Big square block of fabric finally became big round circle skirt

[Teamama]

I used to work for a church national office, and after a mission exposure trip to India my boss brought back a HUGE piece of absolutely beautiful hand block-stamped fabric that she picked up for a smile in India.

Needless to say I was overwhelmed by such a gift and then overwhelmed by a BIG, SQUARE piece of fabric. The fabric was square, the print was square... square square square... so naturally I kept thinking I needed to make something square out of it because I didn't want to waste it or lose the wonderful printing etc etc etc.

So it sat in my pile of fabric. For 5 years.

Well, I haven't worked there for over 2 years now, and I finally decided that I wasn't going to make something square out of it. It was, in fact, begging to be made into a circle skirt.

So I sat down, I folded it up and I cut a circle out of the fabric. Okay, okay - I made the hubs cut the circle (it's out of my hands that way - ha ha). And then I got to sewing. I fussy cut a waistband out of one of the surplus edges of fabric and I put in a zipper and I sewed and sewed. And then I realized that not only did it need to be a circle skirt, but it needed to have a hand ruffled hem. (Did I mention that I don't always think things through?)

After cutting strips of fabric, and then painstakingly hand ruffling and pinning down around the edge of the skirt, and sewing that on... then I started hemming the ruffle.
About halfway through the 300+ inches of hemline on that sucker I stopped, rolled my shoulders and said to the hubs: "Next time I say I'm going to sew a circle skirt, just remind me of this, okay?" . And then I toughed it out.

And here it is! In all it's glory. I kind of like how the big square pattern has become sort of funky and assymetrical, while not losing any of the wonderful qualities and unique bits and pieces that come from the hand stamped process.

Let me know what you think!

Me, wearing the skirt. Making a face at the hubs, taking the pic.


The pattern and the ruffle. And the face that says "Have you taken the damn pic yet or what?!"


hand ruffled 318in.


C&C Welcome and greatly appreciated!

Tea.

[beth8144]

This is so adorable I love the ruffle and it is tottaly worth all the time you put into it.

[that1spazticchik]

What beautiful fabric! I love the end result, I think the hard work payed off!

[theatreorchid]

Oooooh, I love it.  The ruffle was definitely worth the pain, because it really ties the skirt together and makes it look marvelous!

[creepy]

i love that the pattern is square and comes out asymmetrical- it is really striking and pretty.

[Teamama]

Thanks everyone. I'll admit, every time I wear it I think "it was worth it"... but boy oh boy it was a lot of hemming!

I too love that the square pattern came out so asymmetrical. It adds a bit of off-kilter to an otherwise 'sweet' style of skirt, and that appeals to me.

Tea.

[LRShimer]

What? You only stashed the material for five years? You know, it's not fully ripe for 15 and 20 is better.

Excellent design and sewing job, and I agree about the importance of the ruffle.

Where do you plan to wear it?

LRShimer

[trisarose]

I just love how the square pattern works into the skirt....makes me want to go out and try to find some square fabric of my own!

[smalaska]

This is lovely!

[Lille]

This is a great skirt! The fact that it's asymmetrical just adds to the general awesomeness and originality of it. Job well done!