Monday - ahh, yeah, late

Hello Honey,

Late this week.  Suprise there ah?

Last week was my anniversary so we were on our 4th honeymoon (as dh likes to call our anniversary trips, lol). However, I did record the 'first look' into my second stitch fix box for your review.  I will spend the week editing it and post it for ya on this upcoming Monday.  

Below is a picture of the cool serger box bag from the review I did 2 weeks ago.  Since I didn't have any takers for the freebies I decided to make one for a WAHM swap I participated in.  Actually, I did three of them trying to get it just perfect.  It was not perfect but I sent it anyway.  The teenager even took one to the earlier attempts on the bag.  This was an awesome zippered box bag.  Who knew you could install a zipper with a serger and it actually stands up like a box.  Loving it!!  The theme for the swap was 'the beach'.  Wellllllllll, that made things a bit harder, being in a city with limited fabric options.  But I finally found something at Hobby Lobby.  So I went with it.  Whadyathink (Translation: what do you think, lol)?  The little square in the middle is a matching business card holder I also made for the person I received.  I even had a greenish seahorse button for it, teehee.  I thought it was too cute!

I am finally taking another belly dance class.  This will hopefully help to get me started again sooooo... I found this cool wine colored fabric with these thin shiny gold lines.  I think these are gonna rock as a sweet pair of tribal pants.  I self drafted a pattern and made a mock up pair (that I actually wore to class).  My classes for a 6 week session will start on Thursday so I will let you know how the tribal pants work and then I'll post a tut for them.  Since I also have a workshop on Saturday I may make two pairs.  I am so excited to get these rusty hips and broken shimmy back into action.  Although I have never taken any classes on tribal style of belly dance I am looking forward to it.  I love the fluidity of their movement.  I will learn as much as I can about all styles and take what I like and leave the rest, this will help me to create my own sense of interpretation of music with the dance.  The more moves I have in my database the more choices I have to create to be free!

Well, that's about it for this week. My anniversary trip was great, I even found some fabric, of course, lol.  Oh and I am cooking the luncheon this weekend so I'll have a new recipe to report on and share with you.  So that's three things I know I'll be posting for the next three Mondays, woohoo, no excuses because these have to be done.  :-)

Ok, off to editing now, that is such an involved and slow process, sigh.

Love and shimmies,

Marvelous Monday Darlings

Howdy Hon,

What day is it?  Woot-woot, Marvelous Monday Darlings!

It's been a long weekend for me.  My goddaughter got married and who was asked to make 15 dozen deviled eggs, yep that's right, me.  In case you were wondering that's 360 deviled egss, TOTAL>>>YIKES!  I was up all night, no really, ALL NIGHT!.  We laid down at 5:30am only to be back up at 9:30am to put the finishing touches on them (I do something a little different with mine that no one else does, at the moment) and then pack them into coolers, shower, dress, and drive to a neighboring city (actually 2 before the day was over).  Then was up all day for the wedding and activities.  But it was a beautiful wedding and I am so happy for her.  We had to be back up early to drive to neighboring city again for Sunday morning branch presidency meeting,  then church service, then Linger Longer, clean up and finally the drive back home.   But I am very thankfully that due to someone else also bringing deviled eggs (of course our side only wanted mine, tee-hee) to the reception we had enough left to take to the church Linger Longer the next day.  Woo-hoo double score, because let me tell you, there is no way I could have come home and cooked that night.  Anywhoooo... here I am up late tonight typing this blog.   Yes, I could have done it earlier, but you have no idea how tired I was, everything hurt today and I was bed bound!  But no more excuse a blog (and the blogger) must be consistent! Right?? Right!!

So, let's do it! 

Today I am going to share with you one of my classes from my favorite site Craftsy! What is Craftsy?  You can go to their about page and learn a bit more about them.  But basically it's an online school of sorts.  They have hundreds of classes that you can choose from in a variety of interest.  You buy a class, of course you can start with a couple of the free classes, and anytime you are ready to learn from that class you go to the website, pull up the class (on your desk computer, laptop, IPad, smartphone or tablet) and watch it at your convenience and at your own speed.  The set up is great, you can even ask questions and talk with you instructor or fellow classmates.  And the questions stay on the right side of screen for all to see, at any time.  You just click on the question that interest you and there you will see all the responses on that question.  The videos are High Quality and a joy to watch.  The best part, THEY ARE YOURS!! They NEVER expire and you can watch them AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT!!!

