Sewing Success!!

Here it is! I finally got motivated enough to do the hem and it doesn't look too bad! Not perfect, but it's my first one (version 1.0).

The next one will be much better, as I've learned from a few things while making this one. I found it difficult to get the yoke to match up with the zipper at the back just right, but no one will see it. If anyone has a hint for getting that to work (Marjorie?) I would greatly appreciate it.

I was reading something on patternreview.com that said you can assemble the yoke in a different order - sewing the back yoke to the back and the front yoke to the front, then doing the side seams, rather than (what I did and what the directions say) which is sewing the side seams of the skirt, then sewing the front and back yoke together, then sewing it inside the skirt.

I did read one good hint in Sew with Confidence (my new favorite sewing technique book) - to press up hems before sewing pieces together so you don't have to turn them up in a circle, which may be easy for advanced sewers but I found this difficult. So I am going to do that next time. I took a lot of pictures along the way but they would probably be boring to non-sewers (and maybe to sewers too) so I didn't post them.

So, my first finished skirt that I can (and will) actually wear to work tomorrow.  I have to figure out what to wear with it.

I just ordered the follow-on book to Sew with Confidence by the same author, called Serge with Confidence.  I am hoping it will help me select a serger so I can work with fabrics that have stretch in them, and make nice edges on projects.  I think I want to spend less than $500, as I don't need a lot of fancy stitches, but would like to have something that's pretty simple and easy to use.  I also want to buy it from somewhere that will give me free instruction on how to use it.  My choices are DuPage Sew and Vac, Hancock Fabrics (a new large one near my house) or a JoAnn Superstore.  I'm hoping to buy it next month for my birthday - the big 3-5.

Comments

[Julie]

It looks like it turned out great!

[Cheryl]

Hi,

I thought I'd lend my opinion on sergers! I also love to knit and sew(ok, I'm obsessed!) I have a Bernina sewing machine and serger, and the quality is excellent. I've had a singer, and a janome but I am happier with Bernina than all of them. If you buy your serger from a reputable sewing machine shop, you should get free guide classes, and support whenever you need it. I think I spent around $600 on my serger, but I have used it so much. Good luck!

[Melanie]

Your skirt looks awesome!!