From this to this!

Yesterday I looked like this when I screwed up sewing my exposed zipper onto the faux leather skirt.

Today I am like this

ALL SMILES!

I just was not going to let this situation defeat me, so I turned it into what a coworker always calls a "challenge" an OPPORTUNITY!  I searched via Google for examples of sewing exposed zippers; very interesting stuff out there.  Many I had seen before and some new ideas as well.  Thinking about it off and on yesterday evening while out and about with DH, I kept thinking that I could stitch it somewhat like I do with an invisible zipper with the zipper seam not basted together. 

So this morning after sleeping and letting my solution percolate, I was able to install the zipper very nicely if I say so myself!   Not the greatest photo, it was taken with my iPad and I did not adjust lighting, etc. before posting here.

I sewed the center back seam from the bottom edge of the skirt to the marked placement for zipper stop.  I then sewed a stitching line 5/8 from the edge of the open seams above the marked zipper stop; this was used as a guide for me to turn back the edge.  I unzipped the zipper and placed the teeth off the edge of the turned back skirt edge and pinned the zipper to the skirt.  The pin marks would not show as the zipper would be stitched down covering those marks.  I then used zipper foot to attach the right side thus not having any drag problems because zipper foot was not stitching on top of the faux leather.  I then repeated this on the left side. Viola!!!

I have now stitched the side seams and tried on.  I need  to take deeper side seams as I stitched only using 1/2 seam allowance as I was just not sure how the fabric was going to be once sewn together.  The front panel was stitched only using 1/2 inch as well and will adjust that as well.  Taking deeper seams will not present stitching problems as the old stitching line will not be exposed.

This leaves just a few other steps to take before it will be complete.  This is to be my November Garment of the month!!! 

Busy doing some early Thanksgiving cooking.  Updates later!