Sep

20

Elastic Waist Skirt

today i’ve got a tutorial that i think you’re going to love, and in the days to come, i’ll show you variations on how to use the basics of this tutorial for a few other skirt options too.
i set out to make a simple elastic waist skirt, but then decided on fabric that needed lining, so while i was at it, i figured, what the heck…i’ll throw in some pockets too :)  so that’s what i’ll show you today…a lined, elastic waisted skirt with pockets.
this is a pretty straightforward tutorial, and an easy project to attempt.  in fact, i got on such a roll that i ended up making 4 skirts…with plans for more!  so if you can sew a straight line, this is a good project to attempt, and you just might learn a few things along the way…like how to deal with lining (super easy) and how to create pockets.
here’s the long, maxi version:
 and a short version:
this tutorial works the same for both the maxi and short versions of this skirt.  i took the pictures while sewing the maxi skirt, so that’s what you’ll see here, but if you were wanting to make the short version, use the same steps and just adjust your measurements.  i’ll show you below.
supplies needed:
fabric:  you can really use any kind of apparel fabric or cotton for these skirts.  my short skirt was made with a chiffon.  the fabric for my maxi was a soft cotton remnant i found on sale at my favorite local fabric store, so i worked with the size it was.  the starting piece was 53×55 inches.
to determine how much fabric you need, measure your waist, (in the place where you want the skirt to sit…i like mine at my high waist, so that’s the measurements i took).
for the maxi skirt, i would add a few inches to that measurement to ensure that you have enough fullness at the bottom of your skirt once completed in order to walk.  because i was using a remnant, mine ended up only being slightly bigger than my waist measurement, but i would suggest adding a few more inches so it could be a little fuller on the bottom.
cut 2 pieces of fabric (these will be your skirt panels): your waist measurement plus 2-4 inches (or however much you need for fullness at the bottom), and then your desired length, adding about 6 inches to give you room for a casing for your waistband and a hem.
my final measurements on my 2 pieces were 27.5 x 45 inches. (again…if i had more fabric, i would’ve increased that width measurement by a few inches, but it ended up working out fine)
*** (if sewing the short version, cut 2 pieces of fabric the width of your waist measurement minus 3-4 inches…since you don’t have to worry about fullness like the maxi…and the length you desire plus 6 inches, to account for a hem and the casing for the elastic).  my final pieces for my short version were 23 x 24 inches.  (27 inches minus 4 for the width and 18 inches plus 6 for the length) ***

lining (only needed if your fabric is see-thru):  cut 2 pieces from your lining that are the same measurements as your skirt panels, except 3-4 inches shorter in length.  i chose lining that was similar in texture to my fabric and felt soft on my skin :)

fabric for pockets:  cut 4 from pattern (see below) out of either the lining fabric or coordinating fabric.i created a pocket pattern for you by tracing a pocket from a skirt i already owned:

you should be able to download this PDF and print to use as your pattern:

Pocket Pattern

elastic: i used 2″ wide Elastic, and my piece was 24 inches in length.  (use your waist measurement minus 2-4 inches…whatever feels comfortable)
thread in a coordinating color

once you have both skirt panels and your pockets cut, pin your pockets 6 inches from the top of each of your skirt panels, right sides together, with pocket slanting down.  do this on both skirt panels:

sew pockets to fabric with a 1/4 inch seam:
iron the seam so that pockets lay to the outside:

with pockets to the outside, pin skirt panels, right sides together, on only one side.  make sure as you sew that you go around the pocket, following the curve of the pocket:

sew with a 1/2 inch seam on that one side only.  once opened, you should see the one pocket completed, and now should have one long skirt panel:

lay your skirt panel right side down.  now on the top of the skirt panel, fold fabric down 1/4 inch and iron (this will enclose your raw edge into your casing):

then fold over again, this time 2 1/2 inches, and iron.  this will be your casing for your elastic.
(if using elastic that is not 2 inches in width, make sure you add 1/2 inch to the width of your elastic, and iron down at that measurement.  my elastic was 2 inches wide, so 2 plus 1/2 inch = 2 1/2 inches)

