Sweet Summer Sky Blue Polka Dot Skirt!

I've been sewing quite a bit lately, so I'll have to update this blog a bit more frequently! In the past few weeks I've sewn (and screen printed) a tank top, two pairs of underwear (my first time making panties!) and this skirt.

I absolutely love this skirt! I modeled the pattern off a skirt I've owned and worn forever but which is slightly small for me. It's a 4-panel gored A-line skirt with an elastic waistband.

The fabric is a sturdy but light knit with little white dots on a blue background. The outside is textured, almost like sportswear mesh, but the inside is very, very soft.

I serged the seams and waistband, and topstiched the hem with a twin needle.

This is the best hem I have ever sewn, and I'm pretty proud! I serged the raw hem edge, using differential feed to slightly gather in the hem. Then I pressed the hem up half an inch and pinned all the way around. The differential feed (and the knit fabric) helped with any puckering issues involved with turning a circular hem inward. I used a seam guide to keep my stitches a consistent distance from the seam edge, and topstitched with a twin needle. The zig-zag back side of the twin needle stitch fell right on top of the serged edge, hiding the stitch.

A little gust of wind and the evening sun make for a sweet breezy candid shot!

Completed: Floral Spring Dress & Scoop-Neck Tee

So I need to get into the habit of updating this blog more often!

I bought a new sewing machine a couple months ago, and since then have been sewing regularly, but I keep forgetting to take photos and put them up here. I will try to be better!

One of my latest completed projects is this floral spring dress. 

I drafted the pattern myself, but I'd definitely change a few things now that it's completed. I will add more negative ease for this type of fabric (a floral print fairly thin jersey knit) because I really had to take it in a few times, and I had to put in a bust dart! and I don't love the gathers at the front (from the side they kind of poof out, and I prefer a smoother silhouette).

Overall, though, I'm happy with the result. I like the longish, loose sleeves and I love the print. What do you think?

I also used the leftover fabric from the dress to make a scoop-neck tee shirt, which I love. No darts needed this time, since I learned my lesson about negative ease when making the dress!