Welcome to day 2 of the Coastal Cargos sew along! Today we’re tackling that zipper fly, which seems scary but I promise it isn’t.
In case you’d like a supplement to the pattern instructions, or you just want to pin zip fly instructions for reference, I use the same technique on the denim skirt in this post.
So today I wanted to share a couple tips on finishing edges those fly shields and fly facings. I use a serger to finish my edges, but if you don’t have a serger you can also use a faux overlock stitch, which is shown in this post.
If you are serging the edges, it can get tricky to sew around corners or across curves without cutting into them. So here’s how I do it.
Start by serging one edge. As you get close to the end, hand crank the machine so you go just one stitch past the end of the fabric.
Lift the foot, turn the fabric, and get the corner as close to the needles as you can. Put the foot down and serge the next side.
The picture above is what my corners look like when done. Also notice I didn’t tie off my end on the right side when I cut it. Whoops.
To finish the fly facing I stretch the edge as straight as I can while serging. This results in the stitches being a little loose right in the corner, but still holds fairly well.
And here’s the fly on my pants so far. I really should have moved it down just a little further – I’m going to have to watch those metal teeth when I sew the waistband now. Also, I’ve chosen not to do the front pockets or back welt pockets on this pair of pants. But if you’re doing them, today would be the time to tackle them. If you’d like another look at those welt pockets, check this post.
Don’t forget to show off your beautiful flies and pockets in the Blank Slate Patterns Facebook group! If you’re in to Instagram, you can also tag with #bspcargosewalong or just #blankslatepatterns.
See you tomorrow as we continue sewing along!
Monday: Fabric Selection and Preparation
Wednesday:Â Bias tape making & outseams
Thursday –Â Cargo pockets and inseams (and maybe a video if I get a chance!)
Friday –Â Waistband and finishing
Marieke
Nice, I was going to ask you about finishing those curves on the serger! Can’t wait to try tonight. Last time I did it didn’t work so well…
Mae
Oh shoot, I didn’t realize the sewalong was starting so quickly. Mb I can get caught up?? 🙂
Mae