I can't count how many times I've watched Project Runway and thought, gee I could probably make that.  Well, I learned this weekend that I can....eventually!  Certainly not in the time allotted to the TV show contestants, though.  I cashed in a LivingSocial coupon to take a Beginner II Express sewing class at G Street Fabrics in Rockville, Maryland (the two other locations in the DC area have classes too).  I already knew the basics of sewing, thanks to my mom who is a great sewer, and had some practice making home decor items -- pillows and roman shades.  But making something from a tissue paper pattern was a whole new world for me.

Sewing basics: pattern, fabric, sharp scissors, needle, thread
I selected the Beginner Sewing II class because we would be making a skirt, and as the weather has turned into an early Spring in Washington D.C., a skirt made perfect sense as a project!  We had the choice between a pencil skirt or an a-line skirt pattern.  I knew I wanted something lightweight, so I went with the a-line and found an adorable tiny anchor print in the quilting fabrics section.  After probably a total of 7 hours of pinning, cutting, sewing, surging, embellishing (belt loops to hold a grosgrain ribbon belt), fitting, lining, and hemming, I had a completely adorable skirt for spring and summer!!


Add a blouse and a navy cardigan or blazer on top, then pair it with one of my supercute Kate Spade clutches that looks like an art deco cruise liner, and I think I'm ready to start my new fashion design business!  Just kidding, I'm going to stick with my regular day job.  Yahoo - yet another step towards becoming a domestic goddess!

All cute skirts deserve a cute purse!