This is part of a week-long series for National Sewing Month. Don’t forget to enter the Grand Prize Giveaway!
A budget-wise sewist is a smart one! As we all know, fabric can be very expensive, and other sewing materials make this craft a heavy-hitter at the bank. When the holidays roll around and we’re sewing up a storm, it becomes even more important to be thrifty. This might just be our most important tip of the week!
Here’s an awesome tutorial from Westcott on how to recycle a shirt into a cute skirt! This skirt would pair perfectly with boots and tights this fall.
Materials:
- Westcott 8” ExtremEdge Bent Scissors #15351
- Westcott 3” Straight Scissors #15150
- Long Sleeve T-Shirt
- Stick Pins
- Sewing Thread
- Sewing Machine (optional)
Instructions:
1) With the key provided adjust the tension of the Westcott 8” ExtremEdge Bent Scissors to suit for cutting comfort.
2) Lay down your long sleeve t-shirt and cut off the sleeves and upper portion as shown.
3) Trim the sleeves at a 90 degree angle.
4) With your sewing machine (or if you prefer you can sew by hand) use a basting stitch to gather the wide ends of the sleeves. Trim any loose threads with the Westcott 3” Straight Scissors. Stitch the gathered ends of the sleeves to the top of the remaining portion of the shirt on each side. Try on the skirt and adjust the fit by tying the loose ends of the sleeves off to one side to create a stylish sash!
How to Enter Our Grand Prize Giveaway
To celebrate National Sewing Month, we’re giving away a GRAND PRIZE: this BERNINA 215 Simply Red valued at $999! Enter to win on AllFreeSewing.com.
Gain extra entries for our grand prize by commenting on our daily National Sewing Month blog posts here on Seams & Scissors. Comment your answer to our question below for an extra entry!
Contest Rules:
- Commenting on this page will enter you to win the prize. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
- The winner will be selected at random from the comments on this page and entries on AllFreeSewing.com.
- You have until September 30th, 2016 at 11:59 CST to leave your comment on this post. Comments after that will not be counted.
- Contest is open to anyone 18+ in the US and Canada. Void in Puerto Rico, the Province of Quebec and where prohibited.
- The winner will be contacted by the e-mail address provided in their account.
Today’s Question: What type of fabric do you like to work with?
- How to Sew Curves - October 11, 2020
- Kill the Chill with an Infinity Scarf Pattern: 12 Free Scarf Patterns - October 7, 2020
- How to Sew for Your Body - September 23, 2020
I prefer working with cotton or cotton blends. It’s less tricky knowing there’s no stretch and I have such a wide variety of choices to choose from!
Primarily cotton type fabric.
I like to work with cotton, fleece, or felt!
I prefer cotten fabrics. I love the skirt though.
I make a lot of fun gifty projects with cotton flats. Flannel and fleece are forgiving too. I don’t love the feel of polyester nor their blends. There are lots of cotton knits and I do some with them as I learn more and more.
I like sewing with cotton and cotton blends. I have a bernina 125 that i love, I’m still learning things about sewing and my machine
Very cute. Knits are my favorite.
Cotton blends.
I like working with woven fabrics better than knits, but that only means I buy more Knits than wovens. My theory is that if you force yourself to face your fears, you will overcome them.
I prefer to wear natural fibers, and most commonly I work with cotton, but some wool and linen too.
I primarily use woven fabric (including my own handwoven) I’ve not gotten good with knits.
I like to work with cotton,cotton blends,fleece,satin,knits,actually different kinds of fabrics are interestingly good to use.
I like working with different types of fabric
I have worked with all types of fabric especially when I was garment making. Since quilting I like cottons and linens but if I am making clothing, silk would be my preference.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I prefer cottons, knits and fleece.
Cotton, fleece and flannel
Cotton.
Like to work with a beautiful soft cotton. Also some good quality flannel.
Really interesting tutorial, but I think I’d have to add something to lengthen the skirt – it looks a bit to short for my personal comfort level.
I’ve mainly worked with cotton but am trying this year to widen my fabric choices. Thank you!
Being a quilter, I prefer to work with cotton or peplum. Thanks!
I like making baby blankets out of fleece and minky materials.
I like working with stable knits. I can get the structured look I’m going for and just enough stretch to be comfortable. Ponte De Roma is my favorite.
Most of my sewing is quilting and I love working with 100% cottons.
This will make a great use of my dads shirts
My favorites are silks, linens and cottons. Being taller and short-waisted, making clothes that fit and flatter makes me feel comfortable and happy. Also, sewing for my grand children is a joy that shopping doesn’t touch.
I like using fleece
I use to love to sew, my husband bought me a new singer and it never has worked right. I bet this machine does it all and would be my new love. Hope I win. Thank you.
I’m not that skilled or experienced, so definitely woven cotton or cotton blends that aren’t very slick or soft. I tried making a silk top once … arrrrr !
I don’t mind knits. My first project (a circle skirt) was done in a stretchy blue fabric I got on clearance really cheap for a lot of yards. I had no clue what i was doing! Lol. Still, it didn’t turn out too bad at all.
I’ve worked with all sorts, but these days it’s mostly cotton and knits. Knits are really easy to work with.
I like all the rich colors cotton, rayon and cotton blends have available to work with, but for fabric that molds easily and is great fun to work with wool can’t be beat.
I prefer working with cotton and especially enjoy the feel of stitching fine cotton like lawn or batiste.
I like to use cotton.