Stary-stary skirt

I love making this tiered skirt for the girls because they love it too! that's why I never get bored of it.

Now I have a simple method to begin with:

First, I measure the desired length of the skirt, divided by 3 (for 3 tiered skirt) then for the top tier just add 2 cm width for the seam allowance and waist band and add 1 cm width for the rest of tiers (layers). I only need 1 meter length of fabric for this one.

Pyjamas pants

This "Hello Kitty" fabric we got from our last visit to Chinatown with the kids. The little one insisted that I bought this fabric. Although I didn't quite fancy to buy it, I went ahead and bought 1 yard. It cost SGD 5/yard.

I was thinking of making it into pajamas, but when the pants finished ,my daughter asked me to make another skirt for her, well ... okay. She finally got what she wants :-)

First sewing lesson: Basic block of skirts

The basic block of skirt is the measurement you need to take before drawing a skirt pattern. It includes:

1. Waist = [waist measure]/4= A --> A+1 for Front pattern (F); A-1 for Back pattern (B)
2. Waist to hip
3. Hip = [hip measurement]/4 = B --> B+1 (F) ; B-1 (B)
4. Bust width = [bust width]/2
5. Length (from hip to desired skirt length)

We actually divided the skirt into 4 to have a quarter skirt pattern, that's why waist & hip measurement must divided by 4. We also need bust width to make darts, that's why we divide bust width by 2. Next all we need to do is make the pattern. Always start from right corner of your pattern paper.

To make a slit (on the back of your skirt), start from zip end divide by 3 equal lengths and the last part is the slit length. Use 7 inch (18 cm) or 8 inch (20 cm) zipper.

Note: for flat bottom people, move up 1,5 cm from left bottom of the skirt, and 1 cm up from right bottom, draw straight line first then join the line together.

Night sewing class

Finally I've found one sewing class in our neighborhood, not too far from where we live, only about 4 bus stops and 5 minutes walk to reach the place. It's the community center who arrange various classes for all ages.

I've joined the basic (elementary) dressmaking class last Saturday night. I haven't registered and paid for the courses -- which would have 8 classes starting last Saturday July 3rd. So, I came there, paid the course fees (SGD 80) and went straight up to the last door on the 2nd floor, the dressmaking class. There were about 10 women joining this class.

First, the teacher wrote the sewing materials that we will need during the course like good quality of needles, tracing paper, scissor, etc. She also taught us about basic sewing skills like "tacking", "tailor tack", how to measure your body then make a pattern from it. She gave us the 1st homework: make a pattern for a skirt (straight/A-line skirt) and she will check our homework next week and start our first project.

The course took 3 hours from 7-10 PM every Saturday, and that's the only schedule suited me while husband can look after the kids at home.

Peasant Skirts

I got some leftover fabrics from my previous project (the sack dresses for kids) then I bought 1 yard of a matching fabric to complete this peasant skirts.

The girls wanted to wear it right away, before I was able to add embellishment .. then we went out to buy some party stuffs, ate dinner at some fast food restaurant and got home to find one of the skirt with a spot of melted cheese on it ... ggrrrhh ..