Time to Shine in red!

Another must-have for the capsule wardrobe is a leather skirt. A great piece to mix-and-match endlessly. This time I didn’t go for black, but for a nice warm burgundy red. Fitting within the colour palette I chose beforehand.

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While creating this Time to Shine wardrobe not only the fabric choice, but also the sewing techniques and the attention to the finish, both on the inside and out, will determine the shine of a project. I chose my favourite pattern for this burgundy red faux leather skirt. I’ve used it many times before. This time I went for a slightly longer length. In my vision, I saw cool red boots underneath … in the thrift shop I just found the perfect boots. Meant to be!

Outer details

This pencil skirt has pocket flaps as a nice detail. The flaps are decorative, there are no real pockets in this skirt. One half of the flap is reinforced with fusible interfacing that has been carefully applied at a low ironing temperature and with a cloth in between. I’ve cut the interfacing exactly to size, which makes it easier to stitch a nice round shape.

Interfacing as a guide

Before turning cut seam allowance small and cut the corners

If you stitch the faux leather on the inside, you can use regular transport foot 1, for the outside I like to use Zigzag foot with non-stick sole # 52. It glides smoothly over the rough leather.

Zigzag Foot with Non-Stick Sole #52

For all utility and decorative stitches ✓ Non-stick coating on the sole ensures it slides smoothly ✓ For plastic, vinyl, leather, etc. ✓ For 5.5 mm and 9 mm machines ✓

Learn more

A cool detail is the metal zipper, a zipper that needs to be seen?. Before inserting the zipper first I carefully ironed some interfacing there where the zipper would be. Then I stitched the seam fully, so that you process it as a whole. Later you’ll cut it partly open again. For inserting the zipper I used the BERNINA instruction for inserting an exposed zipper. Check it out in this document.

After creating the opening for the zipper, you can place the zipper behind it. I use masking tape to hold the zipper in place while stitching the zipper.

Inner details

The skirt has a split and is lined with a beautiful shiny satin lining. The lining is stitched with the machine to the facing and hand sewn around the zip and split. The lining hangs loose at the bottom. The seam of the lining is finished with the overlocker. I sewed the split with the machine. The hem of the skirt is also finished with the overlocker, this isn’t really necessary but I believe it is neater. The seam is then glued with textile glue.

Lining and skirt seam overlocked

Not needed, but nicer

After stitching split with the machine, the lining is attached by hand

Wonder clips!

Stitch by stitch

Split = done!

More handsewing

Time to shine!

With the knowledge that once again much love has gone into the garment, a lot of attention has again been paid to the finish, it is time to let this skirt shine. Of to a new adventure with de BERNINA 590 Crystal Edition.