Tutorial - Little Girls Skirt

Fabric - Go Granny II 100% Cotton

Download the PDF

You will need:

Fabric
Thread
Sewing Machine
Overlocker (optional)
Wide Elastic
Safety Pin (for threading the elastic)



Step 1. Determine the Size:


I'm choosing to make a size 4 skirt for a friends daughter using the online Childrens Clothing Sizing Guide from the Target Website. It gives me a waist measurement of 54cm.

The length is a little bit of a guesstimate, but I'm aiming for have a finished length of approximately 36cm.

Step 2. Calculate the Fabric Size:

The skirt is just one large rectangle of fabric.

Width: Finished Waist Size x 1.5 = 54 x 1.5 = 81cm
Length: Finished Length + 5 cm = 36 + 5 = 41cm

Step 3. Fabric

Cut the fabric rectangle and overlock all four sides (if you have an overlocker)

Step 4. Hem

On both of the two long sides of the rectangle, fold over a 1cm hem and iron and stitch into place.

Step 5 - Sew into a cylinder:

Fold your fabric in half with right sides together, so that the two short sides are lined up facing each other.

Measure and mark 3 cm from the top, then sew a 1cm seam all the way to the bottom

You should now have a large fabric cylinder.

Step 6 - Press Seams Open

Place the cylinder shape over your ironing board, and press the seam open.

You should have the 3cm gap at the top of your seam.

Step 7 - Create the casing for the elastic

At the 3cm mark, fold the fabric over and press into place.

Stitch into place along the same stitching line. You can now see the little gap in the inside seam where you can feed the elastic through at the end.

 

Check the width of your elastic, and then sew another row of stitching along the top edge of the skirt. This ensures that the elastic stays nice and neat and flat inside the casing.

Step 8 - The Elastic

To determine the length of the elastic - just add 4 cm to the waist measurement.
I've cut the elastic at 54 + 4 = 58cm

Attach a safety pin and feed it through the casing until you have both ends out.

Lay the elastic flat with a 2cm overlap and stitch together securely.

Once stitched, feed back into the casing, spreading it evenly around the elastic.

Stitch the gap closed.



Step 9 - Finishing the bottom.

I've chosen to add binding at the bottom of my skirt, but you can just fold and iron a 1cm seam, and stitch it into place, or even add a little ruffle.

That's it!

Super simple and easy peasy.

If you make one, I'd love it if you added it to my tutorials Flickr Group

Chocberry Bag

As soon as my new Chocberry colourway arrived, I couldn't wait to cut into it to make something just for me.

I have about eleventy-billion handbags... lots of really little ones, and lots of really big ones, but I never can seem to find one that's just right in the middle.

I auditioned a few different lining fabrics...

... but the gorgeous swirly one that Cathy bought for me won hands down.

This is the perfect size for my everyday bag. It had a maiden voyage to NCB Wednesday night, and today it gets to come along to pulmonary rehab, and then for a coffee and red velvet cupcake date.

I can't wait (for the coffee and cupcakes that is)!!!

Go Granny... now in Chocberry

Exciting news today!

My new Go Granny in Chocberry colourway is now available.

It's quite difficult to get a photograph that truly represents the colour accurately. The pink and orange are quite rich and bright, which is just what I wanted.

I immediately had to cut into it and start making myself a new handbag. I'm hoping to finish it off today.

I've only had a really small amount printed at this stage, so get in quick if you like it. If you miss out, and would really love some, just send me an email and I can order another print run.

Go Granny Jacket

Photo Credit

The most seriously exciting thing about designing a fabric, is seeing the way in which a talented creative person can take that fabric and transform it into something truly amazing.

Photo Credit

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would see something quite as cool as Lara's Go Granny Jacket

 Photo Credit

Thanks for letting me share your gorgeous photos Lara!

Check out all the Go Granny creations in the Flickr Group.

Go Granny II

I arrived home lastnight to a very exciting package.....

It's Go Granny II - my granny square design printed onto a 135gsm natural fibre 100% cotton basecloth.

This is perfect for everything from quilting and applique, to summer skirts and dresses.

Pop on over to the shop and check it out!

Things that make me smile...

When I see someone making something completely gorgeous using fabric that I've designed.

Handpainted doll by Jennie at A Little Vintage using my Go Granny and Owlie Oracle...

This one is perfect for Blogtoberfest.

Juliet from Tartan Kiwi won my Reindeer Row fabric during last years Blogtoberfest finale, and she's made a little zippered pouch as a pressie for her nephew.

Soooooo cute! I have a teensy bit of this fabric left and it's making me want to get it out and make christmas pressies.

I haven't had a chance to organise my own Blogtoberfest giveaway just yet, so keep your eyes peeled for it this coming week. In the meantime, please check out the Blogtoberfest Giveaway page and good luck!

Tutorial - How to Make Go Granny Mini Bunting

Jess from Epheriall Designs contacted me a few weeks ago, and asked me if I could write a little crafty tutorial for her gorgeous blog.

How could I possibly say no?

I was sitting at the kitchen bench with little squares of Go Granny and little squares of felt, inspired by Jennie's girls..... when I lined them up in a row and immediately pictured them as bunting!

This tutorial is quick and easy and lots of fun - even the kiddies can make the 'non sew' version just using fabric glue.

You can find Go Granny Fabric right here and you can download the PDF version of the Mini Bunting Tutorial right here.

Enjoy!

Tutorial - How to Make a Pouch for your Electronic Gadget

I'm super excited that this tutorial is on Whip Up today - a huge thankyou to Kathreen for inviting me to contribute to the Guest Blogger Series!

My sister recently bought me an eReader so I desperately need to Whip Up an eReader Pouch, using one of the original testing samples (in a larger scale) of my Go Granny fabric.

The tutorial explains how to measure your very own eGadget to make a pouch that fits perfectly.

If you'd like to make your very own, using my Go Granny fabric (tip: all those lines make it really easy to sew in a straight line), then pop over here to the shop.

Oh, and if you do make something lovely using Go Granny, then please upload your photos to Flickr and join the Go Granny group!

Download the PDF Tutorial - How to Make a Pouch for your Electronic Gadget

Like sands through the hourglass....

These are the days of our lampshades....

The Weekend Sneaky Peek...

Early Morning

Midday Sun

Late Afternoon Shade

Evening Glow

Go Granny Fabric by Me!
Lampshade Kit by Helen Rawlinson
Brilliant Idea from Nic at Yardage Design
Ridiculously Undersized Lamp Base direct from my garage.....

My Creative Space

It's a bit of a Cheaty McCheaterson creative space today.

I've had these little Go Granny brooches sitting around since Sunday. I just haven't had the chance to finish them with everything else that is going on at the moment.

Completely inspired by Miss E and Miss G over at A Little Vintage.

I really should go and find my brooch findings and finish them off!

The home of my creative space

Getting Cushy

I've needed some new cushions for my bland boring couch for the longest time, so my Go Granny fabric was the perfect solution to add some much needed colour.

So easy to make - you just follow the lines to cut the front cushion panels!

One wasn't enough, so I made a matching pair.... using a plain cotton drill for the backing.

On Saturday afternoon, I finally put them on the couch, plumped them up and admired them, and then walked out of the room.....

..... and when I returned

The sweetest little Grannies that you ever did see!

I have to thank Jennie for putting a 'smile on my dial' thisafternoon.... and for getting some craftiness back onto this here craft blog!
 

You must pop on over and see how her daughters turned my Go Granny fabric into super-gorgeous Go Granny brooches.

Thankyou Miss E and Miss G!

Guess what I'm making tomorrow?