Good day stitchers!
Hope you had a good weekend?! I started making my lace Sophia – ooh it’s SO lovely! I am going to do a mini bonus post at the end of the Sew-a-long about sewing with lace so you can follow suit if you don’t already now how (spoiler alert – it’s very easy!)
I gave you a while to make the top and have been seeing some wonderful progress popping up over the internet so now it’s time to make the other part of this 2-in-1 pattern by Simple Sew which you can still get free with Issue 19 of Love Sewing magazine… the Sophia Skirt!
You should have all these pieces cut out of your chosen fabric by now…
1 x Front Skirt (piece 1) on the fold
2 x Back Skirt (piece 2)
3 x Waistband (piece 5)
4 x Pockets (piece 4)
The lovely box pleats in the skirt give it shape and a vintage feel and luckily are super easy to do… Follow this post earlier in the sew-a-long on how to mark the pleats onto your fabric.
To make the pleats…
- On RIGHT side follow the direction of the arrows on the pattern pieces and bring together both side lines/notches to the middle line/notch.
- Press in place
- Pin through all layers to hold in place
- Stitch across the top of the pleat at 1cm
If you haven’t already you need to overlock or use a zig zag stitch around the curve of the pocket pieces.
- Pin the straight edge of the pocket between the notches to the right side of the skirt pieces.
- Stitch in place
- Flip out and press well
- Repeat for both sides of front skirt piece and the both back pieces.
Now I do this bit a bit differently to the pattern instructions neither is wrong or right just different techniques to get the same end result. My way might be simpler though!
With right sides together (RST) (and pockets out with wrong side facing up) pin the back skirt pieces to the front piece aligning the notches. Pin all the way down from waistband, around edge of pockets and down to hem like this…
Make sure you leave a hole for the pockets in the side seam!
Stitch the whole way around using a 1.5cm seam allowance.
Pivot where the pockets meet the skirt side seam. Here’s a little beginner’s guide to pivoting…
- Sew 1.5cm past where the pocket starts and turn your sewing machine wheel until the needle is down
- Lift the sewing machine foot
- Swivel the fabric round the corner to continue sewing around the pocket seam, lowing the foot to sew.
Finish the seams with an overlocker or zig zag stitch and press to the back.
NB, Watch out for the pocket getting caught in the stitching of the side seam- just gently pull the pockets as you sew them to avoid this.
OK so that’s Part one of the skirt done!! I’ll be back in a few days to show you how to add the waistband, put in the invisible/concealed zip, hem the skirt and FINISH!! YAAAY!! Remember to show us what you are up to in the Fold Line group or email it to me on gabby@livingonashoestring.net.
Happy pockets!
