DIY GAP Poplin Midi Skirt - 7QT Style

Have you seen this skirt at GAP?

It hits just below the knee which is my sweet spot.

It's all cotton and it comes in cute colors.

It's $59.99.

Wha?

So I made one my ownself for under $10 and I'm here today to tell you how you can do this too.

1. Assemble your ingredients.

Go to Wal Mart (or Hobby Lobby or Joann's etc.) and get 2 yards of cotton fabric in the color of your choosing. I chose Prussian Blue. The fabric was $5.97 for 2 yards pre-tax.

Grab a pack of 1 inch wide no-roll elastic for the waist ($1.77) and a spool of coordinating thread if you don't already have some.

Wash, dry, and press your fabric. With an iron, Sara. With an iron.

2. Cut your fabric.

Fold the fabric in half and cut two rectangles. My rectangles were 28 inches wide and at least 30 inches long. That gave me plenty of length to make the waist band and figure out a cute wide hem.

Those measurements are good for a GAP small. If you want to make a custom size, take your hip measurement and add 16 inches or more if you want a fuller skirt. If you're tall, cut longer rectangles. Two yards should be enough for everybody. Divide by 2 because one rectangle is the front and one is the back. But you knew that.

3. Sides.

I did my own version of a French seam on the sides. That's a fancy term for saying I sewed the rectangles together up the sides with a scant quarter inch seam allowance. (Apparently I was supposed to trim the seams to 1/8". Oops.)

Then I turned the giant tube inside out and ironed the seams.

Next, I sewed the sides again with a slightly more generous half inch seam allowance. This way, the side seams will never fray, and look super neat and tidy.

It helps that my fabric looks the same front and back.

4. The waistband.

 Choose the top edge. Iron a half inch fold all the way around.

Next, fold over that edge and iron a generous inch and a quarter all the way around. We are making a tunnel for the elastic to go through.

Sew this edge down but leave a couple of inches open to fit the elastic in like so.

Use the biggest safety pin you can find, pin it through one end of the elastic and feed the elastic through the tunnel.

When you've worked it all the way through, try on the skirt and adjust the gathers to your liking.

Stitch the ends of the elastic together and clip off the excess.

Stitch down the rest of the seam to conceal the rest of the elastic.

I did sew through the whole waist band at the side seams for a vertical inch or so, just to keep the gathers even.

5. The hem.

This may or may not be the same picture from up above.

Decide what length you want. Get a second opinion. Lucy helped me settle on 23 inches.  I cut the whole skirt length to 25 inches, and repeated the tunnel steps I used on the waistband. Half inch, then inch and a half hem. Ran it through the sewing machine one more time and done!

6. Commence awkward backyard photo shoot.

7. Caveats.

The Gap skirt has pockets. Carry a purse or wear a fanny pack or pay $60 for pockets.

The thin cotton fabric needs a slip. On it, Mom. FYI, the Gap skirt needs a slip too.

My apologies for the photo quality of this post, or lack thereof. I can only master one piece of machinery at a time. This time I beat the sewing machine into submission but let the camera be the boss. No time for photo editing or this post would never see the light of day like many I have in my drafts folder.

Susan and Lucy have fabric ready and waiting to be transformed. Lucy's is red, and Susan's is seersucker. Way to choose the wrench, Susan.

Linking up with This Ain't the Lyceum for Friday Quick Takes and you know I'll be back on Wednesday. I never miss the first Wednesday of the month because WHAT WE'RE READING WEDNESDAY!

"I'll be back!"

Saturday Wrap-Up

Patrick, Jill, Susan, and I were in Peoria last night and all day for the 77th American Legion Oratorical Competition.

Last night in the hotel room, Susan was reading the room service menu to us.  She was reading the list of available beers when she mentioned a brew called "Michael Lob."  Gosh, I love this blonde girl.

