On Wednesday evening Julia got inducted into the Beta Club. This was a great honor and means all of her hard work and good attitude have been noticed by others. While we know she is a great young woman, it is nice to see her rewarded like this.
She wore a “new” outfit that night. I put the word new in quotes because I actually purchased the outfit at the Goodwill. I found the shirt and skirt in separate parts of the store, but they looked like they were meant to be worn together even though they were made by different companies.
When I picked up the skirt I knew it was going to be way too big for Julia and that the style was kind of weird. That didn’t deter me since I knew I could probably figure out a way to alter it.
I cut the bottom off of the skirt and tried to make it straight. This was no easy task since it has some crazy seams and panels. I then folded the bottom under twice to form a very narrow hem which I stitched in place.
To deal with the waistline that was too big and had a zipper, I used the lining of the skirt to my advantage. I simply cut a small hole on either side of the zipper near the top . Then I stitched a seam all the way around to form a casing for the elastic. I threaded the elastic through using a safety pin and stitched it in place with a zig-zag stitch.
I think you can see that the elastic made the waist narrower and that the hem is a little more “normal”. Thanks to knowing how to sew I was able to give my daughter a “new” outfit for less than $5.
Knowing how to sew so that I can mend clothes and make things for my home has been such a blessing. If you don’t know how to sew, or if you have a sewing machine but don’t know exactly what to do with it, you can now take a free online sewing class called Sewing Machine 911 from Craftsy.
Here’s what the folks at Craftsy have to say about the class.
Become a Sewing Machine Master for Free! Learn how to handle your sewing machine with the brand new, free, online Craftsy class, Sewing Machine 911, taught by Claudia Miller, sewing machine MD. In this class, learn how to diagnose your machine’s symptoms and how to easily fix the most common issues, including jammed machines, top thread breaks, needle breaks, and more. Claudia also explains the basic parts and functions of every machine. Whether your machine is still in the box, you’re working on a hand-me-down, or even if you’re an experienced sewist who still struggles with tension, this is the class for you! Plus, it’s free, so there’s nothing to lose. Sign up for Sewing Machine 911 now!
I’m all signed up and ready to watch the first video. Even though I have been sewing for years I am sure there is plenty I can learn. Do you sew?
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