once ironed down, unfold, and lay your lining fabric on top of your skirt panel.  (the right side of the lining should lay on the wrong side of your skirt panel).   line up the top of the lining with the line where you just ironed at 2 1/2 inches on the skirt panel:  (see below)

fold top of skirt panel (casing) over again, back at the 2 1/2 inch line (making sure your 1/4 inch seam is still folded under.  that just encloses your raw edge)

sew close to the bottom.  this attaches your lining at the same time as creating your casing for the elastic:

next, fold skirt panel in half, right sides together, and flip the lining above the skirt panel, like this:

now…pin your skirt panels together on your last side, pinning pockets together, following the curve.

then pin your lining pieces together:  (by flipping the lining above the fabric like this and pinning and sewing, you are ensuring that the seam of the lining falls to the inside of the skirt where you can’t see it, between the skirt fabric and the lining)

sew the skirt panels (following the curve of the pockets again like before) at a 1/2 inch seam.  then sew the lining pieces together using a 1/2 inch seam.  make sure you stop at the casing when sewing the skirt panels and the lining so there is a space left to insert the elastic.
flip skirt right side out, and tuck the lining inside of the skirt.
now you’ll insert the elastic into the casing.
it helps to pin a safety pin on the end to feed it through the casing:

feed through the casing, bunching fabric around elastic to fit it all the way in:

as you are pulling the elastic through and getting it situated, it helps to pin the other side to the edge of the casing so that you don’t loose that side in the casing:

once it is pulled through, stitch the ends of the elastic together.  i stitch and backstitch a few times to make sure it stays together:

then tuck the raw edge of your opening in the casing under, and arrange, then sew closed:

hem up the bottom of your lining and skirt to your desired length.
i have an elastic waist skirt that has a seam down the middle of the elastic, creating almost a ruffle on the waistband, and ensuring that the elastic won’t roll or slide, so i decided to do the same with this skirt.  to do that, i used elastic thread in my bobbin and my regular thread up top, and sewed a straight stitch down the middle of the waistband, but as i sewed, i pulled the elastic tight:

(i actually think you could do this without using elastic thread, but i’m not sure)

and you’re done!

oh if only you could see the way these photo shoots go down…with the hubs as the photographer and me as the subject…and the crazies giving us all kinds of directions…not my favorite thing in the world to do, but you’ve got to see the finished product on something other than a hanger to get the full affect!

the short version is done exactly the same way.  you just use less fabric :)

and here’s just a little troubleshooting in case this happens to you.  i didn’t love the way my pockets fell once the skirt was completed.  i felt like they puckered a little at the hips, and if you are like me, that’s not a great place to add any kind of puckering :)  so i sewed the top edge in a bit on the pocket, like this:

and then snipped the extra fabric and it seemed to take care of the issue.  i didn’t have this problem on every skirt, so i don’t think it has anything to do with pocket pattern.  maybe it was just the way the fabric fell once it was sewn.  so just in case that happens to you, this was a good way to fix the issue!

i also topstitched both outer edges of the pocket, to ensure that they laid flat:

let me know if you attempt this tutorial and how it goes!

i’ll be back with 2 more skirt tutorials soon!

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Sep

11

Honey Cinnamon Apples

popping back in with another quick recipe for your Dehydrator!
my kind of recipe…only 3 ingredients!  most of which you probably already have on hand:

i used a combination of Granny Smith apples and Fuji apples…our faves:

i kept the peel on when slicing the apples, cause so many nutrients are in the peel.
soak your apples in a mixture of honey and water.  1:1 ratio.  so i dissolved 1/2 cup honey in 1/2 cup water:

drain and pat dry.  then sprinkle with a heavy dose of cinnamon:

dehydrate for 1-2 days.

when finished, they should be dried throughout and pliable:

once they dry out, the amount might seem somewhat unimpressive, so if your house is anything like mine, then you might want to consider making a double batch, cause they go quick!
totally kid approved!

here’s the recipe card for you:

i’ve been on a sewing kick this week.  i get like that.  i don’t touch my machine for months, and then its like i can’t stop once i get going:

i’ve made 3 skirts so far, and one more is coming soon now that i received my package of special elastic today.  i’ll give you all the details soon!

