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How to Make a Skirt at Home in Simple Steps
Skirts never go out of trend, do they? A skirt is an important piece of your wardrobe that suits all occasions. Right from lunches with friends to formal dinners and parties, they are your best friends.
There is something about wearing a skirt. Styling up a skirt is an easy and elegant task. You can wear it with anything and everything.
As summer approaches, everyone tries to look for a skirt that gives utmost comfort and a stylish look. Are you the one who loves wearing a skirt on those sunny days?
Do you like a skirt in a store that is too expensive or doesn’t fit you? Thinking if there’s a way you can make a skirt for yourself at home?
This tutorial is all about learning how to make a skirt for yourself at home. With these step-by-step instructions and pictures, you will be able to make a simple yet beautiful skirt at home.
How to Make a Skirt at Home: Different Types of Skirts and Patterns
Before we learn how to make a skirt, it is essential to understand the types of skirts available for women. There is a wide variety of women’s skirt types and patterns. Each skirt is designed for different occasions and events.
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Choosing the right skirt type is essential for anyone who is just starting how to sew a skirt. For a beginner, here are some of the types of skirts you can consider sewing:
A-line Skirt
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These 60s favorite skirts are back in fashion due to their stylish silhouette. A-line skirts are those skirts that are wider at the hemline than at the waistline.
You can keep it as long or as short as you want. They look fantastic in all body shapes.
Denim Skirts
A Demin skirt is the most popular and the easiest type of skirt. They look amazing with a basic t-shirt and casual sneakers.
It can be worn at casual lunches, parties, or other occasions.
Straight Skirt
Straight skirts are fitted around the hips and waist and create a straight line as you go down.
These skirts are a bit loose around the knees and below that. Straight skirts are also considered a business outfit.
Gathered Skirt
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These skirts are made from light fabrics that can be sewn to gather around the waistband. Hourglass or rectangle shape women can opt for gathered skirts.
Tutu Skirt
Tutu skirts are short skirts made from a thin mesh or sheer fabric called tulle. The length of tutu skirts varies from short to knee-length.
These skirts are not just for ballerinas and little girls, but many fashionistas nowadays wear them. Want to know how to sew a tutu skirt? Check our comprehensive guide on how to make a tutu skirt at home with simple steps.
Pencil Dress Skirt
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These types of skirts have become valuable clothing in many women’s wardrobes. They are perfect for working women and match different body shapes without much effort.
If you are learning how to make a skirt or how to make clothes for summer, then you should not forget to choose a pencil dress skirt.
Flared Skirt
Do you want to have a combination of a straight skirt and an A-line skirt? Don’t worry. Flared skirts are for you.
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They are fitted around the hips and waist and flared at the bottom. If you wear long flared skirts for the evening occasion, then they look amazing.
Tube Skirt
Tube skirts are similar to pencil skirts. They are made in the way, but the stretchy fabric is used for making tube skirts. It makes them ideal for a sport-casual or casual outfit.
Pleated Skirt
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Pleated skirts have vertical pleats from top to bottom and sit above the knee. They come in different lengths and styles.
Pleated skirts are a must-have for women with a petite shape as they add volume to your figure. Be it prom parties or street events, wear pleated skirts with confidence.
Mini Skirt
The mini skirts are such a catcher. These skirts hug your body and carry you from day tonight. If you have a diamond or pear, or apple body shape, you can choose mini skirts and give yourself a stylish spin. Choose a denim fabric when you learn to sew a mini skirt.
Circular Skirt
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As the name suggests, these skirts form a round look instead of a puffy or straight silhouette. Circular skirts are versatile because they suit all body types. Choose a circular skirt and get ready to sleek every fashionista’s daywear in a stylish way.
Skater Skirt
Skater skirts are everyone’s absolute favorite. These skirts flatter on all body types and help you get a sexy look while being comfortable. It can be styled with a leather jacket for a super hot appearance.
How to Make a Simple Skirt at Home in 15-20 Minutes
When you first start sewing, you would look for a simple sewing project that takes less time and effort. Learning how to make a simple skirt doesn’t have to cost you much.
