Floral Crescent Skirt - Finished!

I finally got photos! Still not pretty outside photos though as the weather will not cooperate. I got sick of waiting so took some inside shots. Please excuse the milk bottle legs. I don't tan ever, I just burn so I play it safe with masses of sun cream (when there's actually sunshine!). You were also nearly subjected to a gross shot of a burn on my left arm. Luckily Dom noticed, so you get my right side instead. The burn is from the stupid oven. It had blistered up and started healing when I scratched it by accident when distracted by the latest episode of Doctor Who (if you've seen it, you'll understand why I was so distracted!).
So back to the skirt. I LOVE this pattern!! As mentioned in this post, this is the first time that I've put in a zip successfully! I'm going to try the zipper insertion method on other projects too. When I hemmed it, I only took it up about half an inch so it's a little longer than if you followed the pattern. I like the length, its just below the knee which is great as I have knobbly knees! lol The waistband is really sturdy too, which feels nice and secure. It also shows the shape nicely.
I can't wait to finish up my red version! :)
Ashley x

Crescent skirt - detail shots

It seems every time I've tried to get some photos of me in the skirt the weather doesn't want to co-operate. Or like today, we forget the digital camera. So I thought I'd share some detail shots instead.

The zipper. Before the Crescent skirt I always wussed out on a machine zipper as I always managed to mess them up somehow. But I'm really happy with this one. It certainly not perfect, but it actually works which is an improvement! :)

Back waistband

Front waistband

Close up of the front point and top stitching

I ended up topstitching to secure the waistband, though I had planned on stitching in the ditch. However, I've never done it before and well, it looked crap. I kept slipping up onto the waistband so I ripped it out, and did the topstitching instead which I think I managed to do pretty neatly :)

Curved seam, and pretty neat topstitching :)

There's a pocket there somewhere, I swear!

Hem and lovely french seams :)

So I should hopefully have some proper photos of it soon :) Its meant to be sunny tomorrow, but my main problem is the wind. I'm not sure anybody wants to see my Luvees (or bloomers as Dom calls them). Yes, how glamorous right? lol
More later :)
Ashley x

Crescent Skirt - waistband and facing

I've made good progress on my floral Crescent Skirt, though my red skirt has fallen some what behind. I think it's because once I saw how cute the floral skirt was with the waistband attached, I wanted to get on with it :)

As you can see from the funny way the facing is peeking out, I haven't quite caught up yet. I still have the under-stitching, top-stitching and ditch stitching to do. That's a lot of stitching! lol

Yep, the red skirt is still lonely without its waistband. I'll get caught up soon, I hope. I have my cognitive exam on Thursday morning, my research skills exam on Friday morning, and then the Friday after that is my last exam, investigating the individual. I'm not too worried about the last two, but I'm dreading the cognitive one. Seriously, there is a ridiculous amount we're expected to know! It's funny actually, part of the cognitive module is on memory. So I have to try and remember stuff about how we forget, and how retrieval isn't possible if the information isn't stored properly. Pretty disheartening really *sigh* I just want it to be over, and to pass. Even if I only scrape a pass, just as long as I don't have to do it again! It'll be over soon. I keep thinking about the next Doctor Who episode, because by the time I get to watch it, I'll only have one exam left! :D
Ashley x

Crescent Skirt Sew-along - Pockets!

I love the pockets on the Crescent skirt, so roomy :) I've only ever done in the seam pockets, so it was great to learn how to do these ones. I love this fabric more and more every time I get it out to work on it! 

I had to show a close up of the seam finishing! This is my favourite of the overcast stitches that my new machine can do. I'm really impressed with it! I'm going to pick up an overcast foot when I remember! :)

You can *just* about see the pockets. You get the idea, but red is a pain to photograph :) For the twill tape I used the selvage from the floral fabric as I haven't gotten round to picking some up yet. I get gross-grain ribbon which from what I can gather does the same thing. Though I've never actually asked if the haberdashery stall has stay tape or twill tape, so I'll ask before getting the ribbon. 

I'm not quite caught up yet, I need to stay stitch the centre and put in the gathering stitches. Oh and I still have to apply the interfacing.

Ashley x

Crescent Skirt - Lace in the seams

Have you seen Tasia's tutorial on inserting lace into a seam? I knew I wanted to try it pretty soon, and with the Crescent skirt sewalong coming up, I thought it would look lovely on the curved seams of the yoke. Though I wasn't sure how it would work with having to press the seams to one side, so after some wonderful advice from Tasia, I gave it a go with some scraps!

I think it looks lovely, and I'm really pleased with the outcome! Tasia's tutorial is so easy to follow, and there are some great tips that make it so much easier to get the lace looking even :) It's left over lace from my slip and I like it so much against the red that I think I'm going to get some more for the real thing. 

As for my Crescent skirt progress, I have interfacing cut out for both skirts and the red fabric is cut out. Now for the floral fabric! :)

Ashley x

Crescent skirt - muslin

Not too bad from the front, right?

And then you see the back. . .

Ah, well, that *may* be a *smidge* too tight. Lol. I'm not sure how this happened, I traced off a size 12 at the waist grading down to an 8 at the hips. Perhaps I didn't need to grade down to the 8? Not sure, but anyway its an easy fix. I think I'm going to add about half an inch at each side seam piece, so a total of 2 inches. This will give me plenty to play around with, as I'd rather it be too big than too small. As a whole though, I love it! Such a lovely shape, and those curved seams lend so much inspiration for adding something pretty! :)

Are you participating in the Sewalong? How's it going?

Ashley x