AFRICAN PLEATED SKIRT DIY

It’s funny how words can transport one back in time.  The words “Out of Africa” remind me of a day in the mid-80s when, as a child in Cape Town, I was dragged to a store by the same name to buy my first African printed skirts and dresses.  Even in racially charged apartheid South Africa, the film “Out of Africa” (which starred Robert Redford and Meryl Streep) encouraged a romanticization of all things African.  While the film is deeply problematic in its portrayal of African people, the store “Out of Africa” introduced me to the beautiful designs of my continent.

It would take nearly thirty years before I would fully appreciate African fabrics again in all their colourful, sometimes psychedelic glory.  On my last trip to Cape Town I decided to stock up on a few West African wax prints and South African shweshwe.  At $2 - 5 a yard, I am still kicking myself for not filling a suitcase with fantastic fabric!  

Of course, a short pleated skirt may not be Fall-appropriate everywhere, but here in San Diego we have been experiencing near 100F weather.  This, coupled with the fact that our home has no air conditioner, encouraged me to make use of some of my African print fabric.  The top was made using my wrap crop top pattern. 

Materials:

1.5 – 2 yards of fabric (here’s a link to sellers of African fabric on Etsy)

Matching thread

9” invisible zipper

Interfacing (optional)

Sewing machine

Pins

Ruler

Chalk

Scissors

Method:

1] Decide how long you would like your skirt and add 1.5” for seam allowance.  Cut fabric to desired length.  I wanted my skirt to end mid-thigh, so cut my fabric at 17.5”.

2] For the waistband, cut a 4” strip of fabric to fit your waist + 2” seam allowance.

3] Mark and pin the pleats.  Baste the pleats into place along the waistline.

4] Fold the waistband in half and iron.

5] Fold all raw edges of the waistband ½” towards the center of fabric and iron in place.  If you're using a soft fabric, I suggest using some interfacing to prevent the waistband from collapsing.

6] Sandwich the top of the skirt between the waistband.  Pin and sew in place.

7] Insert the invisible zipper.  I found this Youtube video on how to insert an invisible zipper pretty handy.
8] Finish sewing the side seam, making sure to secure the base of the zipper.

9] Hem your skirt.

Please feel free to leave any questions/comments below. I do so love hearing from you. J  If you enjoyed this tutorial please share the love by liking The Felted Fox on Facebook. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to or follow The Felted Fox on Bloglovin to receive free tutorials and patterns to your inbox.

Happy sewing!  Till next time. Nicole.

TRIBAL PRINT BACKPACK DIY

This tribal print backpack began as a pillow from India.  I loved the fabric, but I didn’t like the shape or size of the pillow.  It went into storage for a few years until I unearthed it while preparing for a garage sale.  It seemed like such a shame to leave this beautiful print hidden from the world, so I decided to create a backpack for our trip to Switzerland.

Materials:

My free template
30” x 20” Heavyweight fabric

12” x 15” Costume pleather

12” x 15” Felt

2.5 yard 1” Nylon webbing

1 yard Drawstring

2 Plastic adjusters

1 Buckle

Black thread

Pins

Chalk

Scissors

Iron

Sewing machine

Method:

1) With the wrong side facing, measure 2 ½'' from the top of the fabric and mark with a pen.

2) Fold fabric ½“ from top and iron.

3) Fold fabric another 2'' to meet the pen mark you made. Iron flat and sew edge.

4) Insert the drawstring.

5) Fold fabric in half width wise. With right sides facing, sew the edge together. Use a zigzag stitch to finish edges and prevent the fabric from fraying. The fabric should now form a cylinder with the drawstring at the top.

6) Cut two pieces of nylon webbing 6.5” long. Thread plastic adjusters onto the webbing. Fold webbing in half and sew adjusters as shown in image below.

7) Cut base pieces from template. With wrong sides facing, sew edges together.

8) Pin base and adjusters in place. The adjusters were set 8” apart. In the photograph you can see that I’ve placed the fabric seam down the center back.

9) With right sides facing, sew base to backpack. Turn backpack right side out.

10) Cut two 28” pieces of nylon webbing for straps. Pin straps at an angle to top of bag, approximately an inch from the back center. Sew in place. Thread the straps through adjusters.

11) Cut one piece of nylon webbing 3” long. Thread buckle onto webbing. Fold webbing in half and sew as shown in image below.

12) Cut one piece of pleather and one piece of felt according to flap template. With wrong sides facing, sew together.

12) Cut one piece of nylon webbing 8” long.  Pin webbing to the felt in the center of flap. Sew webbing in place.

13) Pin and sew the flap to the backpack right above straps.

14) Pin buckle to the front of backpack and sew in place.

Note: If you plan on carrying heavy items, reinforce the straps by sewing extra nylon webbing perpendicularly across strap ends.

Any questions or comments are always welcome and appreciated. Hope you have a good weekend, Nicole.