In this week’s session, I focused on tackling the tricky lining for the Freya dress, particularly the skirt portion.

I demonstrated how to adjust the lining to accommodate the front twist without adding bulk, using creative dart placement.

The process involved careful pinning, fitting, and hand-sewing techniques to ensure a clean finish that maintains the dress’s silhouette.

Demonstration steps:

1. Aligned and pinned the lining to the skirt’s center front
2. Created darts in the lining to remove excess fabric without pulling
3. Hand-basted the new darts to test the fit
4. Adjusted and refined the dart placement for optimal fit
5. Repeated the process for both sides of the skirt front
6. Demonstrated how to adjust the lining around the waist and bodice
7. Explained next steps for finishing the lining, including attaching to the waistband and adding a waist ribbon

Questions & Answers:

• Q: How do you ensure the lining doesn’t add bulk to the front twist?
• A: I created custom darts in the lining to remove excess fabric, allowing it to lay flat against the body without interfering with the outer fabric’s drape.
• Q: What’s the best way to attach the lining to the waistband?
• A: After adjusting the fit, I’ll hand-stitch the lining to the waistband, then cover it with a grosgrain ribbon for a clean finish and added structure.
• Q: How do you handle the lining at the back zipper?
• A: I’ll adjust the lining to sit properly at the center back, ensuring it aligns with the zipper. We’ll add hooks and eyes before the zipper for a secure closure.

This session was all about problem-solving and fine-tuning the lining to achieve a professional finish on our Freya dress. Next week, we’ll continue with finishing the bodice lining and final construction details.