Garden Path - Skirt - Part III

A Skirt Post!

Really, I've actually been working on the skirt. The garden is still growing for the jacket and until I get that done, I can not do much real work on the jacket. So, I've decided to work on the skirt during the days and the garden in the evenings.

When we last saw the skirt, it was in muslin form and just large, uncut quilted pieces. Yesterday, I cut out all the quilted pieces, underlinings and lining. The one thing I didn't have done up to this point was the pocket yokes - that piece that fills in the space between the top of the pocket and the waistband. I didn't quilt them initially, because I did not know where in the pattern the pocket edges would be. I wanted to match the quilting on the yokes to the quilting on the skirt front perfectly. Until I cut out the front, I didn't know where the lines or free motion quilting would be.

You can see in the photo below that I'm lining up the piece I cut off with the new piece to get the stitch lined up properly. It will take a bit more careful measuring and checking before I cut those yokes out.

Today I was able to get the yokes quilted, they're hanging now to dry after removing the water soluble pen lines.

The other thing I've been working on today is underlining the back and making the darts. Notice in the photo below that I've transferred the markings, and basted down the center of each dart. I've got a couple pinned and waiting for stitching, but I need to check to see if the darts are in the exact same place on either side of center back. I'm a little OCD about these things, but the darts must be in the same place in the pattern on either side of CB, mirror imaged, of course.


Tomorrow I will start work on the trim for the pockets. That needs to be in place before constructing pocket bags and the remainder of the skirt. You can see that I have already shaped the bias pieces to fit the curve of the pocket edge. These are ready now for the shell tucked trim and the braid.

I did have a question as to where I get my ideas for my trims and such. I get some inspiration from Jane Conlon's book, Fine Embellishment Techniques. Mainly, though, I just play around with different ideas and elements until I end up with something that I like. Sometimes it takes a while to get just the right thing and sometimes things fall into place quickly, I never know until I start playing around.

Parting Shot: Goodies. I won a blog giveaway from Marilyn, and just look at all the cool things that I got. There are pressed flowers, pictures, postcards, a bookmark, a vintage zipper and buttons amongst other goodies. She has fairly regular giveaways, so check her out!