For round one of the competition, Susan hit it out of the park with an awesome 8 minute piece on my dad's lawsuit against the HHS mandate and religious freedom as it protected by the Constitution.  And she didn't even mention once that the guy she kept referring to is her grandfather.

Waiting for results.  Lots of vets here.

For round two, she was given 5 minutes to prepare a 3 minute speech on one of 4 amendments to the Constitution.  She knew the 4 choices she had in advance.

Whether it was the total lack of sleep we all had from Jill's incessant coughing last night, or the lack of preparation on that specific amendment, either way, she went down in a ball of flames.  She referred to the wrong amendment, got completely lost, deer in the headlights, pacing, stammering.  Oh well.

iPhone pic from waaay back in the crowd.  Susan is the girl on the left.

But she still got Third Place!  And a scholarship prize!  And we didn't have to stick around for the Final Round!  Thank you, Jesus, because I was dead-dog-tired, Jill was still coughing constantly, and a snowstorm was headed our way.

I am still ridiculously proud of her.  I am still exhausted.

I didn't get any pictures of her super-cute outfit.  She wore this lace top that we found on the clearance rack at Target, a dark burgundy Worthington pencil skirt of mine that's at least 10 years old, and these new low-heeled pumps in black perfect for a 16 year-old knock-out who is 5 feet 8 inches tall with size 10 feet.

She accessorized with this bracelet from LOFT that was also on clearance. Because I bought it on President's Day, it was an additional 30% off, bringing the price under $10.  Ka-ching!

According to the staff at the Peoria Marriott and the other contestants, if there had been an award for best-dressed, she would own it right now.

I wore a pair of black Gap maternity pants that I re-styled myself from wide-leg to slim bootcut.

Much better.  Now, I only have 3 more pairs of maternity pants to re-style.

Post 6 of 7 Posts in 7 Days in the bag.  

Purse, Projects, and Poop

First of all, I think I have a learning disability in technology.

All I wanted was to make a nice grid-like collage like Kendra did here, but I got this instead.  I'm working with PSE 11 on a Windows computer so if you have knowledge to spare, please share.  Kendra also has a cool graphic (that I couldn't make if my life depended on it), and a cool purse, and a whole lotta pens.

This is my favorite thing (not in my purse).  My purse itself.  It was a Christmas gift from Patrick in 2013 2012.  I love it and care for it and it matches everything (EVERYTHING!) and it holds all the things and will last forever because it was not cheap.

The color is cognac and the strap is just long enough for me to one-hand it over my shoulder.  The ability to one-hand it over my shoulder is key. I test-drove a lot of purses to get this feature. One strap is important too.  Very important.

Here are it's contents.

Here are the things made from paper:  receipt, notes from a meeting, Kleenex, trash, February Magnificat,
and coupons held with a butterfly clip.  Need a tissue at church? I'm your gal.  But it might be crusty.

These are the things I need because I live in Chicago and it's February:  gloves that work with my iPhone and sunglasses, mine and Jill's.  Sun glares off snow something fierce.

Hand things.  Pen, hand cream, and epi-pen for Edmund's peanut allergy. Actually, I don't know why the epi-pen is in this photo, maybe because it's a pen?

Because I'm a girl:  face powder and FIVE items for my lips.  I am addicted to these new chubby sticks from Clinique.  They don't have the best names, but they do have the best colors.  Chunkiest Chili is my favorite. See what I mean by bad names?

These are the only essential things in my purse.  Well, these and the epi-pen.  Wallet, keys (with my Masters key fob from Augusta when I saw Bubba Watson tee off.  He won that year!), and phone.

Because I'm a mom.  That epi-pen and this tiny notebook for Jill to scribble on in Mass.

That shouldn't be in there!  Peter's keys, embroidery floss, Cub Scout patches which I won't be sewing on any red vests.  That Arrow of Light will go on Edmund's new khaki Boy Scout shirt, but Cub Scouts is ovah!

Because I'm Catholic.  That Magnificat again, and my rosary.  My grandma gave me this ruby red rosary right before I left for my Rome semester in college.  Clinton was elected for the first time while I was there, so it was quite awhile ago.