I have many classes with Craftsy, free and paid.  The first one I want to review for you today is 'Beginner Serger' -Machine Basics and Techniques- with Amy Alan.

CLASS DESCRIPTION:  Sewing instructor Amy Alan introduces you to the endless potential of the serger, an overlock sewing machine. Once you discover how easy and versatile it is, you'll be hooked! Start with serger threading and maintenance, then learn basic and decorative stitches. Create a serger stitch book you can reference again and again, and get all the troubleshooting techniques you need to serge like a pro. Practice your serging on three fun skill-building projects.

I got my serger as a birthday present this year thanks to my dear sweet hubby!  I had been saving for it and planning to buy it so it was up on my wall over my desk.  Which turns out is not only a great thing to do to help me remember what I really want but, it's also a great place for dh to get ideas of what he can get as the perfect gift.  That people is a WIN WIN.  I was so excited and planning to change the appearance of all my garments to have a cleaner finish and look more professional.  Well, that was great and all but, there is a bit of knowledge that has to come first.  LOL.  Although I figured out enough on my own to be able to do my goal of nicer finishes.  I was always in fear of changing the thread spools, of having broken threads, stitches too loose or too tight.  Then what?!?!  And, let's not forgot there are so many cools things a serger can do other than overlocking our seams.  I was determined to find a way to learn all those things so I could progress faster in my skill level.  Especially since I was opening my Etsy store and would be selling things that I made.  So who did I turn to, one of my greatest institutions of learning Craftsy (YouTube being my favorite institution).

The Beginner Serger, -Machine Basics and Techniques- with Amy Alan, has been such a great help to me on my journey to becoming well acquainted with my serger thereby becoming a more professional seamtress (even if still in training, lol)!  I will be breaking this review into 2 parts.  Part 1 will be the review of the class and Part 2 will be the review of the projects that we did in this class.  I will also be giving away the 3 projects I completed for this class, FREE, to 3 lucky readers!  All you have to do is subscribe to this blog (I know you may think that this is just a shameless attempt to get subscribers, yep, you're right!).  And leave me a comment below.  

**FYI- I should also let you know that I am now an affiliate of Craftsy, but this review is my own.  I bought this class on my own and receive no compensation for it or my review.  However, now that I am an affiliate, it means that if you should decide to click on any of the links in the side bar, or special pricing post I put in the future, will lead to a small compensation to me.  If you decide to click on any of those links please know I greatly appreciate your support!!**

In this class the instructor is Amy Alan.  She has the sweetest personality I have ever seen.  She has one of those sweet smiles that you only see on babies, just a joyful countenance.  That alone makes her worth watching.  Amy is very clear, engaging, informative and enthusiastic.  She was very knowledge on the topic of sergers.  The class is done in 8 Lessons, plus a bonus lesson from Amy as a 'thank you' for taking her class.  How sweet is that!

Amy Alan, Instructor of Beginner Serging

Amy teaches sewing at Modern Domestic in Portland, Ore. and blogs at Really Handmade. She started crafting as a small child and has always made an effort to turn the everyday into art!

Lesson 1 - Introduction:  is about Amy, Craftsy, what to expect in the class and getting ready.  She also tells you about the course material provided and where to find it.  This is very vital information so that you know right off the bat what you will need to be successful in the class.  The handouts also include things such as what you will need for the projects at the end, a resource list, forms that show samples of work and useful tips to remember.  She provides worksheets for us to make a sample notebook that is based on our own experiences and our own machines.  This will be very helpful in the future trying to recreate the learned technique.  

Lesson 2 - Your Serger and How it Works:  is about threads, tensions, loopers, blades, dials, needles, changing colors and a whole lot more.  This is very helpful because you may know you sewing machine well, but I'm pretty sure there are no loopers on it, lol.  So in my case, I knew nothing about loopers nor how to recognize which thread was which looper.  Which tensions to change based on what the serge track looked like.  Changing colors was like creating a mini heart attack on demand, breath breath.   Now I can almost do it blindfolded, knowledge is power!  Understanding the cutting blade is also great to know.

