Open Lab Facilitator Audrey Quesenberry used the Makerspace to design and create a fully unique skirt.
So how did you find the inspiration to start on this project?
“I had been seeing this one sewist online who made this absolutely gorgeous patchwork skirt, and decided to try making one for myself. I started out by thrifting a bunch of fabrics. I much prefer using secondhand textiles as opposed to new, because then I don’t have to feel nearly as bad about accidentally buying polyester. I wanted a red motif, so I sought mostly reds and pinks, and one or two neutral black fabrics. It was a lot of fabric. If I calculate it all out, like, 66 square feet of fabric went into this skirt.”
What was the construction you went with? Why did it take so much fabric?
“Basically, I just cut a bunch of ten-inch by ten-inch squares from all my fabrics and then started putting them together into rows. Each row doubled; 6, then 12, then 24, then 28. So the exponential growth just made it a whole lot of fabric. I’m glad I went with the method I did, there’s so much volume to the skirt!”
How did the Makerspace help make this awesome project possible?
“I actually learned how to machine sew in the Makerspace. I had done a bit of hand sewing before, but now it’s like, actually feasible for me to make full garments like this. It’s so valuable to just have this space where I can express myself and find my creative energy. And that’s not even to mention the Bernina [L890]. That thing is actually awesome. I ended up doing like, a lot of construction and finishing on it. The combo function is so useful too. This project would’ve taken twice as long without that machine.”
How did the finishing touches come out, and can we see the finished skirt?
“I ended up adding both elastic and drawstrings, which were also in the Makerspace. If I weren’t such a stickler for getting my own fabrics, I could’ve made this whole thing without leaving the room! And yes, of course you can!”
