No-Pattern 4-Piece Outfit!

I learned to sew in high school over 50 years ago. The sewing machine that I use now is the same one I used back then and it still works great! I don't sew very often anymore, but when I saw the "Wear It" Instructable, I knew I wanted to sew something. I love creating whether it's cooking, art or sewing. I had seen someone had made a long skirt using jean shorts at the top and material at the bottom. I thought I could try doing that. I went to a local thrift store and I bought this plaid material. It looked like a great match to go with my jean shorts for the skirt. And there was enough material leftover to make a little matching bolero jacket. I used no patterns for these so I wasn't sure if it would work. Follow along with my Instructable to see how I did it!

sewing machine

sewing scissors

pinking shears

white thread

measuring tape

straight pins

seam ripper

pencil

skirt material of choice

shorts

Bolero-type sweater

Lay out the jean shorts and fold in half lengthwise. Decide where to cut, making the cut about 1/2 inch longer for the seam. Mark a straight line with the pencil across the shorts, marking where to cut. Since it is folded over, both sides will match. Carefully cut across. I cut right above the crotch of the shorts.

Hold the measuring tape at your waist. Measure down to the length you would like the entire skirt to be.

Measure the length and width of the fabric. This material measured 52 1/2 inches by 74 inches. The shorter side would be the top of the skirt under the cut shorts. I made sure to use the bottom finished edge of the fabric for the bottom edge of the skirt so there would be no sewing of a hemline later. Subtract for the length of the cut shorts. Mark the length at the top of the material with a pencil, plus about 1 inch longer for the seam. My material measured 22 inches on myself so I marked and cut across the material at 23 inches. Set the leftover material aside.

Make 2 rows of basting stitches at the top of the skirt material, one at 1/4 inch and one at 1/2 inch. My sewing machine automatically "eased" the stitches most of the way. Easing means to pull on the stitches to crinkle the fabric so it will be the same width as the bottom of the shorts. I expected to have to pull on the basting stitches to make the material gather at the top. I only had to do a little of that.

Sew the side of the skirt, inside-out, matched up from top to bottom. Sew a 5/8-inch seam.

Lay out the shorts inside-out. Also have the skirt inside-out. Match up the bottom edge of the shorts to the top edge of the skirt. Pin in place. If they don't match up, gently pull up with a seam ripper on the basting stitches in the top of the skirt in different areas until the material lines up with the shorts.

Sew a 5/8-inch seam, connecting the bottom of the shorts to the skirt. Since the bottom edge of the material was a finished edge, now the skirt is complete! It went together fairly quickly and easily. I wasn't sure if I liked the belt pictured so I thought I would figure that out later.

Fold over the leftover material with the inside out. The back center of the bolero would be on the fold. I had seen the above idea for a pattern online. I lined up the folded bolero sweater with the side of the folded fabric as a guide. Pin together. I figured I would just outline what I wanted to make. Draw the shape of the bolero with the pencil on the material making it about an inch wider for the seam.

I cut along the line I had drawn and used the sweater as a guide to form the length of the bottom of the bolero. Since it was folded over, both sides match.

Keep the fabric folded so you can cut 2 armholes at the same time and they will match. I folded the sweater over to where the arm hole was so I could decide where to mark the arm hole. I marked the armhole on both sides, making it a little bigger to make room for the 1/4-inch folded seam. I drew the armhole on each side with the pencil and pinned it.

Cut out the armhole following the lines. Since the fabric was folded over, I cut both armholes at the same time.

While wearing the bolero, I pinned it to make darts at each side of the bust line to pull up the front sides of the bolero. Then I sewed the darts in place, being sure the darts were folded on the inside.

When I had the bolero on, it also needed 2 darts on the bottom back and 2 darts on the upper back. I measured how wide to make them while wearing the bolero and pinned all 4. I took it off then sewed the darts in place. The bolero was now form fitting and I was happy with the results.

Fold down each armhole 1/4-inch while sewing them down on the inside of the bolero.

Turn down remaining edges 1/4-inch and sew to finish off.

Here is the finished bolero and a photo of me wearing the outfit. Still not happy with the belt......so......I decided I would make a matching sash! I had plenty of material left!

I measured a piece of fabric 5 inches across and 63 inches long.

Sew a 5/8 inch seam down the edge of the inside of the sash. Also, sew along one bottom edge. Pull the inside out so the seam is on the inside. Sew down the unfinished end, turning the edge to the inside. Push the finished sash through the belt loops of the shorts.

Here is the completed outfit! Since I didn't use a pattern, I really wasn't sure I could do it! I am pleased with the results and I truly had fun making it........so much so that I decided to make just one more thing.......a matching headband! I might as well because I still had leftover fabric!

Since I still had material, I checked to see if I had elastic in my sewing basket which I did. I used another cloth headband as a guide to judge how long it should be. I decided to cut a piece about 5 inches wide and 15 inches long so it would crinkle like a scrunchie. I cut the material, then I sewed the seam along the side of what is the inside fabric. Then I turned it inside out. This was a little difficult because it was tight but I got it done. I put a safety pin on each end of the elastic that was cut to be the size of my cloth headband. Then I pushed the elastic through the sewn headband using the safety pin. Be sure that the other end of the elastic doesn't go inside the headband. You can pin it to keep it at the end.

Put the ends of the elastic together and sew across. Pull the ends of the headband together and push each end inside. Sew the ends together, covering the elastic.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I made an entire outfit without using any patterns. It was actually easier than it seems! If you decide to make any or all of these, please let me know! It was a very fun project!!!