I need to start sewing long-sleeve shirts and hoodies! Every time I sew something even remotely spring/summery it snows around here. Some days I feel we’ll never see spring until Mid-July. I think I wouldn’t mind this weather so much if spring didn’t come around and tease me so much.
So I made a circle skirt. I scored this fabric at the fabric swap a few weeks ago. It’s a light-weight rayon jersey. I wasn’t too terribly excited about the pattern, but I loved the feel and stretch of the knit. But as I looked at it more, I fell in love with it. It’s got little stripes of blue, white, tan and teal that make it quite easy to style with my wardrobe.
I keep thinking, I need an awesome oxford/chambray shirt to style with this. Now I ask you, where have you found such shirts? I’m looking for something very light weight. Any good recommendations?
I based the pattern off of Dana’s circle skirt tutorial, but I used a negative seam allowance for the circumference. Instead of doing a radius of 4.5 inches, I used 4 inches. It worked out perfectly. I also opted to cover my elastic waistband in a coordinating green jersey. I’m sure it would’ve looked fine as an exposed elastic-waisted skirt, but I like the finishing look the coordinating knit gives. With the structure and support of the elastic on the inside, it’s much better than a yoga waistband, too (which I’ve been using a lot lately).
I drafted the pattern as a simple circle skirt, but then opted to do a high-low as I realized how much fabric was left. I sort of winged the measurements along the bottom, so I ended up cutting it twice to get the hem more even. Lesson learned for next time: don’t eyeball a hem.
As for sewing the hem itself, I serged along the bottom with a slightly rolled serged hem. This took very little effort on my part. And considering the time saved on that hem alone – the serger just paid for itself. Let me know if you’d like more details on how to do this than offered here. I’ll be happy to put together a tutorial.
Click here for the full high-low circle skirt tutorial (and a free printable pattern).
Outfit Details:
- top: walmart
- necklace: Ardor, bigcartel
- bracelet: handmade
- jacket: thrifted
- skirt: handmade
- shoes: NY fashion district
Also – this is another Utah spring outfit. I can’t decide if I should be wearing a jacket or not!
Target has a cute chambray top on sale for $15 right now. Old Navy also has some cute ones. Good luck!
I am always amazed with your sewing skills. I love the skirt and the fabric that you picked for it. Is it necessary to have a serger to achieve the same results? I have a regular sewing machine, and I’d like to try but a little intimidated…..I got my chambray shirt at the Goodwill but I’ve found some at Target, Old Navy, TJMaxx, and Marshalls!
I love the skirt and the fabric, but if I stare at it too long, it starts to look like “The Scream” by Munch :)
Hey Melissa, i’m a long time lurker, but a first time commentator, firstly; I love your blog! I know I would love to see a tutorial on how to do the hem :)
Hi Melissa, your skirt is very cool and the styling makes it even better.Could you explain how you create this high low result?Which technique do you use?
Love this skit! Great DIY bracelet too!
patternedlove.blogspot.com
I would love a serger tute — I got one for Christmas and am too afraid to start. I’d love some beginner pointers
Sayonada, there’s a serger class on Craftsy. I haven’t taken it so don’t know how good it is.
Can u please do a tutorial on this skirt , especially how to stitch the bottom if u don’t have the serger