So…it’s probably no secret that I like stripes. No, I should say LOVE. I love stripes.
In preparation for a sun dress guest post I’m doing for iCandy Handmade – coming later this week! – I experimented with a few ideas.
This was my first one.
Umm…sigh.
I was using T-shirts I had on hand so I had limited knit. I just loved that gray so much and had to use it. Mistake. I forced it and it ended up looking like I just didn’t know how to gather fabric properly. Plus there were obvious T-shirt seams throughout that looked pretty tacky.
I even made the tank top part of the dress from scratch. I was being a bit too ambitious. I plan on cutting it up and salvaging what I can. But this dress is not going to be worn. Nope.
So then I tried again with this black and white knit. I had ample black knit and plenty of white so it was smoother sewing. I also didn’t try gathering the strips.
I attached it to a black shirt at first. Well…to be honest. It made me look like an over-sized five year old. Just wrong. The skirt tugged on the shirt and it hung in such a way that made it look very juvenile.
So I cut off the shirt and added 3 inch elastic. :) MUCH better!
I love it now. It’s bold to be sure, but very comfortable.
But this isn’t my sun dress. Obviously…it’s a skirt not a dress.
So, I made a third dress, which is actually 3 dresses and not striped. But more about that later…
See you on Wednesday! :)
Delia – I LOVE that dress. I also love that your shared your attempts too. It was worth it. That dress is absolutely darling – especially on you!
Cheri
It looks so classy and it's comfy too! Love it, I may have to make myself one ;)
Thank you!
What a great dress! It looks like you could easily 'glam' it up for a night out or wear 'casual' like in your photo.
I love the skirt! It is striking and beautiful! And very flattering :)
Sarah @ This Crazy Blessed Life
I LOVE this!! (I wish I could type LOVE bigger!) My latest attempts at making clothes for myself have been complete failures….grrr. I love wearing knits! I will have to get over my failure complex and find some knit to try this! Thanks for the inspiration!!
Amanda @ PandiolaLane.blogspot.com
Delia, I love it. I have a bunch of black and white knit, so I might be copying you soon. Of course I don't have a cute little body like you so we'll see.
Its a bold skirt, but its so pretty! It looks like something I'd wear out anywhere.
I love the skirt so much! It looks great!
Wow Delia! I love it! I love how the black stripes are smaller than the white. Very classy. Great job!
This is lovely! I love your finished product… but it's also nice (sorry) to see your mistakes. I thoroughly enjoy looking at crafty blogs, but I always feel you all get it right the first time. :) Thanks for your honesty!
cuuute!!
SO cute. I love the stripes-especially the wide one at the bottom. Elastic waists are always good. I really hope that look doesn't go out of style any time soon. I love it so much.
I love it Delia!!! You are always making the cutest stuff!:) really great job!
LOVE the vintage "Mad Men" look of this!! Great job!!!
Thank you for posting a NON-successful endeavor. I always assume other people have only success, whereas I fail quite often. It's nice to know even a crafty diva like you can have bad moments!
Also, I LOVE that black/white skirt! You look gorgeous!
I love your blog. Can you please teach me to sew?
serioulsy adorable…you and the skirt. I spent about two hours last night searching for the perfect stripe knit for a skirt I want to make. I settled and now I'm totally regretting it. I love taht wide stripe you used, where did you get it?
wow that striped dress you made is just my style! great job!
Laura
Born To Be Styled
Oh i love it! Very chic on you! And I like the varied widths on the stripes
I really like this skirt! It is so cute! Would you be able to give us some measurements for it? The size of stripes etc… It is just so pretty and I would love to make my own…
So inspiring, this has been on my mind and the other week I made a maxi skirt with the thick elastic like this, so thank you its now a fave item in my wardrobe. You can see it on http://sassyssanity.blogspot.com/
and hopefully the link back to your stripy number will inspire even more people x x thanks sassy
Skirt perfection. Love the black and white and different sized stripes!
Hello!
I just started my own handycraft blog (bastelschaf.wordpress.com) and browsed around to see what other bloggers do. Found this post and love the skirt!
Could you send me some more info on the pattern? Would like to re-create it.
And also I could share your post with my (so far very few) German readers.
Email would be: wei-ling@gmx.de
Thanks a lot in advance!!!
Hi Bastelschaf!
Thank you! Yes. This tutorial should help you. I just pieced the stripes together first and then assembled the skirt the same way I did here: http://www.deliacreates.com/2012/06/green-easy-mommy-skirt.html