Lesson 3 - Basic Stitches:  She teaches about 4, 3, and 2 thread overlock, flatlocks, rolled hem, stitch issues, and a whole lot more.  This was of course my favorite part.  I always wanted to do a rolled hem using my serger, tee-hee!  And all the different overlocks and flatlocks was simply amazing.  She was easy to understand and it was not too fast pace but no so slow you began to see sheep jumping over the fence.  It kept my attention (which isn't always easy, oh look there's a chicken).  I learned so much for this lesson and look forward to using flatlocks now.   I also appreciate the information on LOOPERS!!

Lesson 4 - Decorative Stitches:  I had no idea all this was possible with my serger.  This section went over various decorative stitches and various types of threads that can be used.  This was very interesting.  When I think decorative stitches I think of my beloved Cindy Lou (my brother's sewing machine) now she may become a little jealous that Ricardo (my brother's serger) has the ability to do a little decorating himself.  LOL, it's the battle of the machines.  Oh, back on point.  I appreciate her offering this lesson, although it was not vital in learning to use my serger it is very good to know everything that it is capable of.  Thereby giving me more options as a seamstress.  

Lesson 5 - Troubleshooting Your Serger:  is about issues with tension, machine, cleaning your machine and so much more.  This lesson should be required for all serger purchases.  You should definitely know how to do regular maintenance on your machine to keep it running smoothly.  She shows you how to clean it and what to take out and what you should NOT use to clean your machine and why.  Troubleshooting is always needed for any machine.  These are also included in the course material handouts so you will be able to reference them quickly when needed.  

Lessons 6, 7, 8:  These are your projects.  Each of these lessons is one new projects you get to make using a different technique and/or thread you just learned about (that I will be giving away FREE in part 2)!

Lesson 9:  is the BONUS lesson that Amy gives just as a 'Thank You' for taking her class.  That's a very giving person.  I enjoyed this lesson and the information that it provided.  I will only tell you that it was very informative and useful in my serger future!  You'll have to go get the class from here to find out what this lesson was about. 

That's it for Part 1 hon's.  I will have Part 2 posted next week and I will be giving away each project.  All you have to do is subscribe to the blog (I know, SMH, shamelss) and leave a comment.  You can just say, 'Hi Hon!', a comment, question or some helpful tip you have learned in using your serger.  

Well my dears, I now realize that it is 5:36am, Tuesday, phooey.  

Love and Shimmies,

P.S.  All the words in darkish red are links!  I couldn't resist not using some color for the other words!  :-)

Marvelous Monday is coming, Woot Woot!!

Just FYI hon, tee-hee!

I have review for my Craftsy class on that sought after Serger, dum dum dummmm.   LOL.

I'm looking forward to sharing how this class has help me so much with learning things like threading the serger, figuring out tensions and all the cool things one can do with this awesome machine.

Stay tuned for Marvelous Monday!!

Love and Shimmies,

 P.S.  I mistakenly bought the same pattern twice (no suprise, did same thing with stamps, lol) soooo I was thinking of reviewing it and giving one away.  What do you think??

Monday Love

Well,well...

Is it Monday already?  O_o

Brianna and I have been trying to touch base all weekend but have missed each other at every end.  I will post her OOTD as soon as our paths connect.

Sooooooo, what's been on my heart today?  Excitement AND terror.  Due to this new program being offered by our church there is now a super affordable way to get a college degree, woohoo, right?  So, brace yourself, or at least I had to brace myself, I signed up at the information meeting Sunday night.  Now I have to wait for to see if enough people will sign up for the program between our two stakes.  We only need 15 people so I am sure that between the two we should be able to get it.  

I've been out of school a lonnnngggggggg time and remember very little from when I was there, high school nor college,sigh.  That's where the terror comes in.  Out of most of the certifications I've taken in the last few years I have had to take twice.  I just don't remember large amounts of information quickly.  My mother would say, "You've been out of school too long."  Bear in mind she was what I called a 'professional student'.  Always learning always growing.  Me?  I love learning new things but, not reading it all.  I love learning by doing, putting my hands on it.  I'm a visual learner and learn best by remembering quirky things like what color shirt the teacher had on that I didn't like when she said... or how a loud thunder clap echoed in the room when I was highlighting the answer to this question.   I just have a weird memory to locking information in.  Sigh, but the best thing I've learned about myself these last few years is that when I get an idea of 'oh, I wanna do that', I know no matter how terrified I am I am going to do EXACTLY that.  

