My Meringue

So I've tried to work through my tension issues. And I think I'm winning. But in the meantime I have a bunch of UFOs that are demanding attention. Add the now-9-year-old Princess demanding sewing machine time and things are getting interesting.

I started back on my Meringue from the Colette Sewing Handbook. With lining. I made up the lining and shell and then with wrong sides facing, treated them like one. I slipped the lining inside the skirt shell and pieced it with the facing. I really liked Sarai's steps for attaching the facing around the zipper. Very tidy and straightforward. I struggled to see her description in my head but her excellent descriptions carried me through. The will now be my go to process for "how to insert a facing around a zipper".

I also attempted my first invisible zip with a proper foot. Yippee! Apart from a small amount of puckering around the zipper base (truly two stitches only) it was a great job. Can you hear the huge sigh of relief from where you are? So many bloggers have written about their successful invisible zipper experiences. The "magic" moment for me was using my new invisible zipper foot. I have had unsuccessful (and unblogged) attempts at inserting an invisible zipper using either the standard foot or a zipper foot. I was never confident about where the needle should be positioned. That's the great thing about the invisible zipper foot - it takes the guess work out of where things should be. Now I know how it "feels" I would consider trying one without the specialty zipper foot, but let's be honest, why would I bother when things are soooooo much easier with the right equipment [aside: I'm now seriously considering other specialty feet...].

Zipper with just a little pucker at the base

I do have to mention Sarai's procedure for sewing a scalloped edge. Noice! The template to shape the scallops is simple but smart. I was really pleased with the way that the scallops turned out. Also the trimming suggestions - a little extra at the points between the scallops.

Scallops!

I finished everything off apart from the lining hem. I left that for a couple of days in case there was any stretch. And then a simple hem a good inch above the highest point of the scallop. I find putting lining hems too close to shell hems ends up with another hem (on the lining) being required. I chose a narrow zigzag which is good for fray-able fabric like rayon lining (turn up lining seam allowance, pin, iron, narrow zigzag close to the hem and trim off excess seam allowance).

Narrow zig-zag hem. Still a few tension issues here. 

In my first post on this skirt I did mention concerns about size and they were warranted. The skirt is too big - not ridiculously so - but enough that it is not a good fit on me. A-line skirts are not usually my favourite look so I think I might hand this skirt on. I have a friend in mind who I think would both love it and look great in it.

This was still a great project for me. My first pattern from the Colette Handbook. My first invisible zipper. Inserting the lining. Trying a scalloped hem. And using fabric from my stash.

Ta da!