extra-sharp pencil skirt sew-along
The Extra-Sharp Pencil Skirt sew-along is finally here! As I mentioned before, pencil skirts are my absolute favorite because they suit a variety of body types and can be styled in countless ways. They're not just for formal events—trust me, I wear them all the time, especially in summer when I don't need to layer with stockings. Plus, they're even better when crafted from a durable fabric that doesn’t require a lining, just like this pattern.
I'll pop in occasionally with tips or tricks, but otherwise, our friend Emily will guide you through the sewing process. We've split the sew-along over two days since it's quite straightforward.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
**Day 1:** Getting Started, Prepare the Skirt Back, and Attach the Zipper
**Day 2:** Finish the Walking Vent, Assemble and Fit the Skirt, Attach the Waist Facing, and Hem the Skirt
Let’s dive in!
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**DAY 1**
**Getting Started**
1. Along with the interfacing from the pattern, cut two 1†x 7†strips for the invisible zipper, two 1 ¾†x 12†pieces for the walking vent, and two 1†x 1†squares to reinforce the vent's top.
2. Staystitch the waist edge of the back yoke, side panel, and skirt front 3/8†from the top edge. This stabilizes the fabric and prevents distortion during assembly.
*From Liesl:* Staystitching also allows you to try on the skirt mid-process without worrying about the waist stretching out.
3. For View B, follow the interfacing instructions to fuse the strips to the wrong side of the side panels. Since these are cut on the bias, they need extra support.
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**Prepare the Skirt Back**
1. Use the 1†x 7†strips prepared earlier to fuse one strip to each skirt back, positioning it along the waistline and stopping just below the vent dot.
2. On the wearer’s left side, trim 1 ¾†from the vent edge. Discard the excess fabric.
3. Fuse the 1 ¾†x 12†strips to the left skirt back, positioning them between the fold line and the vent dot. Add the 1†x 1†squares directly over the dot for reinforcement. Repeat on the right side. Trim any excess interfacing.
4. Finish the center-back seam allowances using your preferred method. Don’t trim the fabric if you’re using a serger, and gently straighten the curved edges.
5. Fold and press the vent seam allowances to the wrong side along the outermost fold line. Edgestitch each allowance 3/8†from the fold.
6. Fold and press the vent along the innermost fold line so the edgestitched back fold meets the dot. Unfold for now but keep the creases handy.
7. Pin the back yoke to the skirt back, aligning notches and stitching the top edge with a ½†seam. Press the yoke upward. Repeat for the other side.
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**Attach the Invisible Zipper**
1. Close the zipper and mark the top of the slider on the wrong side of the tape.
2. Flatten the zipper tape with a low-heat iron to ensure the stitches will sit close to the coils. Keep the zipper unzipped during this step.
3. Draw the ½†center-back and waist seamlines on the right side of the fabric for alignment.
4. Pin the zipper face-down on the skirt back, aligning the coils with the seam line and the top mark just below the waistband. Baste or glue the zipper in place, then stitch close to the coils from the top mark to the dot.
5. Close the zipper briefly to mark where the yoke seam intersects and where the dot is. Reopen the zipper and align the markings with the yoke and dot.
6. Move the zipper foot to the opposite side and repeat the process for the other side. Sew from the top mark to the dot, leaving the top of the zipper free for now.
7. Close the zipper to check its invisibility. Pin the skirt-back pieces below the zipper opening, and stitch the seam for about 2†using the zipper foot.
8. Ensure the center-back seam is smooth, adjusting as needed. Leave the rest of the seam open for the vent.
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That’s it for Day 1! Great work, everyone!
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**DAY 2**
Welcome back! Ready to wrap things up? Take your time—it’s all here whenever you’re ready. Let’s go!
**Finish the Walking Vent**
1. Pin the remaining center-back seam together, matching the vent dots. Stitch from where you left off to the vent dot.
2. Refold the vent along the pressed folds, aligning the seam with the outer edge. Stitch from the vent dot to the folded edge at a slight angle.
3. Clip the seam allowances 2†above the vent dot to press them open. Press the vent to the left side.
*Hint:* The vent stitching won’t show, but if you prefer, you can stitch through all layers for a cleaner finish.
4. Secure the zipper bottom with a few stitches to prevent shifting.
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**Assemble and Fit the Skirt**
1. Baste the side panels to the skirt front and back for initial fitting. Adjust as needed, then sew with a straight stitch.
2. Try on the skirt and tweak the fit. Stitch the seams with a normal stitch and finish the allowances.
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**Attach the Waist Facing**
1. Fuse interfacing to the waist facings and sew the front and back facings together. Finish the bottom edge and fold it to the wrong side.
2. Pin the facing to the skirt waist, stitch, and press toward the facing. Understitch to stabilize.
3. Fold the facing inside and press the waist seam slightly toward the facing.
4. Wrap the facing around the waistband, pin, and edgestitch. Topstitch all around the waist.
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**Hem the Skirt**
1. Mark the 2†hem and attach hem tape. Fold and press the hem.
2. Hand-stitch the hem and finish the vent.
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Congratulations! You’ve created a stunning pencil skirt. Now, share your creation on Instagram with #lieslandco and #extrasharppencilskirt for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Oliver + S! Entries are due by July 2nd, and the winner will be announced on July 5th.
Happy sewing!
Polyester Chambray Fabric,Polyester Non Woven Fabric,Polyester Cotton Chambray Fabric,Chambray Oxford Woven Shirt Fabric
Shaoxing Yingcheng Textile Co.,Ltd , https://www.sxyingcheng.com