the pattern is the ladies skirt with scalloped edge, number 0200.  My sewing level is advanced/professional.   I would rate this pattern a 4,  although everything went togeether well and easily,  I did not neccesarily follow the instructions.  They were often vague.  For this reason I felt that a person without alot of sewing knowledge might have some problems with the finishing work.  Basic skills would be enough for the general sewing of this skirt.  The more advanced sewers would have fun perfecting their finishing skills.  Giving some methods for the bias tape application would be helpful to alot of begining sewers. I made one style alteration by finishing the waist with a bias strip. The only pattern alterations that I made were for fit only.  I kept the design as true as possible.  I made one true to the pattern size.  It fit a friend very well (she is smaller then me), but the general fit and lay of the garment were fine.  To size up the pattern I just used grid paper and graded the pattern to the right measurements,  keeping true to the style lines.

I started by finishing the scallops I used interfacing here to add some body to the scallops. This gave them a nice sharp crisp look.  I used a strip of bias cut from skirt fabric to finish the scallops.  After layering the skirt, interfacing and facing, lining up the scallops. I actually layered these together before I cut the piece, and cut the layers as one, this way I know the scallops will line up exactly.  I then sewed the bias strip to the right side of the layered pieces.  Clipping the seam allowance of the bias strip at the inward corners to help the strip lay flat.  I then fold and press the bias strip over the seam allowance and back to the facing side.  Turning under the raw edge of the bias strip I hand stitched the bias strip to the stitching line.  This way I had sharp points, clean corners and and the strip layed flat leaving me with sharp crisp scallops.   The general skirt construction was a matter of front, back and sides, finish and press. When it came to finishing the top I opted to layer the facing, interfacing and skirt fabric (wrong side together) and using the same technique described earlier to apply a bias strip at the waistband.  Hems, hooks, buttons and its ready to be worn.

I did one skirt in a beautiful black,blue and gray strip taffeta with black chystal and pewter buttons.  I couldn’t find 14 the same size so I did 10  in one size and the 4 top in a slightly smaller size, this worked well.  The second skirt I did I used a dark green (taffeta again), for this skirt I found a beautiful mother of pearl button with gold filigree work. Wow this button made the dark green come alive. 

Again thanks for your time…