First Madame Zsazsa Skirt

So there is a craze here (so it seems) with Madame Zsazsa-style skirts. She recently wrote a book called Allemaal Rokjes (Everyone Skirts). They are normally colorful, creative and sort-of retro style. 

Mostly very simple patterns, but if you buy something like it in a store, they are PRICEY.  Some I like, some not. I said some for adults kind of remind me of before when you sewed something, it had the 'homemade' look. But now that look is IN!

I just LOVE them for little girls. So many fun colors and prints. Plus with color blocking these days, you can have an awesome skirt and combine it with so many tops.

Our one aunt is the pro in this. I think she has probably made around 20 skirts. 10 for her daughter, 5 for her, and 5 as gifts for others. Maybe even 30, but who's counting?

I have tons of clothes and still feel fat, so I decided since I felt the need to try this out I would make one for my niece's birthday.

Our aunt swears that you can make one in 1 hour. I wanted to test this theory.

Start time: 2:30

1. put baby to bed in our room, so his room can be turned into craft room

2. move ironing stuff into room, dig out fabric and supplies

3. iron fabric, cut out 2-piece pattern, cut waistband

4. save time by putting machine on ironing board and sew standing up

5. side seams, sew waistband together, attach waist band, iron hem, sew hem

6. take photos

End Time: 3:30

Of course, the thread runs out with just a few more inches of hem left

I finally did something smart. Took a photo of the settings! This was the best my machine has done with stretch.

Outfit 1 that I love

Outfit 2 that I love. The green T was the most expensive part of the gift, so it has to be used twice. I love all these colors and hope my niece and SIL do to! Otherwise she can wear just the green or just the orange.

The fun, stretchy, colorful, a-line skirt.

What I learned from Madame Zsazsa 

• iron fabric first
• fewer pins=time saved
• no need to necessarly pin fabric together
• with stretch use a longer, slightly zig-zag stitch
• cut threads ASAP (don't wait until end of project)
• iron hem first, makes it much easier to sew