Sew-Along #12 - Olivia Top and Girly Skirt - Lesson #2

The Olivia Top and Girly Skirt 

Welcome to the Olivia Top and Girly Skirt sew-along.  If you have any questions, suggestions, or tips to share; please make sure to post them on our Facebook group.  Also, if you would like to see any of the images larger, just click on them.

Day 2 - Sewing the Skirt

Yesterday we cut all of the pattern pieces.  Today we will complete the skirt. You will feel very productive at the end of this sewing lesson!

We made sure the skirt panels matched up the best we could.  The instructions say to sew the two short sides of the skirt panels, right sides together.  I prefer to only sew one side of the panels and leave the other unfinished (this makes it easier to attach the hem band). Finish seam(s) with serger or zig zag stitch. Set aside.

With the hem band piece RST, sew one short end together.  At this point the skirt piece and hem band have one seam, and the opposite end is open when laying flat.

There is no need to finish the hem band seam.  Fold the hem band wrong sides together, lengthwise and iron.  You can see the hem band on top of the skirt panel below.  Pin the hem band at the bottom edge of the skirt panel and sew together(I have no idea why my picture below shows the skirt peeking out below the hem band.  The hem band should be even with the skirt edge.)  

Finish seam where hem band and skirt are attached.  At this point you have one long skirt piece with the hem band attached.

Press the seam up toward the skirt panel.  Topstitch the seam on the skirt panel.  Now sew the side seam of the skirt to make a continuous loop - place the skirt panel right sides together at the two short sides.  Finish seam, at the bottom of the skirt and be sure to secure the tail of the serger thread.

Sew short sides of waistband RST to form a tube.  Finish seam.

   

Gather the top of the skirt panel by adjusting stitch length to the longest setting and tension to the highest number.  Be sure the gathered edge is the same length as the waistband piece (it doesn't have to be exactly perfect, just don't make the skirt piece shorter than the waistband).

We're almost finished!!!!  Yippee!  Wowza that was fast.

Insert skirt piece into waistband RST and attach. Finish seam. Iron seam up toward waistband, topstitch.  

Make the casing for the elastic by ironing top edge under ¼" toward wrong side.  Fold down (WST) again 1" and iron.  Stitch the casing down leaving a one inch opening to insert elastic.  (I know the pattern calls for a larger casing but the elastic I have is ¾in.  You can make the casing whatever size you need it to be.)

Insert elastic into opening and push it through to the end.  I thought I took a picture of the tool I use to thread my elastic through the casing, but I guess I didn't.  I use a Bobkin and it makes a big difference (it's so much easier).  You can also use a safety pin to thread the elastic through the casing.

Stitch the elastic together, be sure the elastic is nice and secure.  Stitch the elastic opening closed.  Ignore the little part on the top left of the elastic.  I accidentally caught the elastic while I was sewing.  Oh well, no one will ever see that.

TAH-DAH!  You are finished!  Yippee!  I hope you love, love, love this adorable skirt!

This girl is happy with the skirt!  We still have snow on the ground so it will be a little while before she can wear it out of the house but she cannot wait!

  

Twirl worthy!

Come back Thursday to start the Olivia Top!  We are super close to having a complete new outfit.

* If you would like to enter the prize drawing, please make sure you submit a picture of your completed lesson to the Facebook Album by 8:00 AM CT, Thursday, February 27th. Also, if you have any questions the Facebook Group is a great place to ask.