DIY // A Simple Maxi Skirt

Knit maxi skirts are so easy to make and and so fun to wear! I love how versatile they are and I'm slowly growing my own collection. I made this maxi skirt a few weeks ago and wanted to share the tutorial with you all.

You will need:

• Basic sewing skills
• Access to a sewing machine
• Knit fabric (any length from 1m to 1.5m will give you plenty to work with)
• Matching thread
• Elastic (enough to go around your hips comfortably)
• A tape measure
• A hand sewing needle, pins, and a safety pin (the larger the better)

Step 1

a) Measure and pin your waistband, folding it over to the wrong side of the fabric. I used a larger piece of elastic, so I went with a 5cm waistband to accommodate it.

b) Sew your waistband, reversing at both ends to secure the thread. 

Step 2

a) Pin your safety pin through one end of the elastic.

b) Using the safety pin, pull the elastic through the waistband.

c) Keep elastic free at both ends of the waistband.

Step 3

Wrapping the fabric around your hips, decide how much excess fabric you want to remove - if you want a fuller skirt then keep most of the fabric, if you want it more slim-fitting then remove a bit more. 

Play around with the fabric, adjusting it along the elastic and see what you like. I like my skirts a bit fuller, so I only cut off 18cm of fabric (I originally started with 150cm).

Step 4

a) Put both ends of the elastic together and sew, reversing for a few stitches at both ends to secure the thread.

b) With the right sides of the fabric together, sew the side seam.

Step 5

a) Turn the edges of the waistband under. Thread a hand sewing needle and slip stitch the waistband seam closed.

b) The waistband will look something like this when it's done.

Step 6

a) Fold a 5cm hem over to the wrong side of the fabric. Tuck 1cm of that fold under, to create a tidy edge. Sew along the top of the hem, following the folded edge.

b) The wrong side of the hem.

c) The right side of the hem.

And you're done! This is somewhat of a lazy DIY - I didn't do any overlocking and I kept it pretty simple. Buy hey, sometimes you don't need to go all out, sometimes simple just works!

Do you have any experience with sewing your own clothes? What do you think of this DIY? I'd love to hear! 

DIY // Lamp Makeover

I've been working on a few DIY projects here and there, and this was a fun one that I really wanted to share. I've never made over a lamp before, but I used this post from Young House Love as a guideline and figured it out along the way!

Materials needed:

• A lamp (obvs.)
• Lightweight fabric
• Spraypaint
• Masking tape
• A glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors

Step 1

Outside, lay down some sort of drop cloth. I used an old sheet, but you can use pretty much anything that you don't mind getting spray paint all over.

Unscrew the lampshade and tape off the edge of the power cord and the screw part of the lamp (basically any where that you don't want painted).

Spray paint the lamp base following the instructions according to the can. I found it was best to hold the base on an angle, and spray at a 30cm distance. You will most likely need to do a few recoats, depending on the base colour and how strong you want the top coat.

Step 2

Place the lampshade on the fabric and slowly roll the shade, tracing around it as you go. You should end up with a large circle, like in the picture above. When you cut it, remember to leave a bit of extra fabric so that you've got enough to fold over the edge of the shade.

Step 3

Heat up the glue gun, and position the lampshade on the fabric.

Holding the fabric firmly, put a little dab of glue right on the bottom edge of the shade and press the fabric down.

Repeat this the whole way around the lampshade.

Step 4

After you've glued around the bottom edge, you'll have excess fabric on the side. Trim this so that it lays nice and flat. Tuck the edge of the top layer of fabric under so that it creates a sort of 'hem' and glue this edge down. 

Step 5

Nick the excess fabric at the top edge of the lampshade.

Turning the shade over, dab glue around the top edge and press the fabric down firmly.

Be sure to hold the fabric so that it stretches tightly over the lampshade.

Step 6

Assemble your lamp, put in a lightbulb, and turn that baby on.

It's all very exciting, isn't it? I was totally excited when I'd finished. I went into my husband's study and had a little show and tell. He was so proud.

Hope you liked this DIY! Let me know if you make your own lamp, I'd love to see photos! Do you ever DIY your own things?