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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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Simplicity 1803: Just the Skirt / Handmade Wardrobe

August 7, 2019 3 Comments

Making a skirt from a favorite dress sewing pattern is easy! Get some easy tips for making half of your favorite dress in the latest edition of Handmade Wardrobe on Hands Occupied.
It has pockets.

Do you ever make something that fits so nice, you’ve got to make it twice? Last spring when I began consciously trying to improve my skills as a garment sewist, I turned to (where else) Instagram stories, asking folks what patterns to sew and what fabrics to use from a selection I’d pulled from my stash. In the end Simplicity 1803 and a lovely, light blue, medium-ish scale floral print fabric won out. BUT! I only had a little bit of the blue fabric everyone was messaging me about loving. Instead, I opted to make a “full size” dress from Simplicity 1803, which you’ve read about here.

Handmade Wardrobe: Simplicity 1803. Sometimes stash-diving results in a fun dress that teaches you a thing or two about ease and fit. Click to check out the pros and cons of making Simplicity pattern 1803, and get some practical sewing advice from Grandma while you're at it!
A “full size” Simplicity 1803 dress.

The funny thing about making your own clothes is that if you make something you realize you really like, you can make more! And with tweaks if you want! I know normal people buy multiples of clothes they love, and this is kind of like that, but somehow way cooler because it involves crafts? At any rate, the way the skirt of my 1803 dress fit really delighted me, weird pocket placement and all (I’ll refer you to that other 1803 blog post for context). The waist hits at a very natural place on me, the skirt is full without being a million miles of fabric, and yes, there are pockets!

Making a skirt from a favorite dress sewing pattern is easy! Get some easy tips for making half of your favorite dress in the latest installment of Handmade Wardrobe on Hands Occupied.
A good look at everyone’s favorite fabric from my spring sewing poll!

So do you just make half of the pattern?

YEP! And in the case of the skirt, the half you’re making is significantly easier, too! :) The only thing you have to figure out on your own is how to add a waistband in place of the bodice, and then you install a much shorter zipper. (Quick sidenote: If you’re into the idea of a tutorial on how to do this, I might be down if there’s enough interest. Let me know in the comments if you’d like to see it.)

Making a skirt from a favorite dress sewing pattern is easy! Get some easy tips for making half of your favorite dress in the latest edition of Handmade Wardrobe on Hands Occupied.

In addition to making just the skirt of the 1803 dress pattern, I opted to use heavier weight contrast fabric for the pockets and waistband. The yellow gingham was a fabric remnant I’d grabbed at a random JoAnn years ago. Having worn this skirt several times, I can tell you the heavy duty waistband worked awesome, but the pockets ended up not really needing the extra reinforcement in the end. I won’t change them in a million years though, because contrast fabric pockets that match a zipper and waistband spark endless joy for me in my handmade wardrobe.

Making a skirt from a favorite dress sewing pattern is easy! Get some easy tips for making half of your favorite dress in the latest edition of Handmade Wardrobe on Hands Occupied.

P.S. About that zipper…

I try not to prattle on too long in these Handmade Wardrobe posts, so I’ll tack on this little post-script real quick. Forgiving the direct photos of my rear end, they’re here for a reason. The zipper I installed is one of my favorite finds from a local creative reuse center called The Wasteshed. You can buy used/pre-owned arts and crafts supplies, including fabric, yarn and notions. Thanks to shamelessly scouring The Wasteshed’s zipper drawers, I snagged that gorgeous, buttery yellow zipper in its original packaging for $0.25. The thing about original zipper packaging from 1949 is that the original price from the ’40s is right up front: $0.35. I paid less than the original package price for an all-metal zipper that was 70 years old! That alone is terribly exciting to me! ;)

Making a skirt from a favorite dress sewing pattern is easy! Get some easy tips for making half of your favorite dress in the latest installment of Handmade Wardrobe on Hands Occupied.
Just look at that pull tab!
Making a skirt from a favorite dress sewing pattern is easy! Get some easy tips for making half of your favorite dress in the latest edition of Handmade Wardrobe on Hands Occupied.

Filed Under: Handmade Wardrobe, Sewing Tagged With: handmade clothes, handmade wardrobe, sew, Sewing, simplicity 1803, wasteshed

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

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Comments

  1. Rowena Lally

    August 7, 2019 at 4:18 pm

    Tutorial please on how to make the skirt. I’ve be looking for ages and ages for a tutorial on how to make a skirt and just can’t find one. Please and thank you

    Rowena

    Reply
    • Heidi

      August 8, 2019 at 10:15 pm

      Noted!!

      Reply
  2. Kasia

    August 13, 2019 at 6:14 am

    omg what a pretty skirt! what a pretty legs!

    Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
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I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
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I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
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The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
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I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
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What’s on your needles this week? 
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Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
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I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
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#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies, so getting a few hung in my new studio has been a priority. Here’s my first attempt. 🔨 
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Details: This pegboard panel is for organizing my knitting needles, latch hook tools, sewing thread, etc. It doesn’t need to hold much weight, so I didn’t anchor this into a stud - just used basic drywall anchors. I’ve also got a set of two 2’x4’ panels for another spot in my studio, and those will need a stud/more than 3 drywall anchors. Wish me luck! 
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[description: video features a woman hanging a panel of pegboard using a square dowel and drill]
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