So it's off to school I go, if it all works out with enough people.  The next step while waiting was to figure out what to take.  There are only a select few degrees being offered with on-line degrees through the church's school.  Since none were in the area of fitness and health, which I thought I'd be interested in persueing being that I have a primary group fitness instructor certification and all, bellydancer (although not much lately), it seemed a perfect fit.  However, that is not one of the programs being offered in this on-line opportunity right now.  So, narrowed it down after talking with dh to two.  Then one.  Since I have an Associates Degree in Applied Technology for Business Computer Programing, we decided it would be best for me to take the bachelor program (well, I figured if I was gonna do it it must be for bachelors degree) for Computer Information Technology. Ok, ummmmmmmmm, yeah.  LOL, well in for a penny in for a pound.  Especially since dh told his second club he was done because his wife would be going back to come this September.  Well, I am certainly committed now, lol. Yikes! 

Once it settled in I had to put in a little Balance Essential Oil, from my wonderful doTerra oils.  Ahhhh, fell much calmer.  

Nothing to do but wait now.

This posting what's going on is much easier than posting the intended Monday posts.  But, not as exciting to me as tutorial or recipes and certainly not as much as posting sewing reviews or how-to's.  So my assignment for the next week (you know before school starts, lol) I will have to get ahead of the game.  I need to line up the intended post weeks in advance so we have much more interesting posts to share and you have more interesting things to read about.

Sigh, better get busy then.

Love and shimmies, 

P.S.  Typing this from IPad so can't make all colorful and pretty.  Also, sorry if any misspelled words.

Missed it by that much...Monday

Monday, argh, Tuesday, rats, 'Missed it by that much chief!'

This blogging thing is serious business.  When things don't go right you gotta be prepared, you gotta have backups.

I have to admit, I am feeling some kind of way and have been for the last few months.  I have not studied, have not written speeches, have not cooked much, have not practiced my Zumba or Bellydance, and last but not least have not sewn...in weeks.  All of which I truly love! 

Major mental and emotional issues going on over here. 

If you'll just hang in there with me for a little longer, I promise to get my act together.   I must, this is not working for me!

Good news alert! Our beautiful and youngest daughter, Brianna, has volunteered to take over most of the OOTD tab on the blog.  Brianna is a young woman working hard to make her life move in the direction of her long time dream of becoming a fashion designer.  She has a great flare for putting stylish outfits together with great statement accessories and an amazing talent at mixing colors and different patterns together (she always has, even as a young scrapbooker I marveled at her ability to mix patterns, I never could [and still can't]).  I pretty much only dress to go out in public (outside of going to the mailbox, which does not require any sass or style) twice a week.  That's for a meeting and for church.  Which I hav'nt been dolling up for.  Hey don't judge me, I am a stay at home mom, there is no reason to doll up every day for a 16 year old.  I'm sure it won't help with convincing him to do his school work.  So, anywhooo, as a result I have neglected the OOTD tab (even more so than not consistently posting the weekly blog posts).

The two of us with work the natural hair tab together, with tips, techiques, product recipes, protective hairstyles, and hair product reviews (that'll be her, lol, I'm strictly a make my own hair products kind a girl...except for my backup which is Shea Moisture line).

I have decided in order to help me be more consistent at least, I have committed to posting a post every Monday as stated, no matter what.  Even if what I had planned to post doesn't work then I commit myself to posting how I honestly feel at the time of posting.  So that means I need to quickly get my act together, or openly admit things in my head that I don't generally speak out loud.  Good heavens, you may learn wayyyyyy more about me than you wanted to if that happened.

So, a few hours overdue but here it is chief.  Unfiltered and raw feelings!

Love and still Broken Shimmies,

P.S. Aren't IPads great, I stayed up to type this on my IPad! Okay, okay, yes I was on Facebook clicking other links for a minute, zeesh, cut me a little slack.  When was the last time you posted your raw feelings for the world to review and moc.

Evening Gown Into Bellydance Bra and Hips Scarf Set!

Never miss an opportunity to dance!

I got this dress for $10.00 at our local Goodwill.

The moment I saw it I knew what it's future would be.  I'm a Bellydancer and have long wanted to do some refashioning for a costume.  So, I snatched this little darling up and quickly ran home with it.  I was sewwww very excited. 

Got started...rip rip...

Remove arms...Separate more parts...

Make a few snips...connect a few pieces...

And walla...

