Simple Skirt Tutorial

Sometimes its nice to have a couple of quick, easy, no-pattern-required clothing projects in your back pocket. This skirt is just that! It’s very versatile, with an elastic waist and customizable length. I made mine as a midi skirt with Ruby Star Society Warp and Weft! I do suggest a softer, woven fabric with more drape rather than quilting cotton for this skirt, and Warp and Weft was the perfect choice.

What You Need

• 2 yards of fabric (give or take - for my midi skirt and hip measurement of 37”, 2 yards was sufficient).

• Matching Thread

• 1.5” Elastic (I prefer Dritz’s soft waistband elastic).

• Safety Pin

*Note that throughout you will use a 1/2” seam allowance.

Let’s Get Started

1) First things first, you’ll need to take two measurements.

Length: Decide how long you want your skirt to be. Measure from your natural waist to that point, and this will be your length.

Hip: Measure around the widest part of your hips.

Now we’re ready to do some (very easy) math! We’re going to calculate the measurements we need for cutting out our fabric.

Skirt Waist Width: Hip x 0.25 + 2*

Skirt Hem Width: Hip x 0.5**

*For a slimmer fitting skirt, add 1” instead of 2”.

**For a slimmer fitting skirt, substract 1 from this measurement

It’s important to note that these are the measurements I came up with that worked for my body. This skirt is pretty flexible, and I use the hip rather than the waist measurement so that it’s easy to fit over your hips regardless of proportions. That said, it’s always a good idea to make a sample first with fabric you aren’t terribly attached to so you can adjust if necessary!

2) Now it’s time to cut some fabric! We’re going to cut out two skirt pieces on the fold. Fold your fabric the same way it comes off of a bolt so that the fold is parallel to the selvage. (Note: If your skirt measurements don’t fit on the folded width of fabric, you can use a wider fabric or cut four skirt pieces instead and sew them together to emulate the pieces cut on the fold.)

Waistband: Cut out two waistband pieces on the fold, measuring 3” by the Skirt Waist Width measurement.

Skirt: Measure out the Length of your skirt and mark it. Then, mark the Skirt Waist Width and Skirt Hem Width at the top and bottom of the length. Draw a line angling from the waist width to the hem width, then cut out two of these pieces.

3) Lay the two skirt pieces together. I suggest using French Seams to sew the skirt pieces together. If you’re decide not to use french seams, zig zag down the raw edges to finish them, then place them right sides together. Carefully pin the sides and sew with a 1/2” seam allowance, then press open.

4) Fold each Waistband piece wrong sides together lengthwise (hotdog style), then press. Open them up, and sew the two Waistband pieces together along the 3” edge to form a circle. Press those seams open, then re-press the lengthwise seam to form the waistband.

5) Place the waistband around the top of the skirt, right sides together and raw edges together. Pin very carefully and often around the raw edge to ensure the skirt and waistband line up.

6) Lay the elastic over the waistband to ensure that it will fit once the waistband and skirt are sewn together. You want it to be a snug fit, but not so tight the elastic can’t lay flat. Adjusting your seam allowance as needed for the perfect elastic fit, sew the waistband to the skirt. Stop about 2” from the beginning of the seam once you’ve made it around the skirt to allow room for the elastic to be inserted. Zig zag to finish the edge, again leaving a gap for the elastic.

7) Cut the elastic to your waist measurement. Attach a safety pin to the elastic, then using the opening you left in the previous step thread the elastic through the waistband. This may be a bit fiddly - just take your time and keep evening out the fabric along the elastic. Once you have the elastic all the way through and evenly distributed, pin the edges together and do a quick fit test to make sure you don’t need to shorten the elastic.

8) Once you’re happy with the elastic fit, pull both elastic edges out of the casing. Overlap the edges and sew them together. I like to stitch over a few times for extra security. Once the elastic is sewn together, adjust the waistband so the elastic is evenly distributed in the skirt again. Then, sew up the remaining gap in the waistband to close the hole.

9) Fold the hem of the skirt up half an inch wrong sides together and press, then fold it up another inch and press. Pin in place and do a fit check. Once you’re happy with the length, sew around the hem and voila!