Sew Alongs / All / Evelyn

Now we are ready to attach the prepared waistband. We’ll also add the slit facing and sew the hem to finish our View C skirt.

SEW THE WAISTBAND TO THE SKIRT

Take your sewn waistband and pin the right side of the waistband to the right side of the skirt waistline with raw edges up. The waistband facing with understitching will be facing up. Matching the center back and center front notches, sew the seam, starting at the front waistband seam, and continue around until you get back to the other seam. Stop on either side of the front of the waistband.

The waistband of the Evelyn Skirt is shown pinned to skirt.
The waistband of the Evelyn Skirt is shown sewn to skirt.

SEW THE WAISTBAND AT THE CENTER FRONT

Open the center front waistband. Pin the front waistband, which is the outer layer when worn, to the skirt at the center front waistline. Sew the seam so that the outer waistband is fully attached to the skirt. Leave an opening to insert the elastic.

INSERT THE ELASTIC

Thread the elastic through the waistband, being careful not to twist the elastic.

A piece of elastic with safety pin attached is inserted into the Evelyn Skirt waistband.

PIN THE ELASTIC IN PLACE & TEST FIT

Pin the elastic in place at the front seams. Now is a good time to try on your skirt to confirm the elastic comfort. Adjust as necessary. As you are trying on your skirt, double check the length. The finished length will be 3/4” (2 cm) shorter than the cut edge. You can trim from the hem if needed.

Pins are shown at each side of the the center front Evelyn Skirt waistband.

SECURE THE ELASTIC IN PLACE

Once you are happy with the elastic length, secure the elastic by stitching through all layers. Hide your stitching by sewing in the front waistband seams.

A machine topstitches through the center front waistband seams.

CLOSE THE WAISTBAND AND FINISH THE SEAM

Finish sewing the front waistband to the skirt and finish the seam. Press the seam allowance towards the skirt.

Inside of the Evelyn skirt shows the waistband with finished edge.

SEW THE SLIT FACING TO THE SKIRT

Mark the top curve on your slit facing to help guide you while sewing. With the right sides together, pin the slit facing to the skirt. Shorten the stitch length around the curves and go slowly to get a nice shape. When you come to the hem, pivot and sew the hem of the facing at 3/4” (2 cm). Trim the corner and the slit seam allowance to half. Clip the top curve to further reduce bulk and turn the facing right side out.

The seam allowance is marked in yellow on the wrong side of the front slit facing.
The front slit facing is shown pinned to the skirt front.
The front slit facing is shown sewn to the front slit.

UNDERSTITCH THE SLIT FACING

To help your slit facing stay to the inside of your skirt, understitch the facings. Understitch by stitching a line 1/16”
(0.15 cm) away from the seam. Make sure to catch the seam allowance towards the facing when stitching. You won’t be able to get to the hem corners or the top curve, but understitch as much as you can. Press your facings in place. Add a few pins at the top of the slit to secure the facing in place, but you will not edgestitch just yet.

An iron presses the slit facing to the inside of the Evelyn Skirt
The slit facing is shown pinned to the wrong side of the Evelyn Skirt.

SEW A FOLD GUIDE ON THE HEM

With the corners wrong side out, prep the skirt hem by stitching a fold guide at 1/4” (0.6 cm). Press the hem up 1/4” (0.6 cm), wrong sides together.

A line of stitching is shown 1/4" from the bottom of the skirt.

PREP THE SKIRT HEM

Turn the hem corners right side out. The pre-pressed edge will be folded under 1/4” (0.6 cm) and the skirt will have a 1/2” (1.25 cm) hem. Pin in place.

The skirt hem is shown pinned and pressed.

EDGESTITCH THE SLIT & HEM

Pin the edge of your slit facing and hem all the way around the skirt. Sew from the wrong side during this step, edgestitching the facing in place at 1/16” (0.15 cm). When stitching from the wrong side, make sure your bobbin thread matches the right side of your garment.

The Evelyn Skirt is shown from the wrong side and pinned up at the hem.
The front slit and hem of the Evelyn Skirt are shown topstitched.

FINAL PRESS

You are finished. Give your Evelyn Skirt a final press!

A finished view of the Evelyn Skirt, view C.

Evelyn Sew Along Posts | Getting Started | Sew Skirt Seams & Facings of Views A&B | Sew Waistband & Buttons of Views A&B | Sew Skirt Seams, & Waistband of View C | Attach Waistband, Sew Slit Facing & Hem View C