summer revisited, part 2

Posted by Mr Wong at 3:30 PM 0

I have had this skirt in my closet for several years now and it is still one of my favorites.  I bought it at a local boutique a few years back and I love how versatile it is.   I have dressed it up for mass or thrown it on with sneakers and a t-shirt for running errands.  I have always wanted to replicate it and this summer I finally made a couple similar to this to have as my go-to at the beach.  Once I started looking closely at how it was made, I couldn't believe I hadn't tried to copy it sooner.  It is four identical panels, straight stitched down the seams, simply folded over with a straight stitch and elastic at the waist and serged around the bottom.  I made mine slightly different, but it literally took me 5 minutes.

The 5-minute skirt How-To:
I cut four identical panels 24 inches by 12 1/2 inches (this was roughly what the other skirt appeared to be).  This skirt ends up being a size 4 to 6 and hits a little below the knee, so adjust accordingly.

I serged all four pieces together to make the skirt.  If you don't have a serger, the skirt I was copying simply straight stitched the pieces together and didn't even finish the edges.  Don't you love that the raw, frayed look is in fashion?  Then, I folded over the top a little more than half an inch and serged all around, leaving an opening to run the elastic through and then finished serging.

Finally, I serged around the entire bottom of the skirt and was done.

And there you have it.  5 minutes and a whole skirt.  I have spent more time taking pictures and writing this post than it took me to make that skirt from start to finish.

The original skirt had the two middle seams on the inside and the two side seams exposed, but I serged all of mine on the same side.  I wore it both with the seams in and out...  looked cute either way.  And there you have my beach uniform...

So, I realize its not really time for a fun summer skirt (unless you live in Australia!), but I thought you could find some fun Fall material and throw it together with leggings or boots and be ready to go in your cute new skirt.  Or bookmark it and try it next May.  Either way, I hope you enjoy it!
Perhaps I will just have to whip up my own Fall/Winter version...

simple fold-over pillows

Posted by Mr Wong at 8:48 PM 0

In June when I was packing up to head to the beach, I continued to go back and forth as to whether or not I should actually haul my sewing machine (and serger - never one without the other!) all the way to California with me. Yes, definitely, I am sure I will have all sorts of time for sewing projects... No, I shouldn't go to the trouble of taking them, because I probably won't get around to actually making anything... Yes, I will. What am I going to be so busy with... Back and forth, until I finally convinced myself I absolutely needed to have them with me.

Well, with one week left before leaving the beach and no sewing projects to show for, I needed to make sure my decision was not in vain. So, I decided to throw together some cute, easy pillows (I promise, any of you could make these!). I had bought a big roll of turquoise fabric and decided turquoise pillows were just what the beach house needed. My camera was handy, so I snapped a few pictures as I went, so as to be able to give a little step-by-step of how to make your own cute pillows in your own favorite color of the moment. Its all about a little (nearly) instant gratification. Here we go...

Step 1: Decide on the size pillow you want and add 2 inches. Cut three same size squares in that size. I wanted 20 inch pillows, so I cut three 22 inch squares.

Step 2: Lay all three pieces on top of one another. Fold back the top two layers about 8 inches (play with this, depending on the size pillow you are making). You want them to overlap enough so that they won't be pulled apart by the pillow, but you also want to be able to fit your pillow inside. I serged the edges of the part that is folded back. If you don't have a serger, you can always just zigzag the edge with your sewing machine.

Step 3: If you start to get hungry and a little distracted, make yourself some eggs. A little protein and you can focus again... hopefully.

Step 4: (Is everybody with me on the fold-over portion of this? Good.) Ok, so now, instead of pinning just use some giant paper clips to attach all three pieces. A definite time-saver.

Step 5: Serge (or sew, or zigzag) all three pieces together. Since I was using my serger, I angled all the corners as I went.

Step 6: Flip your pillowcase inside out, put a pillow in, fluff and put on your patio (or couch, or bed...) to enjoy.

You can sit and relax with that pillow or, if you are like me, you get that itch to keep getting more things done once you see how rewarding that first project was. So, play around with how to make more pillows and how to embellish them a little differently each time...

And there you have it. Easy pillows and (nearly) instant gratification. Is it just me, or do you get that thrill when you make something with your own hands?

Let me know if anyone tries the pillows! I would love to see how yours turn out or which ways you choose to make them a little more your own!