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With simple how to make a skirt step by step instructions, you can add your own touch to different types of clothes.
All you want to begin your journey are some simple sewing kit essentials, fabric, and an elastic band. The best part about making your own skirt is that it gets ready in just 15-20 minutes. So, let’s begin.
Supplies You’ll Need
Here are a couple of supplies you will require for learning how to make a simple skirt:
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-
- Sewing machine
- Sewing pins
- Free PDF skirt sewing pattern
- Cotton/viscose/linen fabric
- Matching sewing thread
- Scissors
- ¼ inch wide elastic
Get Your Measurement
Regardless of the type of skirt you want to make at home, it should fit your body well. The lower body, hips, and waist should look flattering, and your legs should look gorgeous and slim.
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To begin your project of how to make your own skirt at home, you should first place your skirt on a flat surface and use a measuring tape. You can also measure a specific part of your body to determine the skirt size, length, and fit.
Here are some measurements that you should consider.
Waist
You should use a measuring tape for a perfectly fitted skirt and place it around your waist. Measure your natural waist and pay attention to the narrowest part of your torso. You should have one more inch to your measurement for a casual fit.
Hips
Place your tape measurement on one end of your hip, fit it around your hips, and start measuring the circumference of the hip’s widest part.
Skirt Length
The length of the skirt is how long you want your skirts to be. Stand straight and keep a natural posture. Start measuring from the middle of your waist to the area you want your skirt to be.
Determining the length of a skirt depends on the type of skirt you want to make. If it’s a mini skirt, then measure till mid-thigh.
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Skirt sizing guide:
| SIZE (LETTERS) |
XXS (0) |
XS (2) |
S (4-6) |
M (8-10) |
L (12-14) |
XL (16-18) |
XXL (20) |
XXXL (22-24) |
|||||
| Fits natural waist measurement | 25 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 34 | 37 | 39 | 41 | |||||
| Fits hip/seat measurement | 35 | 37 | 39 | 41 | 44 | 47 | 49 | 51 | |||||
|
SIZE (NUMBERS) |
0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 |
| Fits natural waist measurement | 25 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31.5 | 33 | 35 | 37 | 39 | 41 | 43 | 45 |
| Fits hip/seat measurement | 35 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41.5 | 43 | 45 | 47 | 49 | 51 | 53 | 55 |
Skirt lengths:
| Skirt Length | Size |
| Length – Short (Very Petite) | 30″ |
| Length – Short (Petite) | 33″ |
| Length – Regular | 36″ |
| Length – Long (Tall) | 39″ |
Hemline
This is the end of your skirt. For taking the measurement, you can place the tip of the tape measure on one end of the hemline and reach it till the other end.
Choose Your Fabric and Elastic
Anyone who loves twirling would also love skirts. Do you know which are the essential elements of your skirt?
It’s the fabric of the skirt. With so many different types of fabric available in the market, it will be tough to choose the right one for your DIY project.
If you have a fabric “stash” at home, then you can pick from it, or you may need to visit a fabric store to begin your journey of how to make a skirt from fabric.
Many new fabrics will shrink when you wash them for the first time. So make sure you wash it, dry it and iron it before starting sewing. Do not forget to look at the care labels for washing instructions.
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Here are some fabric recommendations to help you learn how to make a skirt from fabric.
Best Fabric for Circle Skirts
Cotton is one of the most popular materials for circle skirts. In the late 1950, many people preferred satin for making a circle skirt.
Since it’s a difficult fabric to work with, it is not recommended for beginners. If you are a beginner just learning how to make a full skirt without a pattern, then cotton will be best for you.
Best Fabric for Pencil Skirts
For pencil skirts, you can choose any kind of fabric with some stretch. For the lining, you can use silk or lightweight cotton fabric. A lightweight cotton blended fabric will work best.
Best Fabric for Mini Skirts
Mini skirts were the great fashion statement of the 80s and 90s. These skirts require a small amount of fabric, but it has to be stretchy. Denim, cotton, or knit fabric will be great for making mini skirts at home.