Yes I am a bellydancer, no I don't show my tummy, lol, so I have one a spaghetti top cami underneath the bra.  It's super long so it goes into my bottoms.  The two black lines on the butt are actually the ties from the bra hanging down.  Sorry we did not have good light in the room (so happy I have a new camera).  Oh, and the pants are just regular yoga pants, I'm making black tribal pants to go with the set!

A wonderfully dreamy little bra and hip scarf costume perfect for dance class practice, solo in small show for caberet.  It's even suitable for a hot little tribal fushion number.  I love it.

You can see full details and step by step pictures at Shimmy and More Blogspot.

Thanks for reading!

Love and Shimmies, 

Yes It's a Brokenhearted Monday...

Hello Honey,

Yes I know it's Monday.  A crazy one it has been too.

My project for today is a miserable fail!  But, I am still working on it.  It's sooooo cute and I want to make it sooooo bad.  And when I do I will show it to you lovelies.

This coming Sunday I have to prepare lunch for our presidency, the wives and the missionaries in our branch so I will do a Mystery Meat Monday on the next Monday. Then the following Monday I will do a McCall pattern review, one of my favorites for this summer, you're gonna love 'em!  I have to make some in a few more colors.  The last Monday of the month I will review one of my marvelous Craftsy classes like I promised earlier this month.

There is so much to look forward to in July, it's our anniversary it will be 4 years since God showed me that he indeed knew better than I did, who I needed to spend the rest of my life and all of eternity with.  My husband is the kindest  most loving and sometimes enabling, lol, man that I know.  I will also be receiving my 2nd Stitch Fix box, of course I will do another review on my YouTube channel so you can see all the wonderful things they sent for my anniversary.  I can't wait, I am soooo stoked!

I guess I should mention some of the issues of why I did not post in May.  I had been kinda blue coming into May and most all of the month.  Don't know why, not sleeping much either, again.  May is also a hard month for me due to not having my own mother here to celebrate Mother's Day with.  My mother was murdered in 1994 by my father (step).  The brutal way in which in did so, in front of my 3 year old daughter, is hard enough to have to remember.  Then this May right after the Shimmy Mob weekend, which is on World Bellydance Day.  If you don't know about this it is an event where belly dancers around the world join together in one accord to raise funds for their local women and children shelters and raise awareness about domestic violence to the world.  If you didn't know, yes it is very much a problem in this world.  In addition to fund raising we all join together on the actual day and perform the same routine all over the world all wearing the same T-shirts and black pants.  It's a wonderful event.  Well, right after that weekend, while dealing with my own personal loss, I hear that one of my favorite YouTube guru, Tamisha E. Ridge, had been murdered in her home in the wee hours of the morning by an old boyfriend, father of one of her children who had stalked her for years, while she slept.  Again a woman I thought highly of as just a person was taken by some idiot in the dark, again children were losing a very important person in their lives.  I was just heartbroken for her, her children and the rest of her family.  I just didn't want to do anything, I was just at a loss and in pain.  My own pain and in pain for her family, for her young children.  Their mother, gone, just gone...  It aches my heart still to even think about.

I miss my mother. I miss her golden smile, I miss Meesha's happy go lucky smile, I miss my mother's little sayings, "There's more than one way to skin a cat", I miss Meesha's little sayings, "This is super easy you guys".  I miss how they both would help anyone they could.  They were both giving loving women with wonderful futures ahead of them.  Both murdered as they attempted to get on with their lives.  Both having just moved into new homes and beginning new lives.  I miss them both.  My mother I will always have in my heart and pictures, Meesha I will always have in my heart and hopefully her YouTube channel will remain.  I know that her FaceBook page will remain thanks to the fact that she had placed administrators on the site to help her before this hideous crime against her.  It has had a name change and we all want very much to stay connected to her.  Be aware as you surf the net that if you notice a lot of #MeeshaTaughtMe posts please know that this is not some small way to boost someone's business but it's a love and connection shared by many of this wonderful sewing teacher, mentor, designer, mother, daughter, friend, kindhearted, and loving young woman who is being missed by those whose lives she has touched around the world (this is not an exaggeration I assure you).  We love her, we miss her... although we can not ask her for her help anymore, remember, "Never throw away your scraps!"    

