Hi Everyone! I’m super excited to be sewing along with you again. It’s going to be a lot of fun! I’ll be moving right in the middle of it – to my new office! – but for the most part, you’ll have my undivided attention through all of the sewing steps.
Today I wanted to answer some of your Sew-Along questions, and put together a quick schedule so you get an idea of timing.
As always, if you have more questions, ask away!
Sew-Along Q & A:
Q. Will you post the Crescent Skirt Envelope Back online?
A. Yes! This was an older question, as both envelope backs are posted in the Pattern Store now! Here are quick PDF links to the envelope back, for your easy reference.
- Click here to view the Envelope Back in PDF format.
- Click here to view the Metric Conversions in PDF format.
Q. Is the sizing for all of your patterns the same?
A. Yes! Wouldn’t it be massively confusing if it wasn’t? All of the patterns will use the same size chart. So if you were a 8 in the Pendrell Blouse, you’ll likely be an 8 in the Crescent Skirt. Check the measurement chart to be sure!
Q. Will you write a lining tutorial?
A. I certainly can! Or, I was thinking of doing a slip tutorial! Do you have a preference? I thought a slip would be more fun, as you can make one slip for all of your skirts. Plus, the skirt finishing looks nicer when it’s left unlined.
Q. Tasia, can you make YOUR Sew-Along skirt out of a solid fabric, with a distinguishable right and wrong side?
A. I can! What a good suggestion. It will make it much easier for you, if you can tell the right and wrong side of my fabric in the demonstrations. So I’ll keep this in mind when picking a fabric!
Q. Can I make the Crescent Skirt if I’m not a pear shape? Will it still look cute?
A. For sure! Just like I always cut two different top and bottom sizes in regular patterns, you’ll be able to cut two different sizes for your top and bottom. (Or in the case of the skirt, your hips and waist.) Or, make a muslin, and fine-tune the fit that way. If you like the style, then definitely give it a try! It’s designed to fit and be flattering on pear-shapes, but it’s easily modified for all bodies.
Q. Speaking of which, are we going to make a muslin during the Sew-Along?
A. I’ve decided Yes. Several of you are interested in making a muslin, at least for the yoke part of the skirt. So I’ll play along and make a muslin for the skirt, for demonstration purposes and to fine-tune the fit on me as well.
Q. Can the skirt be lengthened easily?
A. You bet! You can certainly add to the length at the hemline, and continue the sideseam straight down. Easy to do!
Sew-Along Schedule
Here’s what I’m thinking – this might change as we think of new things to add to the line-up!
- From now to April 18th: Preparation including Fabric Recommendations, Links to Pre-washing, Measuring, and Cutting
- Week of April 18th: Making the Muslin, Fitting, Adjusting the Pattern
- Week of April 25th: Interfacing, Sewing the Pockets, Gathering
- Week of May 2nd: Sewing the Waistband, Trim Ideas, and Pre-Zipper Sewing Steps
- Week of May 9th: Sewing the Zipper, Hemming Ideas, Slip/Lining Tutorial, Finishing the Skirt
- Week of May 16th: Finished Skirts!
I’ve added the Crescent Sew-Along details to the ‘Sew-Alongs’ page, so it’s easy to find all of the posts.
Thoughts on the schedule? Any more questions? Leave a comment below!
PS. Want your own Crescent Skirt pattern? There’s still time to order your pattern for the Sew-Along. Click here to visit the store!
Just a question about sizing. So, I am not a pear, my waist is a size 10 and my hips are inbetween sizes 0 and 2. I was thinking if I make a size 10 it’ll fit at the waist and then if it flairs out a little wider over my hips it wouldn’t really matter. But maybe I am having it all wrong? Is the skirt fitted both at the waist and the hips? Thanks in advance.
Julia
You can count this comment as a YES for a slip tutorial! How practical!
Slip tutorial?! Yes, please!
I’ll be following along about a week behind but looking forward to the sew along.
Ooh, I’m excited! I echo Julia’s question, I’m not a pear shape either. Is it fitted to the hips, or are the hips below the yoke? If that makes sense :S
Ashley x
Yes to the slip tutorial – what a great idea! I’m so excited to get started!
Ooooh i just ordered my pattern, so exciting! Now just to pick out some fabric…!
I love the slip idea! I have been wanting to make one for ages.
I am ready! Got my pattern thank you! very prompt… Got my muslin fabric..my sister just ordered the fabric for our skirts. Oh yes I will be sewing 2 skirts and 2 slips. For my sister and ME.
I would definitely prefer a slip tutorial to lining for this project! And I definitely want to make a muslin, so thanks for including that! Very excited :)
Yessss, just ordered my pattern too! I’d also like to say a big YES PLEASE to a slip tutorial as well!
Slip tutorial please!!!!
I must admit that I am rather a (fond) advocate of the lining vs slip tutorial.
