DIY Circle Skirt Tutorial

                                              

                                   

                               

     This fun and flirty circle skirt is one of my favorites. I love the way it flares out on its own without the help of a petticoat. It was simple to make and is now a staple piece in my wardrobe. Hope you enjoy!

Supplies:

1 1/2 - 2 yards of fabric (Depending on the length that you want the skirt)

Lining fabric (optional)
14 inch zipper

Interfacing

Scissors

Cutting Board or hard surface

Measuring Tape

Sewing pins

Thread

Sewing Machine

Needle

1. Measure your waist where you want the top of the skirt to be. Now you're going to have to do a little bit of math. Yay!!

Use the Circumference formula to find the radius of the circle you are going to cut.

Example: My waist was 28 inches and then I did the formula and found I needed to cut a circle with a radius of 4.5 inches.

2. Fold your fabric in half and then in half again so you should have four layers. Pin them together so it doesn't move while you are measuring and cutting. (The material in my pictures is the lining of my skirt because it was easier to see the markings)

3. From the corner that has no raw edges, mark the radius of your circle.

4. Measure the length you want your skirt to be (Don't forget to account for the 2 inch band at the top of the skirt and a couple of inches for the hem). Add the length to the radius previously marked. measure from the corner again and mark a quarter circle.

5. Cut along both lines and you should end up with something looking like the picture below.

6. Cut a rectangle the length of your waist and 5 inches wide. This will be the band at the top of the skirt.

7. Iron interfacing to the rectangle.

8. Iron the rectangle in half.

9. Iron down 1/2 inch along both sides of the rectangle. This will mark your seam.

10. Measure 12 inches into the skirt fabric on one of the folds. Cut a 12 inch slit for the zipper. (The other 2 inches will be in the band  that goes around the top of the skirt.)

11. If you are using lining, this is the step where you can pin the lining to the fabric and baste them together so they will be easier to function.

12. Now cut out a rectangle that's about 16 x 4. Cut a 14 inch slit in the middle of this rectangle.

13. Pin the band around the top of the skirt making sure to only pin down one side of the band. Sew together. Do not sew down the other side of the band, that will be the last step.

14. Pin the rectangle with the slit to the slit in the skirt with right sides together. Make sure to start pinning the rectangle at the fold we create in the middle of the band at the top. Sew together.

15. Pin the zipper into this slit and sew.

16. Iron and pin a hem at whatever length suits you and sew.

17. The last step is to hand-stitch down the inside of the band at the top to hide all of your stitches.

                                              

    P.S. It's super fun and cute to spin around in!

DIY Lace Crop Top Tutorial

                               

     

      

 
     I decided to give one last shout out to summer with this lovely little lace crop top. You may have seen it earlier as part of my homecoming outfit, but it also works really well for casual attire, such as these boots and cut off shorts. This crop top is not just one for the summer but can carry you through the fall with a little help from a cardigan.


Supplies:

3/4 yd stretch cotton

1 yd stretchy lace material

7 inch zipper

Sewing machine

Scissors

Measuring tape

Pencil

Parchment paper or pattern making paper

Sewing pins

Stretchy tank top

Sleeve pattern

Hem tape

1. Using the measuring tape, measure the length you want the crop top to be starting at wear you wish the neckline to start.

2. Fold your tank top in half and place it on the parchment paper. Measure the to the length you determined and add an inch for the hem. Trace around the shirt adding about 1/2 inch to the outside for seam allowance. Cut out the pattern, you have created. On my pattern, I created two necklines: one for the front that was a scoop neckline and followed the tank top neckline and a higher neckline for the back.

                         

                         

    

3. Find the stretch of your fabric by pulling it horizontally and vertically to see which way stretches the most. Place the pattern so the stretch will be going across the pattern.

                                      

   

4. Pin the pattern on a fold and cut. Note: fold your pattern to the lower neckline for the front.

                                     

    

5. Fold your fabric in two and cut two pieces for the back. Add 1 inch to the outside of the pattern to allow for the zipper seam.

      

6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 with the lace material.

                        

7. Pin the lace on top of the stretch cotton and stay stitch them together. (Stay-stitching is a basting stitch that holds the fabric so it will not stretch or distort while you are working with it)

      

   

8. Pin the side pieces, right sides together, to the front piece. Sew together and it should look like the picture below.

