DIY - How to Hem a Full Circle Skirt , Quickly

Today's DIY is a quick tip on how to finish the hem of your full circle skirt. There are many ways to do this.

The long way is to let your skirt hand for a week or so in case it stretches anywhere, use crinoline/horsehair braid, had gather it and then hand stitch it.

The very quick way is with an overlocker / serger  and simple top stitching.

If you want it to look a little nicer or don't have an overlocker and if you don't have a spare day to hem your full circle skirt this will take 15 minutes and looks lovely.

The key to hemming a full circle skirt is that if the stitch line is going to be visible, it needs to be close to the hem. Approx 1cm or under.

You will need:

Bias binding
Thread (wind your bobbin full)

1. Bind the entire hem of your skirt. Here's the bias binding DIY just in case. 

 2. Turn under and stitch down with a parallel line so you have two on the underside and one neat stitch on the outer.

That's it!

DIY - How to Draft and Cut a Full Circle Skirt

This is a DIY of how to draw out and cut a perfect full circle skirt without a pattern. 

First lay out your fabric folded length-ways selvedge to selvedge.

Measure the width of your fabric. My fabric was 27 inches wide. 

Measure your width length Eg. 27inches from the end of your fabric with the tape measure. Place a drawing pin through the tape and fabric at the measurement to mark the centre of your circle. 

Swivel the tape measure and mark with chalk at the end to map out our circle. Keep the tape straight at all times.

Continue marking until you reach the selvedge at a 90 degree angle. You would have drawn out a quarter circle. 

Cut the quarter circle and then fold over and cut the other half so you have cut a half circle. 

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Next you will need to cut the waist line of the skirt. Fold your skirt into a quarter circle and anchor your tape at the corner point. This is where a little maths or lots of measuring takes place. 

For a 28" waist measurement with seam allowance a 4" radius is used

For a 30" waist use a 4.5" radius 

For a 32" waist use a 5" radius

For a 34" waist use a 5.5" radius

The calculation is Circumference (your waist measurement plus 1" for seam allowence) divided by Pi (3.14) and then divided by 2

Circumference / Pi / 2 = Radius. 

The measurement to mark on the tape measure

It's really important that your circle is equally measured at the waist as this will dictates the hang of your skirt. 

Finally cut your centre back or side seam. Any fold will work check the pattern of your fabric. 

There is your full circle skirt ready to add to a waistband or bodice. 

Coming up next will be how to quickly hem your skirt. 

DIY - Festive Glitter Star Garlands

Today's DIY is something to get you in the festive mood making lots of glittering stars to style you're holiday setting.

You will need: 

Glitter fabric (available in the shop here or you can make your own with card, glitter and glue) 

3 metres of fine sparkly ribbon

Swarovski rhinestones and tiffany clasps available from creative bead craft. You can also use a bead or sequin here. 

Sharp scissors

Make a star template and draw out as many as you want to pack on your garland. We used 10 on each three metre garland and our stars measured 6 cms across.
Cut our with sharp strong scissors.

Next take your ribbon and mark 10 points to attach your stars, equally spaced. We left 40cms each end to tie.

Using the tiffany clasp attach the star to the ribbon from the back. Place the crystal in the clasp and fold over the prongs with fine nose pliers.
Alternatively you can sew the stars to the ribbon with a bead or sequin.

Repeat all the ways along and there you have your garland. Simple and gorgeously sparkly!

And if you don't have the time to make these sparkling garlands yourself, we can make them for you. Buy them online in silver or gold from our shop. 

Patterns - Peplum Bodice Top

Now available as a pattern download is the most fabulous peplum bodice. 

This bodice can be made in a few different ways from the simplest bandeau bodice to a strappy summer top to wear on the beach or a stunning cocktail bodice complete with peplum to wear with skinny jeans or a pencil skirt.

We made out sample in a black and white star print quilting cotton from Millie Moon and trimmed the edges with satin.

As always this pattern is very simple and easy to print and use on just five pieces of paper and there's no taping pages together either! All of the photographed instructions and a list of materials are included in the download. Don't forget we have a sale on Patterns until 1st December! 

DOWNLOAD HERE NOW. 

DIY - Sewing Basics - Anchor Stitching

Anchor stitching is the term we use for finishing the edge of a neckline or hem where the lining has been placed edge to edge on the garment.

This little stitch stops the lining rolling over the edge and showing on the outer.

Anchor stitching can be done by hand with stab stitches or by machine. Simply open the garment out flat and push the seam where the lining meets the outer to the lining side. You can secure this by pressing.

Then, pulling the seam apart as you sew, stitch 1.5mm away from the seam on the lining side. This anchors the seam allowance to the inside and stops the curling.

DIY - Glitter purse and kit - How to make a purse

We have just launched our glittering purse kit and here are the instructions on how to make it step by step.
If you would like to purchase the kit to make this purse it is available in the shop here. 

Your will need: The purse kit (buy here) 
                          sewing machine
                          clear thread (we used maderia)
                          needle and thread
                          heavy duty size 100 needle
                          zipper foot

You will have : 2 glitter purse pieces, 2 silk lining pieces, 2 tab pieces, 1 zip pull piece, 1 small split ring, one zipper

Step 1:  Sew the zipper to the glitter purse piece. Place the tabs across the zip and sew one side of the zip to the purse piece.
Slide the zipper pull to the centre and sew the other side to the zip. Trim the ends of the zipper.

Step 2: Leaving a 2cm gap at the top, sew the silk lining pieces together all around the curved edge.

Step 3. Fold the top of the silk lining down one side and pin to the zipper. Now sew in place. Repeat for the other side.

Step 4: Now fold the purse together. Tuck the lining up inside and sew around the outer of the purse so it fits securely together. Go round the edges again with a zip zag to finish.

Step 5: taking the long strip of glitter for the zip pull. Fold in half and tuck through the gold ring. Stitch in place.

There is your finished glittering purse. To embellish further you can applique one side or add more sparkly gemstones.
Store away from the light and don't worry about any glitter coming off, it never seems to loose it's sparkle. I've been using mine for a year!