You have many options for the skirt and the choice is yours. The inset panel made in lesson 8 should be your first skirt, but try other options as well. As with any other skill, the more you practice, the better you get.

Here are two illustrations of other decorative options you might want to try. As you can see, you can go as simple or as elaborate as you want and all will be beautiful. You might also want to try adding to the width of the skirt to make it fuller. The pattern gives you the minimum skirt width. If you make your skirt fuller, you will also want your petticoat to be fuller. One of the greatest joys of working with heirloom sewing is the chance to be creative!
Add lace and ruffles and more lace and more ruffles!!

Once you have the inset, lace, and ruffling finished on the flat skirt piece, the skirt will be constructed as usual. All of the finishing can be done, including the hem edge and back opening edges, before you sew up the center back seam.

1. Gather the waist edge to fit the waistband of the skirt.
2. Press under one long edge of the waistband.
3. Sew the raw edge of the waistband to the gathered edge of the skirt, leaving a 1/4" overhang of waistband at each end.
4. Press the ends of the waistband in and fold the long pressed edge to the inside. Finish by topstitching or overcast by hand.
5. Sew the center back seam up to the finished edges of the back opening. Press the seam open.