There are already slip tutorials (such as Gertie’s) available online, and a lining would :
1) truly be a part of the skirt (aren’t special, matching or contrasting linings great?), and not a separate item, and
2) increase the number of fabrics suitable for the pattern : some wool or wool-blend fabrics are not different in weight from mid-weight cottons and could therefore make the crescent skirt a winter skirt, but often tend to be scratchy! A lining would both solve that problem and provide added warmth.
I don’t say that everybody needs a lining (as an example, I won’t add any other layer of fabric for a summer skirt), but I know I’ll end up trying to make one at some point! :)
Would a slip tutorial AND a lining tutorial be an option or is that too greedy?
Gertie does have a slip tutorial but I have a concern….her slip isn’t on bias. And doesn’t have a slit. I would love to see a slip tutorial if it’s different from Gertie’s and maybe even improves upon it (no offense to Gertie, she did that tutorial a loooong time ago).
If the slip is very similar to Gertie’s, than I’d be up for a lining tutorial. I’d be happy really either way though.
The lining vs. slip debate is pretty evenly divided! Ok, @Rachel: , you win! We’ll cover both – slips AND lining. Mostly because I want to please everyone! I’ll show you both, then you can decide which is the best option for your skirt needs. Does that work for you guys?
For the lining, since I’m not going to insert it into my demonstration skirt, is it enough that I show you how to make the lining pieces, and give you a general idea how to attach it? Let me know what you think! I’ll give you enough info to get going, but it’s so much easier to demo if I have a real project in the works…
@Caro: Hi Caro! I don’t think I’d put my slip on the bias, either. It’s much harder to sew that way, and if you’re at all curvy on the bottom, it’s hard to get a good fit! I’d probably add a slip just for interest, and so the slip is more versatile. I’m still plotting that one out in my head! :)
@Tasia: Hooray! I think a description is good enough. I’ll definitely be adding a lining to this skirt, so I’m happy to take photos of my process if you like? To save you from doing it.
@Carlotta Stermaria: You’re right, if I don’t cover how to put in a lining, some of you will be fending for yourself and trying it anyways! So it’s better that I help you out. I love a special, contrasting lining! so we’ll do both. Problem solved! :)
@Ashley: Hi Ashley! The skirt is fitted from the natural waist, to about 3.5″ down from the waistline. It’s not quite fitted all the way down to the hipline. Does this make sense? It’s fitted from the waist to 3.5″ below the waistline (measured along the sideseam), and flares out from that point onwards. Basically, it’s like a wide, fitted waistband, that happens to be curved at the centres.
I hope this helps! Give me a shout if it’s still not clear.
@julia: Hi Julia! I would choose the size based on your waist measurement, because that’s where it’s fitted. It’s fitted from the natural waist to 3,5″ below the waistline, like a wide waistband. Hips are approximately 9″ below the natural waist, it varies from body to body, but the hips on this skirt are definitely full.
So you’re right, I would suggest making the 10 to fit your waist, and know the hips will be a little fuller than if you had wide hips like me. One thing you may want to do, is cut the size 10, and when you go to sew up the sideseams of the yoke, try it on to see if you want to slim down the yoke as it goes down the body. Does this make sense? Because the lower edge of the yoke might be too wide for your high-hip area. You could solve this by tapering the yoke sideseams from the waistline down to the hip, pinching in as needed to fit your curves.
I’ll try to explain this clearly when we get to fitting our muslins! I hope this helps you get started.
Hrm, I do understand a slip on the bias is harder to sew but aren’t some slips cut on bias to give it that slinky feel? Especially if you make it up in silk or a similar fabric? There are lots of RTW or vintage half-slips that say they are “bias” or is it actually just not a good idea to do a half-slip on bias?
On another note, both tutorials would be really neat to see! :)
@Tasia: Thats great, thanks! Now I know which size to choose! I’ll still make a muslin of the yoke though, just in case :) You never know what surprises might crop up, and it’s sod’s law that there *will* be bad surprises if I don’t make a muslin! lol
Thanks again :)
Ashley x
Hi I love your skirt pattern. could you please do a quick tutorial on how to add length to your skirt. I definitely want to make the skirt but would like it slightly longer. Also which view do you thing it is better to add length to A B or C. Thanks
@maymunah: Hi! The best place to add length to the skirt is along the bottom. View C is the longest skirt, so if you’re looking for long this is the best place to start! The finished skirt lengths are posted on the back of the envelope. Simply decide how much longer you want the skirt to be, and add the length to the bottom of the skirt! Or, measure a skirt you have in your closet, compare this length to the finished skirt length, and add the amount you need to make it the same. I hope this helps!
Thanks, that sounds simple enough.
Hi Tasia, I have another question. I am a size 18 since your patterns only go up to size 16 could I still used your pattern if so how would I make adjustments so it fits me?
thanks for your time
@maymunah: Hi! My friend Patty, another sewing blogger, graded up the skirt and took photos as she did it.
check out this post here for more:
http://sewaholic.net/crescent-sew-along-8-grading-it-up/
I hope this helps! If you just need to add an inch or two, you could always cut wider sideseams on both the skirt and the waistbands, and baste everything together before starting to check the fit. Or, make a muslin, to be sure the fit is right.