The embroidery floss from up above was for this project for Cari:

I tried to do lettering that said, "Thank you for your service."  It turns out that lettering is way harder than it looks.  Just getting it straight proved impossible for me, so I ripped it out.

I love her hair.  Those are bullion knots, which were fun to do.  Yes, I need to wash the transfer ink off before I mail it.  Noses are also impossible to embroidered.

It seems I'm a sucker for all of Cari's projects because I went outside today.  I'm officially trying to hibernate, so it's rare for me to leave the house.  I went outside, slipping on the sliding ice, to get this dreadfully dreary picture of a fence.  I did not include the garbage cans, but it's still depressing.

I spy a hockey stick, an extension cord, a rusty pot hook from the previous owners, and ohmygosh that's not...oh it is, it really is a dog turd.  If Cari's fence photo has feces, mine does too.

I also spy Sunlight!

Linking up with Kendra and Cari and Jen.  Tomorrow, I think I can do even MORE link-ups in one post. Stay tuned!

7 Quick Takes Third Friday in Lent

 

--- 1 ---

If you study this photo from yesterday's post, you will notice that Baby J, aka Trouble, is fully mobile.  Fully mobile at 10 months includes playing in the dog's water dish, tasting the very high quality grain-free dog food, and splashing in the raw chicken water that puddles in the door of the dishwasher.  Loading and unloading the dishwasher is a test of speed now. 

--- 2 ---

Remember those Aldi flowers from last week?  Minus the roses, the alstromeria are still going strong.  Best $3.99 I ever spent.

--- 3 ---

This was my mantel, a pathetic 3 inch wide lame windowsill.  I had to shop for extremely narrow candletsicks to decorate it.  It's never been good for much.  But the Chef is changing that!  He bought some wood, rented some tools, and as soon as it's painted I will show you the showcase it has become.  I can fit books, or even a vase of flowers on it!  By the way, the Chef is mortified that I didn't re-locate the clutter on the side table, before I took this picture.  But I had already kicked lots of other clutter out of the shot. Just keepin' it real.

--- 4 ---

This is what the Chef and I are watching these days.  It's very well done.  Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney are fantastic.  I'd love to show it to my kids, but it was made for HBO, so every now and then it has full frontal nudity or something.  Not always in a sexual way.  In a brutal tarring and feathering way.  Or in a skanky old Ben Franklin in a bathtub with a French countess playing chess way.  Ewww.  When Susan and I took a carriage ride tour of Philadelphia with my sister, our guide shared far too much about Ben.  I prefer to remember the man as the character from Disney's Ben & Me.

.

--- 5 ---

Aww, come on!  Three more quick takes?  I still have to pack, clean out my car, pack for Baby J, buy car snacks, and take kids to school.  I apologize for that fine whine.

Ok, I'm using the Behold Conference again.  Leaving today.  Hope Baby J cooperates.  The Holy Spirit has been working overtime to make everything fall into place.  More than one friend is covering for me and the Chef will be handling Pinewood Derby, State Debate Tournament, play practice and Camp Tuck counselor training without me.  Oh, and he has to prime and paint that mantel too. 

--- 6 ---

I'd like to thank this man for the fact that we were able to provide Peter and Susan with braces this year.  Peter does not thank this man, or us, but someday his wife will.  Plus, by closing all the spaces in his teeth, he will likely get to keep his wisdom teeth.

--- 7 ---

Shortly after I finished last week's quick takes, I found this item in my front hall.  It is at least five feet in length.  The photo above is of the tip, which is a wooden spear head or shiv that has been affixed to an old broom handle with some costly medical tape.  I don't think these kids can watch Survivorman anymore.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Skirts for Lucy

Easter is a'comin', and though I have found and/or bought no less than three Easter dresses for Baby J, I have had some difficulty finding attire for Susan and Lucy.

