PARTS 3 & 4-FELTING APPLIQUED NO PATTERN, LINED SKIRT & TOP SERIES

My couture designs for housecleaning-oh, sure!

Here are parts 3 & 4 in the series for the "Felted Applique, No Pattern, Lined Skirt & Top".

The no pattern, self lined skirt was completed in Parts 1 & 2. Take your measurements according to directions in parts 1 & 2 to make your skirt.

A cream colored t-shirt knit is used for the outfit. The top was cut from a pattern that I have had and used for several pieces for quite a few years. I seem to wear the same thing all the time, just in different colors. 

 Appliques on both the skirt and top have been felted on with felting machine, then thread work done to highlight the motifs which were fussy cut from a floral fabric. After all embellishments were done, the pieces were sewn together and finish work done. 

If you would like more pizzaz, add hot set beads, glitter paints or whatever suits your fancy.  

You can see the following videos with tips and instructions on FaveCrafts.com. For all free videos, tutorials and patterns on many crafts and artistry, join us online at: http://favecrafts.com/. You will find crochet, knitting, needlework, kids crafts, beadwork, jewelry making and so much more that you just can't even imagine.

PART 3-EMBELLISHING YOUR TOP

PART 4-FINISHING YOUR TOP

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This is a different vein altogether but it still has to do with homemaking, craftsmanship, or however you want to put it. From time to time I will be sharing some of my favorite recipes that are quick, allow me to craft longer and still make me look good.

You will notice that most of them run in the same categories:chocolate, peanut butter and quick.

Grandson, Travis, was just in over the weekend from college and requested one of his favorites. Since it is so simple, I thought you might benefit from having the recipe. Now hang on to your seats, or your scissors, machine, glues, fabric or whatever it is you are holding onto-here is a recipe for the easiest [even easier than a mix], quickest, really good-peanut butter cookie recipe. 

you  will need:

1 cup of peanut butter

1 cup of sugar

1 egg

HONEST! THAT IS IT!

Mix all together in a bowl

drop by small spoonful onto greased cookie sheet, crisscross with fork, bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes

I have also made peanut blossoms by placing Hershey kisses onto each as they come out of oven-in fact that is how Trav wanted his.

Kids love 'em, they make the house smell great and only take a few minutes.

Happy Homemaking from

Carolyn Wainscott

the quilting granny

PARTS 1 & 2-FELTED APPLIQUE NO PATTERN, LINED SKIRT & MATCHING TOP

This skirt can be made in any length you wish and is simple and quick enough that I used to get up an hour or so early to make one to wear out the door that day. Of course, they were just plain, not embellished as shown.

 This skirt is made the length that I wear which is to the ankle.

The self-lined skirt is formed by sewing fabric into a long tube, folding wrong sides together, matching seams and waist edges-fold will be bottom of skirt.  

Appliques were applied before sewing skirt.

Choose the length and fabric you wish to wear and lets get started. My skirts take less than 2 1/2 yards. I have used my top pattern for several years and it takes just over a yard in this wide fabric.

Elastic in the width you like and sewing tools are the only additional things you need plus optional trims, appliques if you choose to embellish.

I use t-shirt knits for several reasons:

-it comes in a 58"-60" width so it fits hip measurements up to that width and I am not that big yet so I am still safe for a while

- it is comfortable and easy to wear

-it washes well

-it is fairly easy to work with if reasonable care is taken not to stretch while sewing

-it is economical, especially when I catch it on sale  [I have paid as little as $1 per yard-I'll take a $3.50 outfit any day! that is what the one pictured cost]

-Only three measurements need to be taken-

1. waist, then subtract 4"-5" for elastic length [or what is comfortable for you}

2. hip at widest, add 1" for seam allowance, add 3" for comfort [or what is comfortable for you]

3. from waist to desired length, add 1/2" for seam allowance, add width of elastic

double the total of these 3 measurements

[my chosen length is 37" + 1/2" + 1 1/2" [elastic] = 39" x 2 = 72"]

[by hip " [no, I'm not tellin'] ok-45" + 1" + 3"=49"]

so my skirt panel was cut 49" x 72" to include self lining

>watch videos for more information<

-to form skirt tube-

1. fold panel in half lengthwise, right sides together

2. fold this in half of width [bottom of skirt], matching skirt waist edge to lining waist edge

3. from skirt bottom fold-measure  9" on each side, mark with pins 

4. to sew tube:skirt-sew from top of waist edge to pin marking slit, skip to pin marking slit on lining, sew to within 2" of top of waist

in photo below-fabric folded back at bottom of skirt alongside ruler, elastic at waist edge, tube will be sewn alongside tape measure-down one side, up the other.  

Fold tube, wrong sides together, matching seams and waist edges.

To form casing for elastic:

1. waist edges of skirt & lining-fold to inside 1/2" all around, pin together

2. topstitch or serge together

3. sew parallel seam width of elastic all around to finish casing

4. insert elastic in opening left in lining seam

5. finish slit at skirt bottom by turning in 1/2" and topstitching.

The following videos give tips to create the skirt in "The Felted Applique No Pattern, Lined Skirt & Top Series".  

You can see these and other videos on FaveCraft.com. Join us online at: http://favecrafts.com/ for free tutorials and patterns in:crochet, knitting, beadwork, scrapbooking, kids crafts, jewelry making, needlework and much, much more.   

PART 1-EMBELLISHING SKIRT

PART 2-FINISHING SKIRT

                                                  

Happy sewing and I hope this has been of help to you. 

Carolyn Wainscott

the quilting granny