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Sep

05

Fruit Leather

i’m totally switching gears from my last couple of posts :)  but this blog reflects real life, and real life includes lots of food, and recipes, etc…
so…i’ve been meaning to post this recipe for awhile:

and tell you about my newest addition to my kitchen cabinets….my Dehydrator!
i own the Ronco 5-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator:

i received this dehydrator from Ronco, with the request to use it for my family, and if i came up with some recipes that i love, i could pass them along for them to use in some of their marketing. i couldn’t pass up the offer, because i had been in the market for a dehydrator anyway, so was thrilled to have them send it my way.  however, if you’ve been around my blog for long, then you know that the purpose of my blog and the things i post is not to promote other blogs or products.  so i made sure that Ronco was aware that i was not planning on doing that.  they were wonderful, and agreed that that was not their intention in sending me this product.

however…i’ve fallen in love with my new dehydrator, and although i was not asked to promote this product at all, you know me….when i love things, i have to share them!  so this post is ALL my doing!

since we began our Clean Eating journey, i’ve often thought how great it would be to have a dehydrator, because i have such a hard time finding dried fruit without sugar or preservatives in them, and dried fruit has been a staple in our diets for many years.  well…i have to say…now that i own one, its even better than i thought it would be.  i’m telling you…5 minutes of prep, and a little patience yields some fun, yummy, healthy results!

i have been nothing short of impressed with this product, and i personally think you are getting massive bang for your buck.  so if you happen to be in the market for one, here’s the link to purchase one.  (they are also in some Walmart and Target stores, and i’m pretty sure they will be in all Target stores by the end of this month…but don’t quote me on that!)

here’s a recipe that you’ll want to make first thing!

you can really use any fruit you want, but we love this combo and usually have it on hand, so we went with strawberries, peaches, and bananas.
and its seriously SO simple…no cooking, a few minutes of prep…and you are done!

place chopped fruit in a blender or food processor:  (this was before my beautiful Cuisinart blender bit the dust…so sad :(

and puree until smooth.  add honey to taste, until as sweet as you desire.  the fruit itself is pretty sweet, so you won’t have to add too much.  in fact, you could leave it out all together if you desire:

my dehydrator trays needed to be covered with something so that the puree did not drip through the cracks.  i used plain old plastic wrap, and just made sure to cut out the center hole for air circulation:

since making these, i’ve discovered these Fruit Roll-Up Mats for Dehydrator.  they just came in the mail yesterday, and i’m so excited to try them out.  it will make this step much much easier!  so if you are ordering a dehydrator, it might be worth it to throw in a mat or two :)

Pour the puree evenly into the trays.  this recipe (card at bottom) will fill 2 trays:

this is the part that requires patience.  once you pour the puree into your trays, cover your dehydrator and turn it on, and let it go for about a 1-2 days.  i rotated the trays every 6 hours or so, to make sure it was evenly dried.  our’s took about 1 1/2 days.  i’ve never used a dehydrator before, and i was expecting it to make a noise and kinda annoy me for a day and half, but it was silent!  so so easy!!  literally a few minutes of prep, a little patience, and the machine does the rest!
after a day or two, your fruit leather should be dried out.  you want to make sure its not sticky or wet in any places.  but don’t let it go so long that it crisps up.

i used some scalloped scissors to cut the fruit leather, just to give it a fun, finished look.  you could cut into whatever shapes you desire:

this recipe was totally kid approved, and has been requested everyday as a lunchbox treat ever since school started!

here’s the recipe card for you:

hope you enjoy!  my next attempt is to sneak some veggies into our fruit leathers.  i’ll be sure to let you know how it goes and share the recipe if its a hit :)

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