Having now officially made myself one (1) summer skirt, I feel qualified to give advice on the ins and outs of endeavoring to craft one’s own warm-weather wardrobe from thin air, plus some fabric and thread. If you’re hankering for a new lewk, and like me, you have some extremely lovely fabric you bought on sale last year because it reminded you of something from the Chirri & Chirra books, I hope you read this. I’ve tried to be as honest and helpful as possible. If any of you accomplished sewists out there would like to weigh in with tips of your own, please do.
Herewith, my very best unsolicited advice:
It’s always best to begin a sewing project over-caffeinated and under-fed. Under no circumstances should you shower before sitting down to your machine. If you don’t smell bad while sewing, you’re doing it wrong. Bra? No.
It’s entirely reasonable to expect that your very first homemade skirt will take one hour to make and that it can be finished before you need to load your entire family and half of your belongings onto a ferry in the East River. When questioned, bellow to your spouse that you’ll be right there, and keep on sewing.
Start with a nearly empty bobbin. This will ensure needing to stop almost immediately to rewind it, giving you ample time to curse your existence and that of whoever invented the sewing machine.
Measuring twice, cutting once, is truly advice for suckers. Instead, measure not at all and cut three or four times. This strategy will duly test your mental health, personal resolve, and will to live.