• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • BLOG
  • TUTORIALS
    • Free Patterns
    • Free Printables
    • SEWING
      • Technique
    • CRAFTS
      • Printables
    • CROCHET
    • Baby
    • KIDS
      • Boys
      • Girls
      • KIDS CREATE
      • Lego
      • Parenting
    • Women
    • Men
    • Holiday Projects
      • Birthday
      • Valentine’s Day
      • Easter
      • Spring
      • Mother’s Day
      • Father’s Day
      • Summer
        • Color Your Summer 1
        • Color Your Summer 2
        • Color Your Summer 3
      • Halloween
      • Autumn
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
      • Winter
    • Accessories
    • Home Projects
    • No Sew
    • Gift Ideas
      • Teacher Appreciation
    • Party Ideas
    • Photography
    • RECIPES
      • Allergy Friendly
      • Baking
      • Sweet
      • Savory
      • Beverage
      • Breakfast
      • Holiday
      • Soups
      • Vegan
  • SHOP
    • SHOP
    • Cart
    • ACCOUNT
  • ABOUT
    • CONTACT
    • Featured
  • SPONSOR
    • PRESS
  • Privacy Policy
  • TERMS OF USE

delia creates

Uncategorized · March 28, 2011

Pencil Skirt

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!

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

Reader Interactions

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 🙂

    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! 🙂

    Reply
  13. April and Holly says

    March 29, 2011 at 1:11 AM

    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!

    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! 🙂

    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! 🙂

    Reply

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.

Primary Sidebar

Search this site:

Reader Perks

Reader Perks

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

All Images On This Site Are Protected By Copyright

You may not use any images from this site unless you meet one or more of these requirements: 1) You receive permission in writing from Delia Randall for each specific image you would like to use. 2) You use ONE image in a round up or feature post with a link back to the appropriate post or the main site for credit and for full posts/tutorials. Thank you!

Archives

Search This Site:

© 2022 delia creates · Design By Bloom