I just wanna add ladies (although rare, and gentlemen) if you are in an abusive relation just understand there is one thing you need to do - 'GET OUT'! Once you are out CUT ALL CONTACT.  You don't owe him (her) a darn thing.  You don't have to be nice to someone who is physically not nice to you.  All above all else, GET THE HECK OUT.  Don't wait TO BE CARRIED OUT IN A BLACK BAG! PLEASE, I BEG YOU, GET OUT AND STAY OUT!!  Don't continue to date the same kind of man again and again, because one of them is going to snap.  It you can't do it for yourself do it for your children, for your family, heck for the dog.  I don't care who, just do it!!  If you are not the one being abused then pay attention to the women you love, reach out to her, and above all believe her, HELP HER, GET HER OUT!!

I guess I'm starting to ramble as the tears are starting to flow so I will end with this, ladies know that God loves you.  You are his beautiful daughter and he DID NOT create you for some idiot to beat you down physically, mentally, nor emotionally.  Love yourself enough to know that, because that man that's beating you never will.

Love and broken Shimmies,

The Absentee Blogger, a Monday Madness.

Hello Hon,

May apology for being absent this past month.  It has just really been a hard month.  There we so many bad memories, new awful memories and deaths of people you care for, added to my own blues for this time of year...I just didn't have the strength to post or to take the required time to photograph and write for a post or recorded an video (truth is I thought I may break into uncontrollable sobs if I'd tried).  I didn't have the words to speak on what I wanted to talk about and no desire to really speak on nothing else.  I was in quite a funk!  I was mourning old loss combined with new loss (not DIRECTLY but still a valuable part of my life).  I still don't fell ready to cover it but I think I need to address it and let go of the feelings I have on this subject.  Ummm, next week, sigh, today still too fresh today.

I also have a review coming up on the classes available through Craftsy (if you don't know what that is I will explain in more details in coming weeks.  But basically it's an online site where you can not only purchase patterns for various things, it's also a great resource for learning.  You may also purchase classes from them.  This is the service that I will be reviewing in coming weeks, super convenient).  But for today I will just share with you how to sell patterns and make a little change if you have been creating your own patterns (or as I, plan to do so when you have a little more experience).  I have many classes with them so I will be reviewing my experiences with them from time to time.  I will do one of the reviews this month and the next maybe 2 months after that one, unless otherwise requested.  As far was what I am sewing this month.  I plan to do a pattern review with the awesome fabric I bought last month from my co-op fabric group.  I am supper e excited, I have wanted to make this outfit for a while now, I was just waiting to find the perfect fabric.  I will do the pattern review and probably add pictures of the process, maybe step by step also.  Or I may just do the pattern review and them a video of the step by step.  Ummm, which one would you like to see?

How to Add & Sell a Pattern on Craftsy
(This post contains affiliate links which means I will be compensated if you purchase after clicking these links.)

In addition to wonderful online courses and craft supplies, Craftsy also has an independent online pattern store that lets anyone upload and sell downloadable e-patterns with no fee!

How do you add a pattern to Craftsy and start your pattern store? It’s easy!

1. Make sure you have a Paypal account. All pattern transactions happen through Paypal, and Craftsy requires that you have a Student, Premier, or Business account in order to sell patterns.
2. Put your pattern in .pdf format. You can’t upload any patterns to the online pattern store unless they’re a .pdf file format, so if they’re currently saved as a Word doc, .jpg, or other file format, you must convert it to a .pdf before you upload it to Craftsy.
3. Include a photo. All patterns must have at least one photo to accompany them, but you can add up to five photos. Colorful, interesting photos tend to work the best for catching our members’ eyes!
4. Fill out the pattern description. We will ask you some basic questions around your pattern making it easier for Craftsy folk to find your pattern and know what your pattern is for. Make sure you have info about your pattern handy for this step.

For more information on how to sell a pattern through Craftsy, or to get started, visit Craftsy today!

Love and Shimmies,

P.S. This is another new love, making earrings, pendants and such! Oop-oop-a-doop!

Hump Day Humor!

Just a little midweek pick me up! Enjoy hon!

Love and shimmies,

Steph!!

Marvelous Monday - Review of DIY Skirt

Hello hon,

Today's MM is a review of the bed sheet full circle skirt by Nadira037 on her YouTube channel, she also has a blog site (check it out)!  Nadira's instructions on this dreamy skirt are easy to follow.  I made the first skirt with intensions of making it in a high low format.  Well, yeah, that didn't go so well and I had to cut the skirt to be a short circle skirt.  The skirt came out great but I was set on making the animal print one that Nadira made in her video.  Let me tell you I am soooo happy that I did.  It came out great and one of my favorite things about this tutorial is that she shows you how to make a wide band for the skirt and an elastic waistband if you prefer that instead.  With the wide waistband she shows you how to simply add a zipper.  I LOVE and made wide waistbands for both skirts.  I am so pleased with the outcome and intend to make several in different colors.  I also plan to use one for part of a belly dance costume in the future!! 

