We’ve almost reached the end of my journey, but first — some added flair!

The skirt was complete, so I could have stopped here. I had sewn all the necessary components using our FSCO® Customizable Lolita Skirt Sewing Pattern [physical] [digital] with step-by-step instructions. But what’s a Lolita skirt without thoughtful accents and extra whimsy?

If you haven’t already, I suggest checking out Part 1, Cut & Prep and Part 2, Skirt Sewing for the full story!

While I opted out of shoulder ties, I knew I wanted to add some finishing touches. The shoulder ties are an optional feature included in the sewing pattern’s free bonus content! This bonus content comes with instructions on how to customize your skirt with trims, detachable embellishments, and notions, giving you even more creative freedom.

At this point, I thought I had a solid grasp of the sewing process. On the other hand, adding trim felt advanced. It required careful planning, lots of hand-sewing, and a bit of patience. Unlike the structured steps of cutting and sewing, embellishing is all about personal style. That’s why our instructions feature videos on basic techniques for using trims — not just to teach you how to apply them, but also to provide inspiration for how to make your project unique! 

It was an exciting challenge with a super satisfying result. So, join me as I cross the finish line (not without a few stumbles) and collect some key takeaways along the way.

A Trip to JOANN: The Hunt for the Perfect Trims

On the 11th of February, I got to work at my usual 9 AM, but this day was different — I had an excursion planned! Our patternmaker, Ashley, was kind enough to join me on a trip to JOANN to pick out trims.

By 10 AM, I arrived at the store, proudly carrying my completed (albeit bare) Lolita skirt, and let me tell you, I got distracted. Fabrics, candle holders, frames, seasonal decorations for Valentine’s Day, spring, and St. Patrick's Day — an abundance of cute things! But where was the trims aisle?!

Turning a corner near the fabric paints, I nearly bumped into Ashley. Thank goodness! She knew exactly where to go.

We spent about half an hour browsing trims. It was slightly overwhelming, but, mostly, it was fascinating! I let my eyes glaze over the options, waiting to see what spoke to me. Some trims had the right style but the wrong shade of white. Others didn’t match my skirt’s aesthetic at all, but they were so cool we had to stop and admire them anyway. Holding different trims up to my skirt, we squinted, twisted our faces in thought, and shook our heads. What would look best on my dear little elephants? 

I felt like Goldilocks trying to find just right!

Finally, we settled on:

• White faux pearl beads
  
• A narrow, decorative lace ribbon (officially called white mini gimp trim) with a silky, regal texture
  
• Dark gray bias tape for the bottom hem
  
• Three tiny, pearlesque heart-shaped shank buttons
  

With our selections in hand, we made our way to the cutting counter, did some quick mental math, got our yardages cut, checked out on the company card, and returned to the office.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Shop with your garment (or know its measurements and take fabric swatches)! This will help you coordinate colors, visualize the overall look, and figure out how much trim to buy. Luckily, our sewing pattern includes a yardage chart with trim measurements, so you’ll know before you even step into the store. You can find this info under "Fabric + Material Yardages" on the pattern’s back packaging!

Sew the Trim

Once back, I got Ashley’s advice on attaching the trims. I used a sewing machine for the bias tape, but the rest had to be sewn by hand. Reader, let me tell you: sh*t was tedious.

And yet… it was my favorite part.

Since I was working remotely the rest of the week, I prepped a kit of supplies to take home:

• Tomato pin cushion with pins
  
• Two hand sewing needles
  
• Folding scissors
  
• One spool of white thread
  
• Seam ripper
  
• Assorted pins holding one of my trims in place
  
• My skirt
  
• The remaining, unsewn trim
  

Item #6 ended up foreshadowing a very critical point in my long line of mishaps — but I’ll get to that in a bit. For now, let’s just say, don’t cut your trim until you’re sure it’s the right length. Use more pins rather than less (fewer pins increase the chances of errors, especially for beginners). And don’t forget a non-permanent marking tool (not just a ruler and your eyeballs). 

Sneak peek of where I went wrong.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Just because you’re near the end of your project doesn’t mean you should start skipping steps or rushing ahead. Hindsight is 20/20, my friends!

Lessons Learned, One Trim at a Time

Bias Tape Hem

I decided to use bias tape to create a border along the bottom hem because I knew it would give my skirt a polished look — like a frame around a picture. Using a regular presser foot with a flat, transparent bar in the front (to keep the tape from curling), I sewed down a smooth, gray-toned hem that seamlessly blended with my elephant print fabric. Easy to overlook once the rest was added, it was this small detail that pulled the skirt together.

