How to Sew an Elastic Waisted Skirt [it's so easy!]

I am dreaming of spring. Lacy shawls, cardigans knitted with lightweight yarn, flowers blooming, birds chirping, and sewing super simple skirts! You can whip up a few for less than their commercial counterparts while you decide on all of the fun details. Are skirts too short at the stores? Sew a skirt! Want to choose your own fabrics? Sew a skirt! How about thread color? Sew a skirt! Pockets? Sew a skirt! 

Ok I think by now you will know what my answer will be to any question on this post :) So what are you waiting for? Stop into the shop today and we will help you find your perfect skirt fabric (and perhaps some embellishments!)

Supplies needed:

• A sewing machine
• 3" wide elastic
• Lightweight cotton fabric (we have so many choices at the shop!)
• High quality polyester thread (we have a rainbow's worth of colors!)
• Quilting pins (they are easier to see)
• Seam ripper
• Scissors or rotary cutter
• Cutting board or rotary cutting mat
• Lint roller (optional but handy)

1. Designing skirt: Determine how full you would like your skirt and if you would like it at your natural waist or hips. For this XS skirt I chose for the elastic to sit at the waist to fit well on the mannequin. I measured the mannequin's waist and cut the elastic 1" less for a snug fit (2" less total after seam allowance).
2. Determining fabric width: To determine your needed width you can stretch the elastic as far as it will go + 1", or take your elastic's measurement and multiply it by 1.5 to 1.75.
3. Determining fabric depth: To determine the depth of your fabric take the desired length skirt length + elastic width - 1 1/2-2" seam allowance. Cut your fabric to desired measurements.
4. Seam elastic: Thread your machine with your sewing thread. Zig-zag or serge short ends of elastic. Place short ends of elastic together and sew together. Sew seams 1/2" unless otherwise stated.
5. Sewing skirt: Zig-zag or serge long edges of your fabric piece. Place right sides (the fun side with the print) together matching up the short ends, pin the short ends together. Sew short ends together and then zig-zag or serge.
6. Gathering: Thread your machine with a contrasting thread color. Select the longest stitch length on your machine, leaving long ends, sew without backstitching around the top edge just under the zig-zag all the way around, leave long ends before cutting. Pull your gathering sts until waist same size as the elastic. Pin the right sides of the elastic and fabric together.
7. Putting it all together: Re-thread machine with your sewing thread. Sew elastic and fabric waistband together pulling the elastic taut and removing pins as you go using a slight zig-zag stitch if you have it on your machine. Using the seam ripper remove the gathering thread. Now you will see why I wanted you to use a different color :)
8. Hemming: Try on skirt to help determine your hem length. Fold hem inward once (I turned mine about 1"), iron the hem, pin, and sew.
9. Finishing: Trim any loose threads, brush with a lint roller, and give yourself a hand for making a skirt!

xoxo,

Jessica

P.S. If you are making a 23" or less deep skirt you cut the fabric widthwise to get twice the amount of skirts! For example if you wanted a skirt with a hem circumference of 54" buy 1 1/2 yards of fabric, cut it widthwise and you can sew two skirts!

P.P.S. Did you know Makers' sewing studio is coming soon? You'll be able to book studio time and join us for guidance on all of your skirt-making (or other sewing) needs!