 7th grade home ec!

[lisa]

i am going to steal your bias binding idea!! it's brilliant. looks like the class was so much fun!

[melissa]

such a beautiful skirt! I've never tried using bias tape for binding- but I might now!
and well done on the successful stencilling course, sounds fun!

[jean]

Ezra's t looks fab! Wonderful time at Edith and Edna's. The experience of sitting around that table with a group of women, hopping in and out of conversation, making stuff was quite nice. Makes me think we should knit there when it gets cold and dark. (Shhhh....don't want to think that last thought too loudly.) Thanks for all your work Amanda and Brandie.

[Robyn]

I really like Ezra's shirt. The color and style, great! Also, your skirt is beautiful. What's a half-circle skirt by the way? I truly don't know much about sewing.

[Anna]

I wish I could have taken the class.

I am loving all the skirts that you've been making!

[vegasandvenice]

Oh my gosh that is a plethera of fun!

[Elizabeth]

I love the bias, it looks fab!

Can you bring your stencilling class to London? Pretty please.

[Jo]

I love the junkie comment at 12.35am. Yes, many a sewing junkie moment is had at 12.35am.

[Brynne]

Oh, that must have been fun! I love the skirt, too. Provided no baby-related spills happen, I am often found wearing the same skirt two days in a row. Think of it as economy...

[kirstencan]

i think the bias binding is cute, too! does your machine do a blind-hem stitch? that is an easy way to hem, and it (can) look hand-sewn. check it out!

planning on trying stenciling this week - can't wait!

[brandie]

it was so much fun amanda! thanks so much for all your hard work and your creative spirit :0

i have only made a couple of skirts (for riley) and I always use bias binding...i didn't know there was a "hand-sewn" method for finishing skirts! anyway, i love your skirts!

[Heather in Washington State, USA]

I love the bias tape hems... keep em coming and start a trend!

[k8tykat]

don't be so hard on yourself. i think the bias hem looks great with that print and the others you've made. without it the skirt would have been a bit plain.

[bugheart]

do you
recommend
a pattern
for the circle
skirt?
i would love
to make one
but i am
a
beginner sewer.
the skirt
you made is
wonderful!

[susan]

love the skirt and i especially love the bias tape hem! is this one of those "trace a skirt you already have" patterns or a pattern the rest of us have access to? lovely fabric too, by the way. looks vintage.

[Veronica TM]

I would have loved to be in that class! We started our first freezer paper stencil this week and it is so much fun!
That skirt is beautiful! And I'm sure it looked wonderful with orange shoes.

[Wendi]

Wish I were local for that freezer paper stencil class.
I'm totally loving the skirts you've made. I can sew, but my problem is that I don't really have a skirt that I love the fit on to be able to trace it!

[tiffany]

i keep saying that i'm going to do the freezer paper stencils and then i don't. but seeing what you have done really makes me want to try it tonight! maybe i will! btw, love the skirt...somewhere i think my mother (quite the fabric-horder) has fabric very similar to that from (different colors though) from years ago. gotta love vintage fabrics! they never really go out of style.

[Heather Bailey]

Great fabric! Where's it from?

[lera]

love the skirt. the bias tape looks great! why would you want to do something different (and harder)?!?!

[Rachel]

I only wish I could be so crafty and creative. I have great thoughts but can never put them to use- 1) no time 2) no money. I love the shirt and I adore the skirt! I've made 3 skirts and so far none of them fit me... I kind of gave up... you make it look so easy!

[molly]

i have to agree with my fellow commentors--i love the bias tape. lovely skirt. looks so summery and free. and continue to love all the stencil work. it's great!

[nina]

i sooo wish i could've come to that class... you must post about your next one because i'm going to make the trip up from MA (i'll be in desperate need of some mama-without-kiddies-in-tow time by then for sure!)

thanks!

[dorie]

bias tape is wonderful. Do you use the clover tools that take your fabric and magically transform it into bias tape? Oh, I love them.

[Sara]

Love the skirt! How do you make it? I've been dying to make my own but I haven't been able to find a pattern that is right. Yours looks perfect!

[michelle]

I have been trying to figure out exactly what freezer paper is, so finally I checked Google! I thought maybe it was what we call "wax paper" here in Canada, but I think it's actually something different. Ever since seeing the stencils first popping up all over I've wanted to try it! I will have to check around and see if I can find it... do you buy it at a grocery store?

[coronita]

I love the skirt! The fabric and bias tape combo is so chic and 'Oilily'...what a fantastic idea! Hemming is a pain :) Can you recommend a pattern?

[Linda]

I think the bias tape hem is very clever and looks cute. I don't understand hemming very well myself. Folding it up seems hardly ever to work, it always ends up doing something funky.

[Mia]

Just got hold of some freezer paper - a little hard to come by in Western Australia- and I am going to start very soon. This is so cool. Have linked to this post from my craft blog: http://onehourcraft.wordpress.com.
Cheers
Mia