How to Sew a Skirt

Beautiful outfits don't necessarily have to be expensive or designed by someone else. In fact, they can be both affordable and perfectly suited to your personal style. You can make your wardrobe truly unique by sewing your own clothes. Try one of the following methods to create a skirt: an elastic waistband skirt, a flared skirt, or a maxi skirt. People will be impressed by the lovely skirt you've made yourself.

Choose your fabric. You can use any material to sew this type of skirt, and you'll need a piece of elastic about 1 cm wide. For a more structured look, opt for a stiffer fabric. If you prefer a softer, flowy skirt, choose lighter, thinner fabrics for a more graceful feel.

Take Measurements. Use a measuring tape to measure the fullest part of your hips, the smallest part of your waist, and the desired length of your skirt. To determine the skirt length, measure from your hips down to your preferred point on your leg, then add about 6 cm for the waistband.

Cut the Fabric and Elastic. Based on your measurements, cut two large rectangles with a length longer than your hip measurement. Cut a piece of elastic that is equal to your hip measurement minus 2 cm (for example, if your hip measurement is 76 cm, cut the elastic to 74 cm).

Sew the Sides Together. Lay the two fabric rectangles on top of each other, aligning them perfectly. Sew a line along the width of the fabric, about 1 cm from the edge. Iron the seam flat once finished (or before sewing if you can’t keep the two pieces aligned).

Create the Waistband. The elastic waistband of the skirt needs to be covered with fabric, so you’ll need to create a casing for the elastic. Fold the fabric edge down 1 cm and press it flat with an iron. Then fold it down an additional 5 cm and sew along the edge to secure the fabric to the skirt. Leave about 10 cm open to thread the elastic through.

Sew the Hem. Fold the bottom edge of the skirt inward about 1 cm. Press the fold flat with an iron and pin it in place if needed. Sew along the fold to secure the skirt's hem.

Thread the Elastic. Insert the elastic into the waistband of the skirt. Pull it through to the other side and sew the ends together. Secure one end of the elastic with a safety pin to make it easier to thread through the waistband. Close the waistband and finish the remaining edge of the skirt with a hem stitch.

Finalize the Waistband. Adjust the gathering on the waistband so that it is even. Once you're satisfied with the gathering, sew a few stitches at the waistband's edge to attach it to the elastic. Avoid sewing directly over the gathered parts, as it could flatten them. Simply sew at the midpoint of each gathered section.

Choose the Fabric. Flared skirts are typically flowy, so select a fabric that is not too heavy or stiff (we recommend light fabrics such as lace or chiffon). The waistband will be made from an elastic strip, so choose one with the desired width and color. An elastic width of around 7.5 cm is ideal.

Take Measurements. Use a flexible tape measure to measure your hips, typically at the fullest part. Since this is a flared skirt, some calculations are needed to get the right measurements. To calculate the waist radius of the skirt, add 5 cm to your hip measurement, then divide the result by 6.28 to get the waist radius.

• For instance, if your hip measurement is 76 cm, add 5 cm and divide by 6.28 (81 / 6.28). This will give you a waist radius of approximately 13 cm.
• Measure the length of the elastic by adding 3 cm for the hem to your hip measurement. If your hips measure 76 cm, your elastic strip should be around 79-80 cm in length.
• Measure the length of the skirt using the tape measure from your waist to your desired hem length, then add 3 cm for the hem.

Cutting the Paper Pattern. You'll need a piece of paper large enough to cut ¼ of the skirt. Take a tape measure and place the pencil at the hole on the end of the tape. Mark the waist radius on the tape and position this point at the bottom left corner of the paper. Holding the tape measure with your left hand, use the pencil to draw a curve from one edge to the other with your right hand. You'll end up with ¼ of a circle with the right angle at the center.

Measuring the Skirt Length for the Paper Pattern. Choose your desired skirt length. Use the tape measure to mark this length from the waistline on the paper pattern. Draw a curve from one side to the other starting from the marked point. This will create an arc on the paper pattern.

Cutting the Paper and Fabric Pattern. Cut the paper pattern along both curved lines to form an arc strip. Fold the fabric into quarters. Place the paper pattern on the fabric and cut along the pattern. When you unfold the fabric, you'll have a large circular piece similar to a donut shape.

Press the Skirt Waistband. To complete the waistline of the skirt, you'll need to press and finish the fabric edges. This will prevent fraying during use and washing. Fold the fabric edge about 0.5 cm and press it flat with an iron. If you have a serger, use it to finish the edges, or use a zigzag stitch to secure the raw edges.

