Alrighty guys, today we’re going to make a skirt from THIS PATTERN:
NOTE: This tutorial will be mostly about how the pattern works/ how to measure and trace it. Not as much about how to actually sew it. (I don’t know enough about sewing to confidently give out advice)
-FABRIC (I used “Tango Red” Twill)
-FABRIC PENCIL (for drawing your pattern on)
-RED ZIPPER (I used a 7 in one)
-HOOK AND EYE (the clothing kind… looks like this: here)
First thing that you’re going to want to do is measure yourself.
These are the things you want to measure:
-Your waist (optional, not even joking. I left shaping the waist until the end so I didn’t even use the wait measurement I took. If you want to take it then go for it!)
-Widest part of your hips
-The distance from your waist to the widest part of your hips
-The desired length of your skirt (measure from your waist to where you want the hem to be)
It should look something like this:
You could also print that picture out and fill in the measurements on the black lines as you go!
-NOTE: “Inner Length” measurement is up to you. A good reference measurement to use would be the length from the widest part of the hips to the bottom hem of the skirt. Remember that this is where the top of the “slope”/half circle will rest. (so for me the slope would be on the widest part of my hips). From there you can add or subtract until you’ve got it where you want it.
-FOR THE “OUTER WIDTH” you are also free to make it up on your own. For mine, I took the hip measurement and divided it by 3.
From now on I will refer to specific measurements by their name on this sheet.
Take your poster board out. You’re going to want to make your poster board the same length as your “inner length”. So at the edge of your poster mark that length. (sorry if thats vague, I’m finding it hard to word it)
Now for the “poster width”.
I took the “hip measurement” and the “outer width” and subtracted the two:
hip measurement - outer width
I then took that answer and divided by 2.
You should now have your “poster width” measurement!
So, just as before make a mark where that length ends like so:
after that you’re going to connect those two lines with a slope.
The way the slope looks is up to you. This is what it’s going to end up being when your done,
so tweak it until you like it!
When you’re done connecting them cut the shape out!
Get your fabric and IRON THE SHIT OUT OF IT.
Make sure is nice and flat! this is important!
Lay it good side down and grab your fabric pencil. Draw a straight horizontal line that is the same length as your “outer width”. Grab your poster pattern and place it right next to the line like this:
Trace the inside slope of the pattern (only that side).
Now repeat this on the other side, but flip the pattern piece to its other side is facing upwards.
From the top of the slope draw a vertical line that is the same length as your “Waist-to-hip length”. Repeat on the other side. Now connect the tops of those two lines. This new line should measure the same as your “Hip measurement”.
This is what it should look like:
Take your poster pattern and divide it into four equal parts like this:
Trace those pieces onto your fabric. This time you’re going to want to trace it then mirror it and trace it again. Should look like this:
Do that to all four of the pieces! make sure to keep pieces “1”, “2”, “3”, and “4” separate for seam allowance.
Now your ready to cut out your pieces!
MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE FABRIC FOR SEAM ALLOWANCE. DO NOT CUT ON YOUR TRACED LINES.
Fold over and sew the bottom edge of pieces one, two, three, and four.
layer them so that the bottom of piece 1 is overlapping the top of piece 2, the bottom of piece 2 is overlapping the top of piece 3, ect.
It should look like this when your done sewing!:
Now for your other piece. Make the edges folded over and sewn clean!
LEAVE THE “WAIST-TO-HIP LENGTH” UN-SEWN.
Now sew the layered piece with the piece you just sewed!
You should now have a skirt that you can pull on and off!
At THIS POINT WEAR THE SKIRT INSIDE OUT.
On your left side you are going to create a dart. Make sure that the amount of fabric pulled on each side is equal, and pin where you want the dart to be.
Now sew along the pins to make your dart.
This part is kind of difficult to explain, but you’re almost done! You can pull through! Pay close attention.
You need to fold over your “waist to hip length measurement” so that it has a clean edge. It should probably look like this:
You may be wondering why the edges should meet.
This is because we are making a concealed zipper!
though the way I am doing it will save you a lot of heartache. You’d be trying to flip the zipper to fold the fabric and all that junk. I just decided to fold it before I sewed in the zip.
Make sure that way you’re placing the zipper it correct. It’s easy to accidentally sew it in the wrong way! especially when your wearing the skirt backwards.
Take your zipper and pin it to the folded fabric. While its pinned zip it closed and see if it works fine. You can even flip the skirt inside out to see if its right.
If its all good in the neighborhood, then sew!
You should have a zipper that looks like this:
Grab your little hook and eye, on the back of your packaging it should have a diagram with directions of how to sew it on. Hand sew it right above your zipper so that you have a little clasp that will keep the zip from accidentally opening.
Grab your little white buttons and sew them where you think they’ll look nice.
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU’RE DONE!
You’re skirt should now look like this:
Thank you for reading this monster of a tutorial! I hope I could be of some help. Sorry if I was too vague.
BE SURE TO TELL ME IF YOU NEED HELP; I’d be happy to explain it to you until you understand!
Also, tell me if I need to fix anything in this tutorial. I’ll be glad to take good advice!