A-Line Skirt hack: Make a Pleated Skirt!

Hello lovelies! Having been very inspired by The Great British Sewing Bee a couple weeks ago, here is my A-Line Skirt Hack based on my super duper popular Patternless A-Line Skirt Tutorial to make an Inverted Box Pleated Skirt as they did. The original Tutorial is amazingly simple, and I highly recommend it if you are learning to sew or want …

Notions: Lapped Zip

Lapped Zips were a hot topic on this weeks episode of The Great British Sewing Bee. I know them mainly as a Vintage technique, and my Vintage Sewing Books are stuffed full of ways to work them! The following Tutorial is taken from McCall’s Complete Book of Dressmaking (which is delightful!). The important thing to remember when inserting Lapped Zips …

Customizing a Simple Skirt

As you may remember, last week I promised my version of customization, a la The Great British Sewing Bee. I have been struck by the ‘flu this week ( boo!), so this is a little late coming to you but I love the outcome so much, I thought I’d share! I am also really proud of myself for finally starting …

Best Tips, Notions and Tutorials of 2013

Roll up!, Roll up! The first Laura After Midnight retrospective is upon us! 2013 has been quite the whirlwind! Here are my favourite Blog posts from each month… so without further ado, and not a whiff of preamble take my hand and follow me down the yellow stitched road!   January   Book Review: The Handmade Marketplace by Cari Chapin As …

If you haven’t… get yourself a Pattern Book!

As Pattern Month draws inevitably to a close- sob!- I though I’d post some last helpful advice for people who are maybe a little newer to the world of Pattern Cutting. I really hope you have been inspired by all of my posts, interviews and the many lovely comments over the course of the month. If you are planning on …

Pattern Month on Pinterest

For an awesome selection of Vintage, modern, free and many more Patterns please take a look at Pattern Month on Pinterest. I’ve also made sure there are a great little selection of tutorials on how to re-size Patterns and how to deal with PDF printable Patterns. These are my favourites…         A 50s Slip, complete with Pattern information and …

Notions: Add a Waistband to a Skirt

This is a great technique to know & can be used for Up-Cycling Vintage finds- cut the top off a Vintage dress if it doesn’t fit but make a great Skirt for instance, or if you are making a Skirt, or re-sizing a Skirt. Once you know the Skirt fits, you can construct & attach the Waistband. Cut a band …

Notions: Insert a Zip

The following instructions illustrate how to insert a Zip simply, which can be used in Dresses & Skirts. It is not specifically concealed however; when sewn correctly there should be two folds of fabric which fit neatly over the Zip as in the final photograph. It is hands down the simplest way of inserting a Zip, very difficult to sew …

Notions: Final Touches for the Simple Skirt

Only a few steps left before the Simple A-Line Skirt is complete! Thank you for staying with me this far… Having cut your Pattern here, started to stitch up & insert the Zip here, & starting to finish the Skirt here; you will undoubtedly be eager to add your buttons & hem so as to proudly show off your wonderful new …

Notions: Finishing your Simple Skirt

Well, phew! I have finally gotten around to finishing my instructions for this Skirt, & am even now wearing it! Even my Mum would be proud as I have hemmed it beautifully & sewn the buttons on- there was a phase in my teens where I didn’t do any finishing & I know she despaired!! Having cut out the Pattern …