Pinterest Challenge: Week 2 (maxi skirt)

This week's Pinterest Challenge was just that, a challenge!

Maxi skirts are everywhere right now and they are perfect for so many occasions too! They're great for winter months when you need a nice blanket over your legs all day, but they can also be great for a  summer swim suit cover up. They can be casual when made from jersey knits but they can also be dressy with some chiffon or pleats.

I'm just excited to finally own one! I know, I know, maxi skirts and dresses have been a hot item for a few seasons now, I'm just not that hipster I guess. In fact, when it comes to most new fashions I usually test the waters first, then if I like it I jump in. AND then the fashion usually goes out of style soon after. So does that mean that I am actually a hipster after the fact?

Oh, who cares! I made a skirt! And I think it turned out pretty good!

This project was definitely not a walk in the park though. I even had to rope my husband into helping me with the waistband a couple times. But I only spent $5 to make it, so it was great practice!

I'm not quite comfortable with creating a tutorial for it yet, but give me a little more practice and I'll see what I can do. Until then, I'll just let you in on some of the pros and cons from this project and hopefully you can use the advice in your projects.

Pros:

• I used this tutorial to help me out with the sizing and it worked really well. I use a 3" wide black elastic waistband instead of installing a waist and zipper though.
• This tutorial was a good guide to using elastic waist bands. It explains how to pin it and how to stretch it to sew it properly.
• The chiffon material turned to be easier to work with than expected! The best advise is to test your tension several times before working on the skirt.
• Brand new needle is a must!!! Size 65/9 works well for chiffon. This keeps the needle from snagging the delicate material.
• A small piece of masking tape over the plate helps keep the chiffon from being pulled down into the machine. LIKE THIS:

Cons:

• The 3" wide waist band was VERY difficult to stretch while sewing it to the skirt.
• Because of the difficulty stretching the waistband, it made it hard to keep the speed of the machine even so that the stitches would be even.

I'm really glad I did this project! I feel a lot more knowledgable about gathering waists and working with wide elastic. I have my eye on something like this for my next skirt project! Until then, I'm keeping my legs warm in style!

---Elizabeth