|~ Chevron Maxi

They're everywhere, these chevron skirts. I couldn't find a cheap one I was sure would fit online, so I made my own in just a couple hours. I ordered 2 yards of striped fabric from Girl Charlee and eagerly got started.

Stealing some pictures from Fresh Modesty to show y'all. 

I took a couple of phone pictures for those of you who would like to know how I made this. 

I used a combination of my skirt pattern from my eBook and one of my favorite maxi skirts to make a pattern. I folded the skirt in 1/3 and 2/3 pieces and traced to create my off-center pattern.

 Then, I laid them together with seam allowance overlap and used a ruler and protractor to draw the chevron guide lines on. They're aligned at a right-angle.

Laying out the pieces was definitely nerve-wracking. I had absolutely no room for mistakes, so I was praying hard as I lined everything up! I had to do the back as one big piece, but I really like how it's interesting stripes turned out. 

For the waistband, I scavenged the longest piece I could (I think it was the bottom right of the above picture, along the stripes) and folded it over and sewed it on in the yoga-band style. Too easy. 

If you're looking for more specific tips on working with knits or creating a chevron skirt, just google "chevron maxi skirt tutorial". There are so many helpful blog posts out there! Let me know if you have any questions!

Blessings!

|~ Long Sailor Skirt

Ever have a piece of fabric taunt you, begging to be made, but unsure of what/how to make it into? This length of denim was that. I ordered it from Fashion Fabrics Club on clearance, since it was a good price, but I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. A little Pinterest searching, and I realized the Jet Navy Denim piece was destined for sailing. You can take a look at my denim board here.

 We took these pictures after I had sat in church all morning (the fabric's still new, so it's hard to iron in the first place) and after I had worn the skirt to feed the chickens in the wet yard, so you'll have to excuse the wrinkles and mud. :P

 This skirt features a high waistband, button detail, and pleated, but flattering, skirt front.

 It's really comfortable, and is perfect for church. The denim is nice enough and dark enough to be not too casual, and the buttons on the front and the style really class it up. I also foresee it as a BBQ skirt with a striped shirt come summertime.

I grabbed some shots of the process with my iPhone, if you're interested.

To cut the skirt pieces, I used the pattern from my eBook (transferred to the lining of a chicken feed bag for ease of use). For the front, I placed the pattern on the fold, but off-set it by 4" or so to give me fabric for the pleats. 

The back I cut on the selvage edge at the normal width. (BTW, if you don't have one of those heavy magnetic pincushions, you need to get one. I use it as a pattern weight and the world's most convenient pin catcher. My sewing time is drastically reduced by it's saving qualities. This was not sponsored.)

To draft the waistband, I measured my waist (aka where the top of the skirt's waistband would be), divided in two (since we'll have a front and back) and determined the height of my waistband (6" from my waist to my hip), and drew a rectangle with these measurements. I cut it out.

Then I slashed it in half a dozen points from one long edge to about 3/4" from the other. I laid this on another two pieces of paper taped together and splayed it out (with the help of some tape) so that the bottom long edge matched half my hip measurement. 

Cut out 4, with seam allowance added. 

For the front detail, I just folded the ends of the waistband piece towards the center. I held the piece up to me to determine the width. 

I interfaced the piece as well. I just slapped it over the folded under seam allowance so that I wouldn't have to worry about pinning that while I sewed. 

To make sure they lined up, I used the detail piece to measure how/where to fold in my front pleats, making sure to end up with it fitting my hips. 

I laid the front detail over the front waistband piece and just sewed it into the seam as I attached the facing. 

I put in a side zipper, hand-stitched the six front buttons on, and hemmed it to work with heels. :) 

If you'd like more detail on exactly how to do this type of waistband (well, this is a modified version, but the principles and techniques are the same), there are 9 pages of instructions and pictures in my Denim eBook. 

This sailor style skirt was a super fun and easy project. Once you're comfortable working with denim, a whole range of practical possibilities opens up!

|~ Navy Lace Dress

Hey y'all! I have a project I really enjoyed to share with y'all today. I made this dress to wear to a friend's afternoon winter wedding.

