An Easter Dress

The Skirt

The skirt is a combination of simple, yet carefully done finishing steps.  It is simple enough in that I cut both the chiffon and the satin layers in one piece, with the only seam being at the side where the zipper is.  The lining was cut in two pieces, just to save on fabric.  All three pieces were then basted together and attached to the bodice.  This is the point where it carefully thinking and constructing needs to be done.

All three skirts were basted together until about 3" or from the side seam where the zipper would be put in.  Then just the chiffon and satin were basted together.

All three skirts were then stitched to the bodice, starting and ending where I changed the basting to include only the satin and chiffon.  At that point, the lining was folded out of the way and then the satin and chiffon skirts were attached the rest of the way to the side seam.  This was done on both sides.  The lining will remain out of the way until after the zipper is put in. 

The zipper went in easily, and the hand finishing could begin.  The skirt lining is then gathered and hand stitched in place along the waist seam line first.  Then it is hand finished along the zipper edge.  Finally, the bodice lining was hand stitched in place over the waist seam.  This is how the inside looks now:

All that is left is finishing the armholes and upper edge with the binding!

Parting Shot:  Leather.  Wellie likes the leather, too.  I certainly count on Wellie to approve of any fabric that is left out too long before I get to putting it away!