Made By Lex

Paper Bag Waist Skirt and Pleated Top

,but I still wanted to shoot my sister in it so you could see it better.

Here is my paper bag waist skirt and Peach Pleated Top.

The top is a peachy pink vegetable dyed  cotton by Vera Wang. It’s, hand down, one of my favorite fabrics that I’ve worked with.  I did this pleats down the front and the neckline with some fold over detailing, then some buttons.

The top V’s in the back and has a small, slimming closure.

The skirt is a super soft yarn died linen with a paper bag waist and black cotton tie and with the same black cotton detailing at the bottom.

It also has pockets.

This skirt is the best! I wear it all the time and its fashionable and comfortable.

Love her in this shot.

Here’s where you can help me out again!!

Your feedback means a lot to me and I’d love to hear any thoughts about either pieces or the shoot, in general.  Also, would either of these pieces be somehting you’d buy or want to see in the etsy store?

Please take a moment and let me know your thoughts! It really helps me out!

Anthropologie Pratia Tank Top Tutorial

Per  popular demand, here is the Pratia tank tutorial!

Start off with a t-shirt or tank top. What I did was get a larger t-shirt so I could gather it at bottom like the pratia tank. I cut off the sleeves so it would be a tank.

Measure your neckline and get a piece of chiffon that length and fold it in half.

Pin it to the inside of your neckline with it peeking out. Stitch it in place.

Since I cut the sleeves off my T, I wanted to finish the edges. Fold it under and pin it.

Stitch it.

I highly recommend interfacing where you are going to be adding the embellishments, otherwise it’s going to sag. So I use a lightweight fusible interfacing.

For the flower pieces, here is the shape and dimensions I used.

Fold your pieces in half and cut that petal shape out.

I used the extra sleeve pieces, cream chiffon(the kind that won’t fray)  and another grey jersey I had.

How many do you need? A LOT!!  I took this photo before I started adding them and I actually needed three times this cut amount. So make sure you have a lot of fabric on hand!

Lay two petals on top of one another, as shown.

I did a small ‘X’ shape to stitch them so they stay in place. I used my sewing machine, but you could do it by hand, too.

Just add more, and more, and more, and more………(It’s time consuming. I’m warning you), until you have something like this. My recommendation is don’t skimp. When I was getting tired of doing it I thought, “Maybe this will be enough…” But it really looks great when it’s full of petals.

I really liked the bottom gathered feature of this top. So what I did is just used the original hem and I cut a little hole in to it with my seam ripper.

Measure how much elastic you will need to be comfortable around your waist. Pull it through the hole. Stitch the elastic together .

Here’s how it will look after.

Now it’s done!

I can’t wait to wear this under a cute cardigan. I love all the texture of it!

You Pick The Next Tutorial!

I thought I’d let you gals pick which tutorial to do next. Here are two from Anthropologie that I’ve been eyeing:

Whorled Roses OR…

Pratia Tank

You name it, I’ll show you how to make it.

Leave a comment with your preference and soon enough you’ll have a new shirt in your wardrobe!

Also, a reminder, if  there’s anything you’d like a tutorial on, send me an email and I’ll think about doing a tute for your idea!

New to the Store

I’ve begun adding my new T-shirt to my Etsy Store. Here’s a preview…

This one is a white on white shirt. For those of you that know me by know, you know it’s one of my favorite looks.

This one is a hand dyed, gunmetal grey with lots of great details.

This pink shirt has asymmetrical sailor striped pleats.

Go check out more pictures of them and stay tuned for lots more to come.

And just to keep you on your toes, here’s a teaser for a great tutorial I’m finishing up for this AMAZING clutch.

Welcome to the New Me!!

Welcome to my new site, Madebylex!!! I originally wanted to keep “my mama made it” but sadly someone already had it So after lots of review I came to my new domain name. I miss my old one, but I feel a new love for this new name and site. I hope you all like it. I can’t wait to tell you about all the wonderful people that have helped me get here because I don’t have a gift (nor any patience) for all this computer stuff. Anyhow, I’m glad you’re here!

You’ll also notice I two lovely button choices!

So please feel free to grab one and show your love for Made By Lex!!

Next, here is another new creation I’ve done.It’s a giant dupioni silk bow. That just sounds funny. But that’s what it is

Here I have it on my sister, Clare, on a white T-shirt paired with a plaid skirt (not my own creation). Read more »