The embroidered circle skirt.

I've finally finished my circle skirt for Casey's Circle Skirt Sew Along! Well, almost finished, but I'll get to that in a minute. :)

When I first decided to participate, I was thinking about using corduroy. But right now I couldn't really afford 5 yards of corduroy. :) Then I considered making the skirt out of printed cotton, but all of the other skirts I've made are prints. I finally decided on broadcloth because:

1) I don't even own a solid colored skirt, and I knew it would allow me to match more shirts with it than a print would,
2) It would give me the chance to do some embroidery, and
3) It's only $3 a yard plus I had a 40% off coupon. I can use corduroy or nicer fabric on a skirt that requires much less yardage. :)

I went with a navy broadcloth which is actually a little darker than in looks in these pictures.

Then I agonized over what to embroidery on the skirt. :) At first I wanted owls, but after I picked the navy fabric, I didn't think that would work. I almost went with the Russian dolls in Aimee Ray's Doodle Stitching: Motif Collection book. I didn't actually decide for sure what to embroidery until the skirt was finished except for the hem. I used one of the embellishment motifs in the book.

I used bright pink, cream, light green, light aqua, and brown embroidery floss for the floral embellishment. I had a lot of fun with it, but it took longer than expected. I planned to do three of the designs, but I realized I could only get one finished in time to submit for the sew along party.

So the skirt will have three designs when I finish. I'm going to use the same colors and arrange the other two nearby the finished one. That's what I meant about it not being quite complete. Even though I couldn't get the other two finished yet, I hope to have them finished before Sunday. I'm planning on wearing the skirt to church. :)

{Ignore the faint markings of the flower in the center. I decided to leave that part out, but I haven't washed it out yet.}

As usual, I had a wonderful time participating in Casey's sew along! I did get a little behind, but the skirt was pretty simple so I easily caught up in a few afternoons. This was my first time drafting a pattern. I used the lapped zipper method. I hemmed it the way that I do pretty much all of my skirts and dresses so far: press under .5 inch and then press it under again. Then stitch the hem (by machine. I'm terrible at hand sewing and it would take me forever to hem this enormous hem by hand).

I did have a few little issues, even though it was a simple project. I always wear skirts just below the knee, but I went a little overboard with the length while drafting the pattern. I had to trim about 4 inches off after I cut out the fabric. When I attached the waistband to the skirt, I realized that it didn't have the 1 inch overlap like it was supposed to (where you attach the hooks)- it was just as wide as the top of the skirt. Apparently I measured something wrong, and there was no way that it would work. And I didn't have enough leftover fabric to cut out a new, longer waistband. So I had to go back, rip out the waistband, and add a few extra inches to it. It worked out fine and it's not noticeable at all. :) And finally, I sewed the two hooks in backwards at the side seam. I'm not sure how I managed to do that- I guess I'm just talented.

Thanks to both of my parents for taking the photos! :) And for offering me advice during the whole project like when I couldn't make up my mind over broadcloth colors and embroidery motifs.

Until next time,