Gimp Trim

This trim featured delicate cording and ribbon interlaced in a repeating pattern. Originally, we thought we could burn the edges of the cut ends to prevent fraying — only to realize it was natural fiber and would catch fire instead! Machine sewing was also out; the trim was too narrow and sewing down the middle would ruin the design.

So, I folded the end under to prevent fraying and sewed the trim to my skirt by hand instead, using a single-threaded whip stitch to loop the thread around each edge in a steady, diagonal rhythm, again and again, until I made it all the way around. This trim sat right below the waistband and 3″ above the bottom hem.

Remember what I said earlier about item #6 on my list? Well, while I was sewing at home, I suddenly realized I had pinned the trim incorrectly and I was running out of it fast. The ends didn’t meet in the back, leaving an awkward gap. I had extra trim back at the office (thank goodness there were  6″ left over and I only needed 2.5″), but that meant I had to put finishing this part on hold. I felt pretty silly for not marking and measuring properly, or at least bringing the extra trim home with me!

In the end, I patched it up at the office, but if you look closely, you can tell it’s a bit wonky. At least it passes the five-foot rule — meaning, if it looks okay from five feet away, it’s good enough! (A lifesaver for cosplayers and sewists alike.)

Pearlescent Beads Chain

This was my moment. I decided to drape the beads like frosting on a wedding cake, forming loops between the gimp trim and the bottom edge of the skirt. 

By this point, I felt comfortable freestyling! I counted 15 beads to achieve the ideal length for each loop and secured them all 3″ apart — one by one, all the way around. Sitting on my bedroom floor, laptop open, back aching, I sewed, stretched, and sewed some more. 

For the waistband, I wanted 8 slightly larger loops (4 in the front, and 4 in the back). So, I fudged some quick math to sort out where to sew them and marked each location.  Then, I counted 25 beads per loop and repeated the method I used at the hem to sew them down. Why 25? Well, a 20-bead loop looked too short, and a 30-bead loop looked too long, so 25 seemed like the sweet spot! Even so, I was worried the loops would look odd, but the result? Perfect.

Heart Buttons

Last but not least: the buttons. I realized too late that one of them had a weird marking, so I ended up using just two — partly because of the imperfection, but mostly because I was so close to finishing, and two is one less than three (lol — don’t judge me)! 

I chose these buttons on account of their cuteness — heart-shaped with a pearlescent finish that matched the faux bead trim perfectly. Out of all the options in the button section, these fit the aesthetic best (at least, in my opinion!). 

As for sewing them on? I had zero experience with shank buttons, so I completely winged it! But I had gained a lot of insight from working on the rest of the skirt, like securing a hook & eye closure, so it wasn’t a total shot in the dark. Plus, our instructions come with a tutorial video about four-hole buttons, and I even wrote a blog post about how to sew them (here’s a link), so I figured a shank button could be done the same way, just without the extra holes. And honestly? Not too shabby!

In the end, I was content with how the two buttons looked, though a small part of me wondered what three would have been like. In hindsight, I wish I’d checked them more closely at the store. Nevertheless, I felt proud of myself! 

The Grand Finale

With my completed skirt in hand, I had to show it off! Thanks to my awesome coworkers, Nacho (Production Coordinator) and Sarah (Social Media Coordinator), I got some final pics in our office’s little photoshoot space.

Channeling a Casual Lolita look in the skirt I made thanks to our FSCO® Customizable Lolita Skirt Sewing Pattern [physical] [digital].

Hooray for a strong finish! I’m so happy with the result.

And just like that, my first Lolita skirt journey has come to a close, but that doesn’t mean it’s my last. I’ve got my own sewing machine at home, after all, and now that I’ve proven to myself that I can sew (with a little help), I’m ready to take on that Punk Lolita idea I dreamed up in the beginning!

To my fellow beginners and hesitant sewists: if something is calling you to sew, listen! Although I’ve tried my best to put it into words, the feeling of overcoming obstacles to create something yourself is something you have to experience firsthand to truly understand! If uncertainty about where to start, fear of making mistakes, or feeling overwhelmed by the process is holding you back, First Stop Cosplay® is here to help break down those barriers so that you can sew with confidence.

Interested in getting into sewing or cosplay? Many of our sewing patterns are perfect for beginners tackling their first project! Already an experienced sewist looking for more to explore? We’ve got you too. Use the code KARINAJOURNEY15 to get 15% off the physical or digital version of our Lolita Skirt sewing pattern!

Whatever your level, we strive to make sewing more accessible. That’s why we offer size inclusive, premium quality paper and PDF printable sewing patterns with detailed, step-by-step digital instructions including visual guides and helpful reminders. Follow us on social media, join our public Discord, and sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop!

Written by Karina M.