Best Fabric for A-line Skirts
Learning how to make a skirt will be easy if you have a fabric that moves and drapes well. You can choose crepe de chine, wool jersey, silk broadcloth, rayon, or cotton knits for your DIY A-line skirt-making project.
Best Fabric for Bubble Skirts
A bubble skirt is folded under the hem to create a bubble-like effect. You can use light tweed, linen, or brushed cotton for sewing bubble skirts.
Best Fabric for Maxi Skirts
The comfortable and lightweight fabric is recommended for a DIY maxi skirt project. These types of skirts allow a lot of versatility if you choose the right fabric.
Want to achieve a flowing and elegant look? Choose taffeta or chiffon with a lining.
Want to make a comfortable and casual maxi skirt? Choose cotton or jersey fabrics.
Bonus Tip: You should use plain colors or small prints. Avoid using stripes as it will be challenging to match them well.
How much fabric to buy for making a skirt?
To start your journey of how to make a flowy skirt, you should buy a fabric that is wide enough to fit your skirt shape and has an extra eight inches.
One yard will be sufficient if you have a 54-60 inches wide fabric. You will also need to buy the same for the lining.
For the elastic measurement, you need to cut the elastic similar to hip measurement but one inch less. For example, if your hips measurement is 28 inches, your elastic must be 27 inches.
Draft the Pattern Pieces
Learning how to make a simple skirt without a pattern will be difficult for beginners or intermediate. This tutorial uses a paper pattern to help you save time.
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Once you have your measurement, you will need to prepare a paper for cutting the skirt. Use a large piece of paper that can occupy your measurements.
Use a pencil and measuring tape to find the radius. As you proceed, use a pencil to mark the points.
Choose the length of the skirt and mark it on the paper at a distance from the pencil’s mark. Connect the edges of the paper, starting with your hips measurement. By this time, you will have a circular shape on the paper.
Start cutting the paper along with the lines you just marked. You need to fold your fabric in half size. This will be become the front piece and make it identical to the back piece.
Each of these pieces of the skirt should be of the same width. At last, the fullness of the skirt will be 1.7x your waist measurement.
Sew Side Seams
Lay two rectangle pieces of the fabric on top of each other so that they are even. Keep ½ inch seam allowance on it and sew them together. Once you are done, don’t forget to iron to flatten the seams.
Create the Elastic Casing
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Learning how to sew an elastic waistband will be easy once you have the right measurements. The elastic should be hidden inside the fabric, so you need to make a fabric casing to cover it up.
Fold top ½ inch of the material and press it using an iron. Keep four inches near one of the seams to insert the elastic. Now, fold the fabric to extra two inches and use the topstitch to secure the pressed area to the skirt’s body.
Sew the Hem
Start folding the bottom part of the skirt by ½ inch and use iron to press it. Use sewing pins to hold the fabric pieces. Topstitching is used to sew the hem in place.
Add the Elastic
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Now comes the best part. For inserting an elastic, you need to cut a bit into the elastic casing. Start pulling the elastic until you reach the other side.
Use a straight stitch to sew the pieces together. You can use safety pins to hold the elastic while you insert it into the casing. Use a top stitch and backstitch to secure the seam.
Finishing and Touches
By this stage of how to make a women’s skirt, you will have a skirt with raw edges. You need to give some finishing touches to your skirt. Cut any thread that is not required. Double stitch everything to avoid any uncomfortable moments.
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TADA! You have just made a skirt on your own. Enjoy this moment and showcase your sewing skills to others.
Once you know how to make your own long skirt, you can try your hands-on how to make a corset. Our step-by-step instructions will help you get to the end without much effort.
Anything you make at home, do not forget to highlight your sewing skills using Superlabel Store’s super easy, super custom, and high-quality,
Showcase your DIY sewing project with confidence.
Conclusion
Skirts are versatile pieces of clothing. They can be worn everywhere and anywhere. Why not learn to make skirts at home?
With this tutorial, you will be able to polish your sewing skills and showcase them to people. When you make something at home, the feel and love of that clothing piece can’t be explained in words.
Cherish those moments and enjoy your sewing projects!
Happy sewing!
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