Sew the Elastic. The elastic will be slightly shorter than the skirt waist circumference to ensure it stretches when worn. Therefore, both ends of the elastic must be sewn together before attaching it to the skirt. Fold the elastic in half and sew a straight line to connect the ends, leaving about 1 cm on each side. Then, separate the remaining elastic ends and sew them into the same elastic band. This will prevent any excess elastic from showing when wearing the skirt.

Sewing elastic into the skirt. The waist of the skirt will gather slightly because the waist circumference of the fabric is slightly larger than that of the elastic band. Position the elastic band close to the waistline and evenly sew the fabric around it. Use as many or as few pins as needed, just make sure the skirt gathers evenly at the waist.

Finishing the waistband. Once the elastic is attached to the skirt, sew the waistband onto the outer side of the elastic. As you sew, stretch the elastic so that it and the fabric are sewn together smoothly. You can use either a straight or zigzag stitch for this step.

Sewing the hem of the skirt. Fold the skirt hem about 1 cm and press it flat with an iron. Fold it again and then use either a straight or zigzag stitch to sew the hem of the skirt.

Choosing fabric. Maxi skirts are often long and require a heavier fabric to hold their shape. Look for a thicker fabric that is not see-through and has enough weight to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions. You'll also need a wide elastic band for the waistband in a suitable color.

• Choose fabric that is wide enough to cut one piece. This guide is designed for a fabric piece long enough to make a maxi skirt, rather than several smaller pieces stitched together.

Taking measurements. The two key measurements for making a maxi skirt are your waist and skirt length. Use a measuring tape to measure the fullest part of your hips. Then, measure from your waist to your ankle (or any length you prefer). This measurement will typically range from 100 cm to 180 cm, depending on your height.

• Measure the length of the elastic by subtracting 3 cm from your hip measurement. The elastic will be tight enough to stay in place without slipping or being too loose.
• Add 3 cm to both the length and width of your fabric for hemming purposes.

Cutting the fabric. Cut a large rectangle with a width equal to your hip measurement and a length of your choice. Cut the fabric and fold it in half along the length.

Sewing a lengthwise seam. Fold the edge of the fabric lengthwise about 1 cm and press it flat. Use a zigzag stitch to sew along the length of the fabric, forming a long tube.

Sewing the waistband. Turn the fabric tube inside out to finish the waistline seam. If you have an overlocker machine, use it to prevent the fabric from fraying. If not, you can also use a zigzag stitch to finish the edges.

Attaching the elastic. Take the cut elastic band and fold it in half, aligning the ends. Use a straight stitch to sew a line 0.5 cm from the edge of the elastic. Turn the elastic right side out and separate the ends. Stitch the ends of the elastic together using a zigzag stitch. This will give the waistband a neat and smooth appearance.

May chun vào váy. Đặt phần eo váy vào bên trong dải chun và ghim cố định. Sẽ có nhiều vải hơn chu vi của chun nên hãy ghim đều tay để váy có độ nhún nhẹ.

May một đường vòng theo cạp chun. Dùng mũi may thẳng để may một đường quanh chun cách mép dưới của chun 0,5 cm. Làm tới đâu, gỡ ghim ra tới đó. Hãy cố gắng may thật thẳng để cạp váy được đẹp.

May viền váy. Gập viền váy vào 1 cm và là phẳng. Dùng mũi zig zag hoặc vắt sổ để tránh bị sổ vải ở viền váy. Sau đó, dùng mũi may thẳng để cố định viền váy.

• Nếu bạn thích chân váy của mình có viền đăng ten, nhìn giống như viền của lớp lót bên trong, hãy đính viền trên của dải đăng ten vào dưới viền váy và may sát viền để lớp váy phủ một chút lên lớp đăng ten.
• Nếu eo bạn nhỏ, bạn có thể thử may váy bằng vỏ gối thay vì đi mua vải. Cắt bên đầu ngắn của vỏ gối đi, bạn đã có sẵn một đường nối ở phía sau váy và một đường viền ở chân váy.
• Bạn có thể may váy búp bê, miễn là bạn lấy được đúng số đo eo của búp bê.
• Nếu không có chun thì dùng khóa kéo thay thế.
• Bạn có thể dùng thắt lưng cũ để mặc váy vừa hơn.

• Make sure to read the instructions carefully before starting, especially if you have never sewn before.
• Always exercise caution when using scissors, needles, and sewing machines.