I was tired of admitting that I am just a beginner sewer. I couldn’t sew a proper zipper, or a button hole correctly and I wanted to fix that. My goal last week was to finally conquer a tissue paper pattern and an invisible zipper. And I did!
Of course…leave it up to me to be scared of even just the easy 2 hour tissue paper pattern. :)
Well here’s the thing I got it from DI so it had missing pieces. Actually it was mostly missing (should have checked before buying it!). I had to redraft the waistband which I made wider anyway, and the back piece because there wasn’t one. But it worked!
I tried my hand at darts again too.
And the zipper is not so invisible I guess…but at least it works {last time I tried one it just broke}. It’s yellow because I was afraid that if I bought a special zipper for this skirt I would be extra bummed if it failed. I have a bag full of randomly colored invisible zippers from a yard sale. Yellow was close enough and ahem…it IS supposed to be invisible right? :)
And I know I need to add a little eye and hook to the top. But, for now I am happy with it.
I still wore it anyway. A cardigan disguised the yellow zipper and the missing hook quite nicely. I also finally got my sewing machine manual out and learned how to do a blind stitched hem on my machine. That’s how I finished off the bottom and the slit in the back.
And the skinny belt? Fifty cents at the thrift store! Whoo hoo.
The shoes are $4 from D.I. I usually like to shop at DI but there are smaller thrift stores around town that are cropping up that offer much better prices. It’s where I got the 25 cent leather jacket from last week too.
So…no tutorial today. But I hope to include zippers in my project much more from now on.
Click here for a great video tutorial for sewing an invisible zipper from Grosgrain.
Hope you’re having a great day!
You did an awesome job! I really don't mind the yellow zipper. I think it's kinda a cute design element.
This is UH-MAZE-ING, you did an absolutely fantastic job! You are deliciously classy.
Great job! And what is the deal with the prices at DI lately. Last week I spotted a pair of jeans for $50 and Saturday a dresser for $450. It's not thrifting if you are paying full price!
I agree with Katie you are classy!
I think you did great! My goal is also to sew for me soon and pencil skirt is my favorite kind of skirt I think I will try to find a pattern and try it! You did a great job.
I actually really like the yellow zipper. It gives the skirt a little special touch.
You did so good! The skirt looks amazing on you. Sometimes you just have to dive in :)
Taylor
I think you did a great job. I love pencil skirts. I also need to master the sewing of a zipper.
GREAT JOB! I dig the yellow zipper of which I cannot see, because it is in fact invisible! I'm a chicken and am too afraid to learn to REALLY sew. Lame I know. Maybe I need a cute friend to teach me? Wink wink.
I agree, I love it that the zipper is yellow. Yellow black and white is just uber-cool.
You did GREAT and I LOVE the yellow zipper! I have a pattern for a cute pencil skirt just waiting for me–maybe this will spur the project on.
And I think it's totally fine to not have tutorials! People still appreciate a good project when they see one!
It looks so nice! You did such a great job, and I'm afraid of zippers too!
I think you have totally proven you can sew! I think your skirt is super cute! I love it! :)
Nice first tissue paper pattern job! :) I usually shy away from the packaged patterns because they can be so confusing and non-discript (for us beginners). I much more prefer the .pdf I can find online :) Great job on the pencil skirt!
To have an invisible zipper truly come out 'invisible', you must use an invisible zipper foot. I was skeptical, and tried it many times with a regular zipper foot, and it never worked. I broke down and spent the $20something for the special foot, and HOLY CRAP. Amazing! It comes out right every time! I started making pillow covers like a crazy person. I could do it in my sleep now.
Really cute! What thrift store are you talking about?
its official, you are no longer a beginning sewer! amazing job!
i love the look of your outfit. very put together. classy is the word. great job done on the skirt! :)
Skirt looks fab, well done!
Bee happy x
Have a delicious day!
You are beautiful! And so is that skirt. Good job. I am still hesitant of zippers, but you did very well! Love the photos.
i love your skirt. i kind of feel the same way about sewing so you've really encouraged me. of course, right now i have a six week old baby so i'm not getting too much sewing done at the moment…
Can I just say I love the yellow zipper here, it's cute and flirty without being over the top and sleazy. Plus, it just adds a little something fun to a beautiful skirt. Lovely! I'd love for you to come and visit my blog some time, http://www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com
i like the whole skirt plus the print of the skirt makes it so elegant.
The skirt is AMAZING! When you need dress clothes so often I get tired of rotating through all my church clothes. You are also a great DI-er I never find anything I like/want.
oh my gosh GORGEOUS! great job!!! zippers are the worst aren't they!!! i finally had my friend teach me a couple tricks and they are SO easy to do now, i used to avoid a zipper at all costs and now i sort of love them!
~selina
So stylish and pretty. That skirt looks so good on you!!
Marvelously done! I love the yellow zipper (very Seth Aaron Henderson) and you look so vintage chic in the skirt. You've inspired me to (gulp) try my hand at another zipper. Thanks! :)