A Stitching Odyssey: Faux Leather McCall's 7253

Hi friends! We're halfway through January already and I'm still getting around to sharing all of my 2017 makes, one of which is this faux leather McCall's 7253 I made for Charlotte as one of her Christmas presents.

The pattern was a freebie with Sew Now magazine and a dead ringer for Charlotte's favourite faux leather RTW skirt. I knew it would be a big hit with her, especially when I found the perfect print from Fabric Godmother. Sadly, this gorgeous floral faux leather is all sold out, but Jodi has plenty of other beauties to chose from!

With just three pleated rectangles and a waistband, the pattern couldn't have come together easier and the sizing was spot on too.

I made a couple of changes, including installing an exposed zip for an edgy finish. It's really not my neatest zip ever, but I'm letting myself off as this was only my second time sewing with faux leather. The other change, inspired by Charlotte's RTW make, was to finish the waistband with bias binding and secure it by topstitching from the front. This RTW technique was perfect for reducing bulk and I'll definitely be using it again.

Tips for sewing with faux leather

Sewing with faux leather is nowhere near as tricky as you may think. Here are some tips I've picked up along the way:

• A lot of faux leather can be pre-washed at 30 degrees Celsius, but test a small piece first
• Always use a needle suitable for leather fabric
• Pin your pattern pieces within the seam allowances to avoid unsightly perforations
• A walking foot will save the day
• If you don't have a walking foot, try masking tape on the bottom of your sewing foot for less resistance/drag
• Increase your stitch length slightly
• Set your iron to a low heat and always use a pressing cloth to avoid direct contact with your faux leather

So, what do you think? Doesn't Charlotte look peachy in her skirt/outfit?

Have you made McCall's 7253 or sewn with faux leather before? I'd love to hear your top tips...