     

    

9. Now it's time for the sleeve. First, create a pattern. I used a sleeve pattern from one of my dress patterns as a starting point. Put the tank top you are using as a pattern and the sleeve pattern on a mannequin or yourself (the sleeve pattern should start at the top of shoulder). Then, using the measuring tape, measure the extra space in between the strap and and the start of the sleeve pattern. Right down the measurements and measure down the arm.

      

    

                       

    

10. Place the sleeve pattern on the parchment paper to create a new pattern. Using the measurements you found, mark above the sleeve pattern. Measure around your arm to find the width that you want your pattern. Make sure to place the width measurement at the center of the pattern. Note: I only created the top part of the pattern. For the length, use a yardstick to create a straight line to the length you want off the pattern you have create.

                         

    

11. Measure the length that you want your sleeve (from where you want the sleeve to start to where you want it to end). Remember to put the pattern horizontally across the stretch of the fabric. Cut two pattern pieces for sleeves. 

                         

                         

12. Fold the sleeves in half, wrong sides together and pin. Sew.

                                          

13. Pin the sleeves so that the side seam of the bodice and the sleeve seam are lined up. The top portion of the sleeve should not be connected to the bodice. Sew.

14. Pin the back pieces of the bodice together where the zipper will go. Mark the length of the zipper with fabric chalk. Sew to where the zipper will begin and leave the rest open.

                       

15. Pin the zipper in the open space and sew it in.

16. Pin a hem around the neckline, top of the sleeves, and the bottom of the sleeves. Sew.

                

17. Use hem tape to finish the bottom. First pin and iron the hem where you want it then follow the direction on the hem tape.

    

      All done! Now you have a fabulous lace crop top that you can dress up or dress down and show off your bikini body a little while longer. 

A Polka Dot Homecoming

                            

                                              

     This homecoming, I decided to do something a little different. I had seen Kylie Jenner wear this dress in Seventeen magazine a while ago, but I always loved it for its originality. I used it for inspiration for my homecoming dress. First, I loved the idea that the dress was a two piece dress because after homecoming, I can wear the top and skirt as two separate pieces. It gives me something to do with y homecoming dress so it's not just hanging in my closet. The second thing I love about this dress is the combination of lace and polka dots. It was genius!

                         

     For my dress, since it was for homecoming I decided to change the long mermaid skirt into a circle skirt. I choose the circle skirt because of the fact that the circle skirt flares out by itself without having to make a petticoat. I also liked feeling a little bit like Ariana Grande in my short flared skirt and heels. Originally my design had a lace halter top with an underlying sweetheart-neckline bodice. After thinking about it further, though, I thought I live in Missouri and homecoming is in October, it could possibly be really cold. So, I changed my design to a scoop neck lace crop top with lace three-quarter length sleeves.  I based the crop top off this picture, but I omitted the band at the bottom because there was already a band at the top of my skirt.

                                     

                       

     To finish off the look, I decided to add a pop of color with red heels, red nails, and red lips. Ironically, our homecoming theme was The Wizard of Oz so I fit right in! I also added a white necklace to fill the big neckline of the crop top and pull the look together.

     Check out my blog next week when I'm going to post tutorials on how to make both the lace crop top and the circle skirt. Bye for now!

Check this out!

I saw this on my Yahoo home page last night and thought it was interesting so I decided to share. Enjoy!

https://www.yahoo.com/style/plus-size-model-fashion-industry-style-michael-99057667668.html

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She Looked Like Art

       

     Has anyone ever come up to you and said, "You look really nice today!" or commented on your Instagram photos, "You look so pretty!" At first, you really happy because people keep complimenting you, but after a very dozen of the same response, it gets a little old. Can't these people think of anything more original then, "You look so nice." But maybe it's not the viewers fault but instead the model's. Maybe you, yourself, are not creating anything worth making the viewer think.

     I want to create clothes that make people wonder. I want people to stop merely scrolling and actually pause and look. I want to teach others how to become thought-provoking models. The world is lacking the creative art that makes us worth being looked at. People also lack the confidence to create clothes worth being looked at. This needs to be changed. People should proudly wear their art and put the beauty of creative expression back into the world in order to make someone think that you look like art.