Some ladies love silks. Some ladies like satins. This lady loves her some upholstery fabrics. What can I say, I’m a lady of class and sophistication and I think my sewing record supports this. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Shorts made out of a curtain? Check!
Picnic blanket skirt? Check!
Cool tulip skirt made out of couch fabric? Check!
Yup. Couch fabric. In fact, SASSY couch fabric! I picked this pink and white chevron up at B&J Fabrics in New York for an absolute steal. As soon as I walked through the door I beelined for it (hello, pink and white and chunky is totes my kryptonite) and got two yards. Unfortunately, the white threads woven through to create the chevron were lame and created a number of flaws in the cloth so I ended up getting four yards at a discount so I could cut around the issues. Win!
It’s time for some real talk about this fabric. Don’t get me wrong, I do love it so and it looks fab finished up but getting there was painful. You see, gentle readers, some fabrics are jerks. You have lovely fabrics like cotton and jerseys that want to make your day easier. But then there are the jerks like silk and slubbed couch fabric that go out of their way to make your life a living hell. And that’s what this was. Those white threads that create the chevrons were committed to slipping out of the weave and ending up on my lap, the floor, the table, my machine and even at one stage on Bimble’s back. Yup. Those threads wanted out so bad they fled to my dog. That’s commitment to making my sewing life hard, I tell you! In the end I serged the edges of every piece to make life easier and it worked. Suck on that, cloth! Amanda: 1 Upholstery Fabric: 0
And let us celebrate this victory with the inclusion of the most hilarious photo I have ever been in. What the heck is up with this face? I call it “blue steel”…
BWAH HA HA! That seriously cracks me up. But I digress.
Let’s talk about what I liked about this pattern:
- The slash pockets. I really love how nicely they turned out. Especially when you consider I didn’t deliberately match any prints. Lazy win!
- How quick and simple this project was! All up this was a couple of hours with most of the time being taken with cutting the fabric and correcting a reversed zipper issue. Booyah!
- The pleats. I was super sceptical about these but I really like the way they sit. A little bit of floof but not in a “I’ve just eaten 17 loaves of bread and now have bread belly” way.
- I’m going to take the waistband in by an inch. It’s sitting okay but I would like to have it fit a little smoother.
- If I make a work version I’ll add another inch to the length. As it is I already added two inches to the length to get what I have now. I’m thinking this must be quite a short skirt normally… Or maybe I am totes an amazon… Scratch the first idea- amazon it is!
For once I have no idea what I’m sewing next… Crazy, I know! I’m off on a whirlwind visit to Melbourne tomorrow for the Harvest Festival on Saturday. And you know what that means? Fabric, husband time and cocktails. Epic. Win. This gal is jumping for joy!
Love it!! Super gorgeous print and it looks ace on you!
Thanks, Bells! I’m loving the fabric so much 😀
love the skirt, it looks great on you too! Well done for persevering with the painful fabric.
So cute! And now I have an urge to cover my couch in chevrons….
Adorable- you pick the right patterns for your upholstering everytime!
Thanks, Rach! It’s such a pity about the fabric flaws 🙁
Thanks, Suzanne! Give in to the couch chevrons… They’ll thank you for it! 😉
I’m a lady who can upholster like a boss, Annie! 🙂
Awesome, and yup your puns are great (as is the skirt!).
Ah yes Simplicity 2451 you defeated me and this is the second time I’ve been reminded this week. This pattern was one of my first attempts at a skirt and I picked the lamest fabric out there, (one of the jerks). To make a long story short it ended up in my ufo pile. But since I’ve been reminded of it twice I may have to pick it up again. Your skirt is lovely!!
bloody fabulous – as usual!
Love this! I’m jealous of that fabric, even if it was a biotch to work with.
girl, you whipped that fabric into submission! Such a great job!! It looks fabulous & really excellent fit! Two thumbs up!!
Btw, your blue steel is very similar to the best of my facial expressions in photos…. trust me, you do NOT want to see the worst lol
Thanks, Vicki Kate!
Shanni, I have to share a secret. I made the world’s most hideous Muslim of this. It made me sad. But somehow this worked… You can do it!
Thanks, Ms Lizzy 🙂
Couch fabric from hell makes fantastic skirts-
This is something I’ve now learnt, Shona!
I say we own our blue steel, Symon!
its the end result that counts, right? Now just forget all the pain of the fabric 🙂
I love your puns, your couch fabric skirt and your awesome jumping action shots! If I start saying “totes”, I’m blaming you
Oooh likey likey!!
Ooooh, sweeey cheesus, this fabric is delicious. I’ve only made this skirt once and must remedy that post baby. Your version is truly gorgeous. You look gorgeous in blush pink!
Cute cute skirt! That shedding couch fabric was totally worth the time, because the resulting chevrons are totally awesome! Love the blue steel face, too.
It so is, Ellen! I can’t wait for the weather to warm up again to own this weekend wise!
Totes give in to jumping! You know you want to 😉
Thanks, Zo!
Thanks, Mela! It’s so lovely and easy 🙂 I’m on a pink fabric binge at the moment so there will be more to come!
Thanks, Cindy! I’m so happy I have a couple of yards left over to try something else. And have another opportunity to use blue steel! 😉
This totally rocks xx
Code name: Amazon Blue Steel.
Wicked.
Thanks, Rach!
Love it, Sabs!
Can I just say you make my day? I think I need to get back into sewing clothes so I can do jumping shots in your honour. The skirt looks fantastic, you kicked that upholstery fabric’s butt big time!
Awww, thanks Mimz! Give in to the clothes sewing and the crazy jumping photos will follow easily! 😀
Super cute final product! The fabric made all the difference. I’ve just finished the muslin for this pattern and I’m not totally happy. Then again it was my very first project. Will try again this week. Seing your just made me even more determined to conquer it. Submit 2451, SUBMIT I say!;-)
You can do it!!! I made a muslin that was pretty fug so cut the skirt fresh again to try and it worked much better. You will totes own this 🙂
I love that you used upholstery fabric. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that!
Reallllllllly cute! I love this on you! Every time I see a version of this pattern I want one of these skirts so bad!
Great make, suits you perfectly!
PS Jumping is cool!!
Thanks, Madalynne! I am owning it!
Thanks, Ginger! Give in to the pattern- I’m sure you would look rad in it!
Jumping makes EVERYTHING cool, Sylk 😀 You know you want to try it… 😉
Love it! I do like tulip skirts, and yours is a fantastic example. Loving the pink and white chevrons, you rock that skirt!
Thanks, Tors! This is my first tulip skirt and I am a total convert 😀