Susan is a tall girl, taller than I.  We searched Juniors departments, ick, Delia's, ick, Johnnie B (Boden's icky juniors line), regular Boden, Target, Old Navy, the Loft and finally struck gold in Penney's misses MNG by Mango department.  

Now, she won't be wearing heels with this skirt and it hits her at "just above the knee."  Short enough to be stylish and cute, long enough to be modest, as long as she remembers to sit like a lady and not cross her legs.  It's also versatile.  Too many times have I bought gorgeous Easter dresses that were worn once, maybe twice if there was a wedding to go to.  I made her promise me that I will see this skirt on many Sunday mornings.

For Lucy, we've scoured children's departments and petite departments.  I've ordered online and had to pay for return shipping because everything is too dang short.  Just above the knee is our ideal length.  Mid-thigh is the current trend though.

The way my girls grow, anything I buy now may very well be mid-thigh by August.  We'll remedy that problem with knee-length or capri leggings.  Leggings served us very well last summer and kept them warm in our 60 degree church.  Father keeps it cold to encourage modesty. 

Lucy and I hit a brick wall.  We really liked Susan's skirt, but couldn't find one in a size 14 girls.  That's when I had a brainstorm!

"I will teach you to sew, and we will make some skirts!" 

I learned to sew in eighth grade just one year older than Lucy is now.  My grandparents were taking me to Honduras on a mission trip, and we were told that all women and girls were skirts.  In 1987, it was also quite difficult to find appropriate length skirts for tween girls.  My mother taught me to sew, and we made a few Laura Ashley lookalikes in gorgeous huge floral fabrics.  They went really well with my one pink Ralph Lauren polo.

Of course, I already owned the ubiquitous neon paint splattered skirt and Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman knock off chambray skirt with white eyelet underneath skirt. (Thankfully, I never owned the granny boots to go with it.) But we supplemented my wardrobe and I gained a valuable life skill, which has saved me a tiny amount of money because I can sew Edmund's cub scout patches on myself instead of paying someone else.  I can also make curtains, quilts, and kick a$$ Halloween costumes, if I begin them in early September.

Lucy and I had a whirlwind trip at the fabric store.  In hindsight, I should have told her that we would only get patterns that said "Easy" or one of five French words, "Facile."  But I didn't.  So, we ended up with a pattern very much like Susan's skirt.  I tried to talk her into the one with the elastic waist band, but she wanted the one with the set-in waist band, zipper and button.  We bought enough fabric for two skirts.

I was supposed to take pictures in the fabric store, but Baby J was being a struggle pig.  That's a family term that means she wouldn't sit in the cart and had to be wrestled, juggled, held by human strait-jacket the entire time.

On the way home, I broke it to her that step one was washing, drying and ironing the fabric.  She was crestfallen, but I've never seen her do laundry so rapidly.  While the fabric was in the laundry, she cut and pressed the pattern pieces.

I helped her with laying out the pattern pieces and she pinned them and cut them out herself.

I showed her how to work the sewing maching, how to "knot" the beginnings and ends of seams, and she stitched all the side seams herself.

I did the zipper and gathering of the skirt.  She ironed interfacing the waistband which we worked on together.  I started to make a buttonhole, and said, "Forget this.  You can sew a hook and eye here instead."

I pinned the hem to my desired length, just below the knee.  She moved it to her desired length, a good inch or two above the knee, and we split the difference.  Not bad.  Not bad at all. 

I used these two blog posts to help me figure out how to hem such a full skirt.  http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/2010/01/hemming-circle-skirt-part-one.html

http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/2010/01/hemming-circle-skirt-part-two.html

It wasn't cheap though.  The fabric we chose was $14.99 a yard.  I paid $70 for all the supplies to make two skirts for Lucy.  The fabric is good and thick with a very Bodenish print and a sheen to it that makes it look expensive and hopefully not homemade.

We think it turned out quite well, and Lucy is thrilled with the result.  That is an Easter miracle.