Did you know that you can gather with a serger too? Yep! It’s a handy dandy trick, especially since I don’t have a gathering foot for my sewing machine. You’ll need to up your differential feed and lengthen your stitch. (Test out on scrap fabric to get your settings just right! I’m sure it varies by machine and how tightly you’re trying to gather the fabric, but I think my differential feed was at 2.0 and my stitch was at 4.0) Perfect gathers and no pulling a stupid thread to try and get it even.
Sadly, my serger broke again in the middle of construction. (I assure you, it had nothing to do with gathering fabric.) The most devastating part of all of this was that I had to do a real hem on this skirt to finish it up. (I LOVE rolled hems!) So anyway, it’s back in the hospital getting it’s motor replaced- and I’m seriously considering a new serger. And this time I will not be going with Husqvarna Viking. This is the second time that the motor has given up….the last time was about 6 months ago. That track record makes me a little nervous. I feel a little sad because all my machines are Vikings. But they have failed me with this machine so it’s time to look elsewhere. I am looking at Bernina and Baby Lock right now. If you have a serger that you love (and the motor hasn’t gone out twice on you) then please let me know!
Back to the Art Gallery skirt! I made Haley a skirt with the Spellbound and Nature Elements fabrics and we’re both in love with it! (By the way, the tonal solid prints in Nature Elements are great! And you guys obviously love them too b/c they are selling well!) She requested an ankle length skirt. I knew I wanted to use multiple fabrics and have it go together quickly. So the tiered peasant skirt seemed like a natural fit!
I didn’t have a pattern, I just used her waist measurement as the starting point. Each tier is 1.5 times longer than the one above. Next time I’m going to up that to 2 or maybe even 2.5 to give her a little more twirling power. My girl loves to twirl! I also cut out a few of the floral motifs to applique onto a shirt. She has worn it for 3 days straight – so I’m pretty sure it’s a hit.
Patricia Bravo, the designer (and owner) of Art Gallery Fabrics, is from Argentina. I realize this may not be important to you – but for me that makes her extra special since I studied in La Plata during college. Anyway, she is really incredibly sweet and I can’t wait to see what she has worked up for Quilt Market this year!
Be back tomorrow with the last You Made It winner(s). I have not even started writing that post – so it’s not too late to add pictures to the Flickr group. I think you ALL should win because everything you have made is SO great. It breaks my heart that I can’t feature every single picture!
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