• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
delia creates
  • FREE TUTORIALS & PATTERNS
  • SHOP
    • SHOP
    • Cart
    • ACCOUNT
    • Refund, Returns, and Shipping Policies
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT
    • Privacy Policy
    • TERMS OF USE
    • PRESS
    • Featured
  • HOME
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
X
delia creates
  • FREE TUTORIALS & PATTERNS
  • SHOP
    • SHOP
    • Cart
    • ACCOUNT
    • Refund, Returns, and Shipping Policies
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT
    • Privacy Policy
    • TERMS OF USE
    • PRESS
    • Featured
  • HOME
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
delia creates

delia creates

  • FREE TUTORIALS & PATTERNS
  • SHOP
    • SHOP
    • Cart
    • ACCOUNT
    • Refund, Returns, and Shipping Policies
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT
    • Privacy Policy
    • TERMS OF USE
    • PRESS
    • Featured
  • HOME
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Pencil Skirt

March 28, 2011 · Delia 26 Comments

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. 馃檪

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? 馃檪

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.聽 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!

Uncategorized

Previous Post: « Leather Accessories
Next Post: Creamy Yogurt Pancakes »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. jdavissquared says

    March 28, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    You did an awesome job! I really don't mind the yellow zipper. I think it's kinda a cute design element.

    Reply
  2. Katie says

    March 28, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    This is UH-MAZE-ING, you did an absolutely fantastic job! You are deliciously classy.

    Reply
  3. Nikkala says

    March 28, 2011 at 6:04 PM

    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!

    Reply
  4. J A C Q U E L I N E says

    March 28, 2011 at 6:20 PM

    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.

    Reply
  5. Lisa says

    March 28, 2011 at 6:41 PM

    I actually really like the yellow zipper. It gives the skirt a little special touch.

    Reply
  6. MaryJanes and Galoshes says

    March 28, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    You did so good! The skirt looks amazing on you. Sometimes you just have to dive in 馃檪

    Taylor

    Reply
  7. Twin Inspiration says

    March 28, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    I think you did a great job. I love pencil skirts. I also need to master the sewing of a zipper.

    Reply
  8. The Miller Five says

    March 28, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    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.

    Reply
  9. Jessica says

    March 28, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    I agree, I love it that the zipper is yellow. Yellow black and white is just uber-cool.

    Reply
  10. Christie @ A Lemon Squeezy Home says

    March 28, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    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!

    Reply
  11. Kayla says

    March 28, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    It looks so nice! You did such a great job, and I'm afraid of zippers too!

    Reply
  12. Tori says

    March 28, 2011 at 10:37 PM

    I think you have totally proven you can sew! I think your skirt is super cute! I love it! 馃檪

    Reply
  13. April and Holly says

    March 29, 2011 at 1:11 AM

    Nice first tissue paper pattern job! 馃檪 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 馃檪 Great job on the pencil skirt!

    Reply
  14. Ariana says

    March 29, 2011 at 1:17 AM

    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.

    Reply
  15. Courtney Kearns says

    March 29, 2011 at 1:51 AM

    Really cute! What thrift store are you talking about?

    Reply
  16. Rach H says

    March 29, 2011 at 3:34 AM

    its official, you are no longer a beginning sewer! amazing job!

    Reply
  17. Fiona says

    March 29, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    i love the look of your outfit. very put together. classy is the word. great job done on the skirt! 馃檪

    Reply
  18. Bee happy says

    March 29, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    Skirt looks fab, well done!

    Bee happy x
    Have a delicious day!

    Reply
  19. TJ says

    March 29, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    You are beautiful! And so is that skirt. Good job. I am still hesitant of zippers, but you did very well! Love the photos.

    Reply
  20. bellefourche says

    March 29, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    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…

    Reply
  21. Jen says

    March 29, 2011 at 11:11 PM

    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

    Reply
  22. Ai says

    March 30, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    i like the whole skirt plus the print of the skirt makes it so elegant.

    Reply
  23. Zac & Chelsea says

    April 1, 2011 at 12:43 AM

    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.

    Reply
  24. sisters4saymoreismore says

    April 2, 2011 at 5:31 AM

    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

    Reply
  25. Kaylyn says

    April 3, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    So stylish and pretty. That skirt looks so good on you!!

    Reply
  26. Natalie says

    April 14, 2011 at 9:47 PM

    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! 馃檪

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

FEATURED POSTS

Granny Square Tote - free crochet pattern and video tutorial // www.deliacreates.com

Granny Square Tote – free crochet pattern

Summer Mesh Sweater - Free Crochet Pattern SIZES XXS-XXL // www.deliacreates.com

Summer Mesh Sweater – Free Crochet Pattern Sizes XXS-XXL

Jute Mesh Tote – Free Crochet Pattern

Basic Easter Basket - Free Crochet Pattern and Tutorial // www.deliacreates.com

Basic Crochet Easter Basket – Free Pattern

Footer

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

漏 Delia Creates, LLC 2010-2025. All Rights Reserved.

All content on this website is copyrighted. Please contact the copyright owner for permission to use any photos, templates, patterns, tutorials and content at [email protected].

Categories

  • FREE TUTORIALS & PATTERNS
  • SHOP
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • HOME

Copyright © 2025 路 Recipe Blogger Theme 路 Genesis Framework 路 Privacy Policy 路 WordPress 路 Log in