Crescent Sew-Along #15: Adding a Lining

Hi Everyone! This post is just for the Sew-Alongers that are lining their skirts. Because I’m not  lining mine, I’ve done the best explanation I can on how to do the lining with very few photos.

Click on any of the linked text for more help! I’ve linked the steps to previous Sew-Along posts, where you can repeat the same steps we did on the main skirt.

Cut your Lining Pieces

You’ll need a Skirt Front, cut on the fold, and two Skirt Backs. For the Skirt Back, use the same pattern piece as you did to cut your main fabric.

For the Skirt Front, you’ll need to add back in the pocket cut-out section. Here’s how to eliminate the pocket – follow the steps in this post for your lining pattern piece. (Hint: If you’re thinking of making this skirt more than once, make a real pattern piece for the skirt front lining so you have it for next time!)

Sew your Skirt Lining

Sew Skirt Lining Front and  Skirt Lining Back together at the side seams. (French seams are a great way to finish the edges and sew the seams in a lining!)

Gather the top edge, so we can attach the lining to the waistband facing.

Attach Lining to Facing

Attach the skirt lining to the waistband facing, same as we did when we attached the skirt to the waistband. Press the seam allowance upwards, towards the waistband.

Proceed!

Now you’re all caught up to follow the rest of the Sew-Along. The only things you’ll need to do especially for the lining are:

  • sew centre back seam in the lining (when we sew the zipper and facing unit into the skirt)
  • hem the lining (when we hem the finished skirt)

As we go through the rest of the Sew-Along steps, if you’re not clear how to proceed with the lining, just leave a comment!

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13 Responses to Crescent Sew-Along #15: Adding a Lining

  1. Angela May 19, 2011 at 7:03 am #

    Hi Tasia,
    I basted my lining to the main fabric at the basted gathering stitch phase and it worked quite well. The only part I get hung up on is finishing the lining around the zipper. Any suggestions you might have on that would be appreciated. My Crescent turned out GREAT! Ive got a second fabric queued up for another!

  2. Ellen May 19, 2011 at 10:59 am #

    I used your method for lining, and do have a couple of pictures on my blog if anyone needs visual aids (at least of how the finished lining/waistband piece should look. I did go ahead and hem my lining because I know how long my finished skirt will be.

    http://itsasewinglife.blogspot.com/2011/05/crescent-skirt-lining.html

  3. Sewingdina May 19, 2011 at 12:10 pm #

    Thanks Tasia I think I follow that. Could you also interface the waistband pieces and then have lining waistband pieces instead of waistband facing?

  4. Tasia May 19, 2011 at 12:31 pm #

    @Angela: Hi Angela! Finishing the lining around the zipper – I’ll explain how to do that if you’re following the special zipper method. If you’re sewing in the zipper the regular way, then I’d probably sew the centre back seam below the circle, finish the seams with the serger, and slipstitch the lining to the zipper opening.
    Or, if you’re treating the main fabric and lining fabric as one, more or less, because you’ve gathered them in to the waist together, then I’d finish them together, too. Or, sew the centre back seam in both (separately), clip just above the seam, and above the centre back seam, THEN finish them together.
    I hope that didn’t confuse you more!

  5. Tasia May 19, 2011 at 12:32 pm #

    @Ellen: That is fantastic!! Thanks so much for sharing, it’s so much easier when there’s a visual to go with the how-to guide.

  6. Tasia May 19, 2011 at 12:35 pm #

    @Sewingdina: Just to clarify, you’re asking if you can cut the waistband facing out of lining, instead of main fabric? I suppose you could, but lining isn’t as strong as regular fabric, and might not create a nice, structured waistband like using main fabric. Also, linings are often synthetic, and won’t ‘breathe’ around your waist area. This doesn’t matter so much if you’re using a synthetic main fabric.
    My gut reaction says no, so I’m trying to figure out why I feel that way. I guess there’s no reason why you can’t, but I am not sure I would suggest it. Just my opinion!

  7. Sewingdina May 19, 2011 at 1:27 pm #

    Hi Tasia. Yes that’s what I meant. I meant with, say, iron-on interfacing to the main fabric waistband to give it some structure. I’m not sure I would do it either, just exploring the options!

  8. Carlotta Stermaria May 19, 2011 at 2:10 pm #

    Great, thank you for these instructions! There’s nothing better than a fancy lining (I planned mine in a printed cotton/silk blend)! I think I will cut it shorter than the skirt, and finish the raw edges with a scalloped stitch… Or is there a reason why I shouldn’t do that I haven’t anticipated yet?

  9. karen May 19, 2011 at 2:20 pm #

    You are amazing to do all this. I did a very basic sew along and it took way longer to do all the posts than to actually make the simple top, really I think I could have made ten tops in the time it took to explain it all. So thanks for all your hard work and for doing it all in such a sunny happy way :) Also I just posted a fun little sewing poll on my blog, come by and take it if you have time.

  10. Tasia May 19, 2011 at 2:31 pm #

    @Sewingdina: It could be nice if you were using a hard or textured fabric, you know? Something jewel-encrusted, that you didn’t want rubbing against your skin. :)

  11. Tasia May 19, 2011 at 2:33 pm #

    @Carlotta Stermaria: Nope, go for it! Hem away. The only thing to consider – what if you want to shorten the whole thing later on? What if the lining hangs down longer than the skirt? I tend to wait, because undoing or re-doing is never fun!

  12. Tasia May 19, 2011 at 2:36 pm #

    @karen: Ha, you’re absolutely right! It’s writing, cropping photos, answering questions, and planning that takes forever. The actual skirt sewing is fast. :) But, the really great part is, once it’s done it’s done! If anyone has a question on the Crescent Skirt, ever, all of the answers are here!

  13. Tasia May 19, 2011 at 2:39 pm #

    @karen: Hahaha.. I did your poll! Hilarious. I bet if I had kids, I’d have answered yes to even more of your confession questions – I answered no by default but some sounded quite possible! :)