A navy lace dress with square neckline, sheer sleeves, circle skirt, and fitted bodice.
My inspiration was Shabby Apple's I'm Late! I'm Late! dress and other navy lace dresses I saw on Pinterest:

Source: shabbyapple.com via Olivia on Pinterest

Source: adventuresindressmaking.com via Olivia on Pinterest

I ordered my stretch lace from Fabrics World USA after getting a free sample. It was well worth ordering. I love how it looks, although it is really clingy to itself. I bought 3 yards and had barely enough.

For the bodice I used a princess seam pattern I've used in the past (McCall's 3129) for the broadcloth underlayer, with a little fitting and changing of the neckline.
For the skirt, I used Butterick 3134 for the underlayer and a 3/4 circle pattern for the outer layer.

I put a zipper in the back, making sure to extend it past the waistline, but not too long to make the skirt lay funky. I still put it on over my head although I can just squeeze enough to step in. I also wear my circle skirt slip underneath to give it more volume and help the skirt lay better.

I didn't hem the lace because it doesn't fray. That was super nice on the sleeves because I didn't hem those either.

For the sleeves, I used a sleeve pattern I drafted years ago (like 2009 ago) and adjusted the curve of the top of the sleeve pattern to fit my bodice. It went together like a dream, and I was so thankful.

To do the lace overlay for the bodice, I layed the front bodice (the princess seams were sewn) and back bodice onto the stretch lace and just kind of ignored the shaping of the pieces and cut out the outline so that when I put the dress on my dressform, the lace would stretch and conform to the underlayer. It was a bit more complicated than it sounds and took many tries of shaping, cutting, and pinning, but it came out and I love it.

To finish the neckline, I just serged the lace and broadcloth together. It was a little tricky to turn the corner on the square, but generally it was simple and easy. The neck does gape a little, so I roll up some scotch tape and just stick the neckline to my skin when I wear it. The professionals use fashion tape, right? ;)

I was planning on doing a navy belt like the Shabby Apple dress, but with my lovely new taupe shoes I decided I needed a matching belt, and oddly found this one in the back of my closet- I had picked it up at a thrift store and forgotten about it. :P

So, there ya go, my navy lace dress! It was worth the time and money (about $40 for fabric) to create something that I know will be a go-to for events and church for years to come. After I'm done a project like this that I'd been putting off for a while, I think, "Now, why didn't I do this before? I have an awesome item now that makes life easier, and only had to suffer a little to get it!" ha. :D

Advice if you want to make one: get a dress form, and double check everything. Lace is super hard to rip seams out of. :P Also, don't rush. I tried to and quickly realized that was not gonna fly. So, I slowed down and it was so worth it. :)

|~ Denim Skirt eBook!

 Well, it’s here! Fresh Modesty’s new eBook: How To Sew Denim: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Wide Waistband Denim Skirts! I’m so excited to be able to offer this to you!

There’s nothing more practically stylish than a well-done denim skirt. It’s durable, effortless, and basic, with pockets and classy topstitching. It’s the feeling of a perfect pair of jeans, but in skirt form. It’s that go-to item. It’s the security of knowing that no matter what the day holds, your skirt won't be in the way. It’s like a good pair of shoes—every girl should have one.

Y’all have been curious about my modest denim skirts for a while now, and have asked for instructions so you can make them yourselves— here is your granted wish!  63 pages of it. Check out the Denim eBook page! 

 The eBook includes both the long and short denim skirt versions! Soooo versatile.

Along with the new eBook, I completely re-vamped my freshmodesty.com website. It has easy access to both eBooks (downloading is automatic, so you won’t have to wait on me to email you after you buy!), show and tell which I hope to update often, and links to both my blogs right on the menu.

 I really hope to begin blogging here at Eager Hands again consistently. Now that this huge project is finished, I'm excited to be doing some more diverse projects. Maybe. I just had another huge load of denim delivered. I'm kind of addicted. Blessings!