Wedding Outfit: the Outerskirt

So, this was the last sewing part of my wedding outfit to do.  I knew this one was going to be a bit of a head scratcher, but I had a very specific image I wanted to at least attempt to achieve. Originally I wanted to get secondhand curtains or table cloth, but after a lot of searching I couldn't find what I was looking for so I ended up buying from a local shop which stocks end of line products.  

As I wanted the scallops which run along the bottom of the curtains to run along the bottom as the skirt I needed to be accurate with the length.  This would also mean that, rather than just cutting the pieces out, I would need to put darts along the top of the pieces to get that shape.  I used the pattern pieces from the fantail skirt to help me get the same shape. 

First, I measured the length of the skirt (adding on the seam allowance) and transferred this onto the pattern pieces.  Then I pinned the scallop edge along the measured edge, pinned up along the sides, and then placed in darts at the top before cutting out the fabric.  I sewed up the darts to hold them into place, though these didn't hold particularly well due to the fabric.  

I sewed up the side seams, using a run and fell seam to give it some extra strength, and then used the same waistband pattern for the skirt I cut out a waistband piece.  Once I'd sewed the band on I realized that the darts on the front panel were going the wrong way, so I had to unpick this section and resew it with the darts the right way this time.  I hemmed the seam, with it running down into the skirt as I wanted to waistband to remain more clean looking.  The way these curtains are made the fabric doesn't actually need hemming as it doesn't fray.  However, as all the seams are visible from the outside I wanted them to be neat.  

Before I started making this I had thought that I'd leave the two skirts separate, but once it was on I realised that the two could easily separated whilst we are doing all our activities on the day..  So I sewed the two waistbands together with a top stitch.  Unfortunately, since doing this I noticed that the scallops at the front of the skirt are no longer flush with the bottom of the skirt.  I think it's due to the seam around the waist band which has could have lifted the fabric, so I'm going to iron it and hopefully that'll flatten this down.

And that's it, the last item I needed to sew for the big day.  The only thing left to make for the outfit was a shawl, which I've now knitted so it is complete.  Now all I need to do is work out hair and makeup, should be interesting.