Organic Sewing: Show and Tell with KC
Meet KC of Little Homestead in the Desert. Today she is going to tell us a little about what she made with organic cotton fabric:
Modern Organic Fabrics: What did you make with your organic cotton fabric?
KC: I made a simple A-line skirt.
Modern Organic Fabrics: Which fabric did you use?
KC: I used the summer poppies yellow from Robert Kaufman.
Modern Organic Fabrics: What did you like about the fabric?
KC: What I love about the fabric besides being organic, is that it was yellow and not too bold. I wanted a fabric pattern that would be chic but sensible for a young mom. I also liked that the pattern wasn't too big.
Modern Organic Fabrics: How did you make your skirt?
KC: I created my own pattern using one of my favorite skirts and a cut open paper bag.
I started by cutting the paper bag so it was completely open. Then I folded my skirt in half and laid it on the paper and traced around it leaving 1/2 inch extra for seam. Then I drew a long rectangle for the draw string.
After cutting out my new pattern I pinned it on to my washed and dried fabric. Then cut it out using pinking shears. I use the pinking shears to cut out almost all my fabrics. Probably because I don't have a rotary cutter.
After cutting out the fabric I placed the two skirt piece right sides together, then sewed up the two long side seams. Then I pressed the seams down. Next I pressed the bottom hem and sewed it.
Making the draw string came next. I folded and pressed each side in 1/4 inch. Much like you would with biased tape. Then I folded it in half and pressed it before sewing it up.
Last came the top hem. Before sewing the hem, I made two button hole openings for the draw string, in the front center of skirt. I made sure to sew them far enough down so that when I folded the fabric down for hemming, the button holes would be in the right position. After pressing the hem 1/2 an inch, I sewed it up.
To finish, I inserted the draw string and viola, a nice new a-line skirt.
It took me a total of twenty minutes. Well ideally it took me twenty mintues. As a mom with a toddler it really took me two days. I had only ten minutes at a time to work on it. Now that I have the pattern cut out and handy in my pattern folder, I can make up a new skirt in no time.
Thanks for sharing, KC!
Be sure to visit KC at her blog to follow her journey in becoming an urban homesteader
Little Homestead in the Desert
Have you made something with organic cotton fabrics? Would you like to be featured here? Email me using the link over in the right column!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 6:00AM