List of supplies I used for this video is a king size flat bed sheet (she got a microfiber set from Wal-Mart for $23.00.  The first skirt I made was short and that was a regular full size new sheet set I bought from a flea market.  The second skirt is the same set she used in the video [cheetah, oooohhhhhhh]), scissors, a 22 inch zipper (or whatever you have on hand, for the short one I only had one on hand and it was a different color and super long, lol), pellon (or stitchwitchery, that's what she had on hand at the time of the video), matching thread, pins, ruler, iron and board, pressing cloth, spray bottle with water.

Problems I had with the making this skirt: NONE!  It really was easy, I think a great beginner's project if you want to do a waistband other than elastic.  I love that I could make my band as large as a wanted to so I didn't get little (not-so) love handles (I'm working on 'em!) on the side from the elastic, lol.  Awesome sauce!!

Tutorial Review:

Pattern Description: Bed Sheet Full Circle Skirt from Nadira037 YouTube tutorial

Sheet Set Size: Full size flat sheet for the short one and King size flat sheet for the maxi one.  Like this one, there were cheetah and zebra print (I bought the zebra print after the cheetah print one came out so great) on the shelves of one of our local Wal-Marts, this is Main Stay (their brand I believe).

Did it look like the photo on the tutorial once you were done with it? Yes, perfect!

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, very clear and I was able to follow along with no problems.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved using the sheet set: 1) is was microfiber so very soft and flowy; 2) I got a lot more fabric than I ever could have if I had gone to the fabric store (I love you Jo-Anne's, really), especially for that cheetah print; 3) I now have the fitted sheet to  experiment on this design idea I have for a dress that is ruched on one side using the already gathered part of the fitted sheet; 4) I have a large pillow case which may be used later for a pencil skirt or clutch or tote bag; and finally, 5) a cute little carrying pouch to put other stuff in.  Score!!!!!

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I did not change the pattern but I did do my zipper differently.  I did it as an invisible zipper, because, well, I kinda ripped it out of some store bought garment and had refashioned the rest of the garment.  Only when I did the short version as it was all I had on hand, never mind it was a completely different color, lol, hence doing the invisible zipper technique.  For the maxi length I did do as she did in the video.

Would you sew it again? Already have plans to and the sheet set to do so!  Woot-Woot!!

Would you recommend it to others? I most certainly have and will continue to do so!!

I had planned to give you step by step pictures of how I did it.  But since I did not change anything I thought why read me doing it when you can do as I did and watch her in the part 1 and part 2 videos on her YouTube Channel. 

I will leave you with some great pictures of my prep and how I rocked my skirt in OOTD photo's below (again I took step by step pictures but will only show you a few since I am not doing a written explanation of what I did.  But I wanted you to see just how easy it was for me a novice to do it with no problems.)

These are the supplies that I used!

This sheet was HUGE, I had to take it off my cutting table and bring it into the kitchen.  If I had put it on the floor my doggie would have thought I was make him a wonderful new bed.

These are my dimensions for the skirt.

Yes I can see it now, woo-hoo!!

I had to cut the waist in inches and hold it up to me because  I din't want to end up cutting it too big since I was not using the elastic waistband.  Bad experience with something else so I was very parinoid, lol.

Folding and ironing the hem.

Waistband, I love the flat waistband!!

Zipper foot

This is what you have to work around and over when you cute the zipper too short, ugh!

Finished zipper!

 

The shorter version using a full size flat sheet 

AND

 I MADE this white circle top (also super easy, I may post a video on that if requested): 

I created a matching pendant and earring set for the cheetah maxi version and a cameo pendant to match the short version.

Super easy, took like 5 minutes to put the pieces together!

 Let me leave you with my favorite picture.

 The wind just happened to pick up at that moment, as if the say, "I agree, this is beautiful, let me help lift it up for you for all to see.  Steph you Rock (thanks to Nadira037's great tut)!

Love and Shimmies, 

P.S.  I also went over my seam allowance area with my serger because the fabric did like to fray way too much for my comfort, lol.  (next time I will do that before I sew the pieces together!!)