Monday 17 September 2012

Pintucked Skirt...


This month I'm taking part in the Fab Folds Challenge, hosted by Rikka, from Ricochet and Away. The challenge, this month, is to sew something that incorporates either pleatspintucks or smocking


Earlier this month, I refashioned a man's shirt into a little girl's skirt. The front of the shirt featured rows of pintucks in different coloured threads. This really appealed to me, so I thought I'd try pintucks on a skirt for the challenge.

Although I'd never sewn pintucks, I knew what they were, I could see the process in my head and I was fairly sure they'd be easy to sew. A quick Google search confirmed this.

Yes, they were easy to sew, but they were not as easy to measure as I'd thought. I often eyeball things when I'm sewing, but pintucks require accuracy and eyeballing produced wonky pintucks, that were not equidistant. Thankfully, this was very obvious when I was just at the pinning stage. Once I did the Maths using rulers, everything fell into place.


It's a little hard to see, due to the fullness in the skirt, but I've done ten rows of pintucks in alternating light and dark blue threads, with the same on the back. Initially, I made the pintucks 1/8", but decided I wanted them even smaller, so I went with 1/16", to give the look I was after.


And here's the back view.

This would have to be the earliest I have ever finished a challenge. Normally, I change my mind a million times, procrastinate and end up finishing at the 11th hour, but this time I've finished half way through the month!!!

If you would like to join the challenge, it's not too late. All the details are on the Fab Folds Challenge home page. There's a Pinterest board for inspiration and an active discussion group.

Fab Folds Sewing Challenge

Thanks, Rikka, for hosting yet another fun challenge!!!


I'm linking my pintucked skirt up to Wendy's Learn A New Technique Linky and to our Skirts for Girls Link Party. I took step by step photos, so stay tuned for a tutorial...


... Pam

Edited to add: To answer a question as to how time consuming this skirt was to make, the pintucks were very time consuming. Making the pintucks took as long as everything else involved in making the rest of the skirt, for several reasons:
  1. It was my first time making pintucks.
  2. Doing the Maths initially to know how much the pintucks would take off the width of the fabric.
  3. Deciding on the width between the pintucks. I tried MANY variations till I was happy.
  4. Deciding on the size of the pintucks.
  5. Working out a way that was easy to mark the pintucks and make sure they were lined up and squared on the fabric.
  6. Because the pintucks ended up in the middle of the skirt and I was using coloured thread, I didn't want to backstitch to secure the thread, so I threaded all the ends to the back of the fabric, knotted them, then threaded them through the pintuck to hide them. This part took for ever!!!
Next time I'll be much faster and there will definitely be a next time. I'm hooked.

24 comments:

  1. Pam, the skirt is adorable! I love it, the fabric, the bow and of course the pintucks!

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  2. You never fail to amaze me. This is so cute!

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  3. Very cute skirt. I love that coral-pink color you chose. The pintucks look perfect too. Great work Pam!

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  4. Super cute! I love pintucks, they make everything so pretty and feminine. Thanks so much for linking up at Etcetorize this week!

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  5. E' bellissima! Mi piace il fiocco che richiama la balza e poi il colore rosa! Adorabile!
    Baci Federica

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  6. Adorable skirt! The pintucks are very sweet too. I have never tried pintucks. Just read about them recently though. Not sure if I can handle them just yet. All I did recently was a tshirt resize. I will get there someday!

    Take care,
    Dee

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  7. Cute skirt! I like how you used contrasting thread for the pintucks.

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  8. Awesome! I'm with Cindy in the previous comment, I would have never considered using a contrasting colored thread. I think it was a great idea, adding a bit more fun to a pretty little skirt. Kudos for finishing with plenty of time to spare!!!!

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  9. Such a gorgeous skirt Pam! I live the fabric choices. I've never sewn pin tucks before but I reall like the look they give.

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  10. It looks lovely! Was it really time consuming though?

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  11. This skirt is beautiful Pam! Wow awesome job on those pin tucks. I especially love that little bow.

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  12. Great skirt Pam, good luck in the challenge and well done for getting it done so quickly despite the Maths delay!

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  13. Pam,I love your blog, you do not just give us a lot of tutorials but fabulous links.
    I love the project with which you are going to participate in this Fab Folds Challenge. I went to look at the site and is very interesting, looking at the challenge, made ​​me want to participate, but before signing up, I have to think what I could do and if I have time before the 30th of this month to complete. Your pintucked Skirt ... is just beautiful, I love it. Thanks for sharing, Marisa.

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  14. Love the added embellishment on the gathering. It really has a lovely visual impact.

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  15. The skirt is adorable! I'm pinning it though I doubt I have the skill or patience to create one as cute as yours.

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    1. Thanks for pinning! I'd love to see it if you make one.

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  16. I love the colors you used on that skirt! It came out beautifully!

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  17. Oh, this is so cute, I know my daughter would love it!

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  18. Congrats on finishing the challenge so early Pam! Great skirt! I've never tried pintucks before - shall have to have a go sometime!


    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  19. Oh! That's so sweet! Such pretty colours too :)

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  20. Cute skirt! And you did a great job with the pin tucks. Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!

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  21. What a lovely and cute skirt!:)

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  22. This is such a pretty little skirt, love the little bow detail.

    Sita & Radha xx
    http://buttonsapart.blogspot.co.uk/

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  23. gorgeous! thanks so much for sharing on Craft schooling Sunday!

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