Mar 21, 2014

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2


Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

The second method for hemming a skirt can be applied to both circle and pencil skirts. This technique is appropriate for medium to thick fabrics that can show off some topstitching at the hemline on the right side, like linen, cotton, denim, corduroy, twill and similar.

Since I didn't manage to snap some photos of the process while making the skirt, I will show you the technique on fabric remnants.

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

You will need a narrow band for this - it can be a satin band, or a bias band, lace, twill, etc. The band will cover the raw edge of the fabric and make the hemline really neat and pretty. If you're hemming a circle skirt, I advise you to use a band with 1 - 1.5 cm width, especially if it's not stretchy at all. If you're using a bias band it can be slightly wider, since it can mold to the curved line quite well.

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

Lay the band with right side down to a working surface. Place the skirt over it, also with right side down. Pin the band to the skirt, making sure the skirt is slightly shifted down compared to the band, as shown on the picture.

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

Flip the fabric so that the right side is faced up. Repin again, by moving pins one by one from the wrong side to the right side of the fabric. Make sure not to shift the band nor the skirt while repinning. Replacing the pins will enable easier sewing, since you'll stitch with the right side of the fabric up.

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

Sew the band to the skirt. Ideally, you should stitch right next to the edge of the band, but this is not mandatory - what matters is that the stitch goes through both layers of fabric.

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

Fold the fabric up with wrong sides together, with the amount of fold being equal to the width of the hemline you'd like to have. The same stands here as for the previously described method - the hemline should be 2 - 2.5 cm wide for circle skirts. Press the fold line. You can pin the fold in place, by positioning the pins to be perpendicular to the hemline - this will stabilize the fabric and spread the excess fabric evenly along the hemline.

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

Sew the hemline in place, by stitching next to the top edge of the band. Again - you don't have to sew at the very edge of the band, but sewing this way will make your hemline really neat and pretty.

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

Here's how the hemline looks on the skirt. You can see the stitching lines were not places next to the edges of the satin band, and the hemline isn't as neat as the one on the pics above.

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

If you want to topstitch the pleat folds to keep their shape, now is the tome to do so. Try to sew at the fold of the fabric. Edgestitch all inner and outer folds of the pleats. You'll have a lot of work to do here, since there are 40 pleat folds on the skirt, but it's worth the effort as this will make the skirt much easier to maintain and press, especially after it's being washed.

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2

Zlata skirt sewalong: #15 Hem the skirt, method 2


Zlata Sewalong - the posts

I'll show you on Monday the third method for hemming the skirt. This technique is appropriate for medium to heavy weight fabrics like suiting, tweed, boucle, and all other fabrics that you don't want to show off the topstitching.

Stay tuned!

How to buy the pattern


Stepalica: Zlata skirt pattern
Zlata skirt pattern costs $11.98,and it can be bought via my Etsy shop
I use 2Checkout as a payment collector - it is an equivalent to PayPal - which accepts the following payment methods:

* PayPal via 2checkout (www.2co.com)
* Credit / Debit cards via 2checkout : Visa, Dina Card, Master Card, American Express, Discover

PayPal doesn't support selling option for my country yet, so I use 2Checkout payment collector instead.







When making a purchase order, select "Other" in the payment options. I have to manually issue an invoice for you, via 2Checkout system. The invoice contains a link where you can complete the purchase - it's a page on 2Checkout's website. Once you fill in your billing information, you can chose to pay either by using PayPal account or your credit card. You don't have to register to 2checkout and you won't be charged any additional fees. It's simple, fast and secure. Once the payment is completed, I will enable the pattern download on my Etsy store. I monitor the state of my Etsy store several times a day, and I get instant emails whenever any change is made, so the purchase is usually completed within the same day. Sometimes, due to my daily duties and a time zone differences, it takes more than a day to complete the purchase.

For any additional information about the pattern or the purchase, feel free to email me at: anajan.stepalica [at] gmail [dot] com


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