This is the second post for my take on Simplicity 4044. Hope you were inspired by yesterday's post.
How a garment is finished can make or break the overall look. Have you ever bought a shirt with wrinkly cuffs or a pair of pants that seams are coming undone? Hopefully not. Here are two ways to finish things off to give a more professional look.
A fun technique is to use ribbon to finish raw edges as I did here on the facing of the skirt. The pattern called for folding the fabric under and top-stitching, but this is just as easy, if not easier. And the great thing is, the raw edges are completely incased. All you have to do is find ribbon that is wide enough to cover the raw edges when folded in half and top-stitch using your sewing machine. 
Hemming always gives me a problem. This skirt has a circular curve, which does make it even harder to finish. Pressing is always important in sewing. It helps the fabric/seams to lay correctly. So, press the hem at the desired width. With the skirt lying flat on the table, put small darts here and there until the hem is completely flat. As you can see in these pictures, the darts are at semi-equal intervals. I than used binding tape to finish the hem. Next, I slip stitched the binding tape to the skirt. 
A slip-stich is great for hems. It is always wise to use a very narrow needle when sewing by hand. This will help the thread become invisible on the right side of the fabric, or at least as invisible as possible, because it allows the least amount of fabric to be picked up by the needle. 
Here are some close-ups of the finished skirt. The scalloped front is really nice in person and the fit is great. My penguin shirt will cover it up, but I am sure I can wear this with a number of things. Won't it look cute with a white cotton blouse? Or even a black or navy sweater? Be persnickety when sewing the curves to ensure they are even, otherwise it may turn out funny. Though mine may not look like mirror images here, they really are. 
As for the back, it is really nice too. Simple is an understatement. I did put in an invisible zipper. I find them way easier than a normal zipper for installation. Follow the direction on the package or go ahead and get a normal zipper. The directions in the pattern call for a normal one and installation is explained clearly. I did have a problem finding seam binding and a zipper to match the yellow color, so I used the nearest thing, light yellow. It works for me and doesn't show when right side out.
I do like this pattern and will probably use it again, but I have a handful of other sewing project to conquer first. Does anyone else have a problem with not enough time to do everything they want or is it just me?
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