A few years ago, I posted a very simple tutorial for making a super quick gathered skirt with lining. I made several of these simple skirts since, but the underlit pictures in the tutorial kept bothering me. As I was making another pair of the skirts for my daughters’ Winter wardrobes, I decided to quickly redo the illustrations of the steps.
What makes these skirts so quick and easy, is that they do not have a separate waistband. Instead, the elastic band is inserted in a tunnel which is created between main and lining. Easy peasy!
When Lieselot of Bambiblauw managed to get a few bolts of Liberty of London’s highly sought-after Queue For The Zoo fabric into her shop a few months ago, I didn’t hesitate and quickly bought half a meter. This was just enough fabric to make a skirt for Norah and one for Ava, but that will probably no longer be the case in a few months, so I really had to make the skirts now.
Okay, let’s get to the tutorial!
Materials:
– woven fabric for the main skirt
– woven fabric for the lining
– elastic to insert in the waist (preferably at least 1″ (2.5 cm) wide)
Instructions:
1. The skirt is made of 4 rectangular pieces of fabric: 2 for the main skirt, and 2 for the lining. Each rectangle has the following dimensions:
In case you’re wondering:
– For my 5-year old, I used pieces of 28 cm (11″) high, and 66 cm (26″) wide.
– For my 2-year-old, I used pieces of 22 cm high (8.5″), and 55 cm (21.5″) wide.
2. Serge or zigzag the two short edges of each panel. Next, put one main and one lining rectangle with right sides together, and the print directed upwards (not upside down). Stitch along the top edge with a 1 cm (3/8″) seam allowance. Repeat for the other main and lining rectangle. Press the seam allowance toward the lining.
3. Put the two pieces you created in step 2 with right sides together. Stitch the side seams with a 1 cm (3/8″) seam allowance. Press the seams open.
4. You now have a tube. Fold the lining into the main skirt, so that they are with wrong sides together. The fold you make is at the seam you created in step 2. Press this fold.
Next, we will create a tunnel for our elastic band by stitching two lines. The first line is at the edge of the fold. The second line is at [width of elastic + 5 mm (1/4)”] from the first line, so that there is enough room (but not too much) for the elastic.
5. Next up is hemming the main skirt and lining. Fold the edge of the main skirt 1 cm (3/8″) to the wrong side and press. Fold in by 1 cm (3/8) again, and press again.
Fold the edge of the lining 1.3 cm (1/2″) to the wrong side and pres. Fold in by 1.3 cm (1/2″) again, and press again.
6. Finally, we’ll insert the elastic band. With your seam ripper, undo some of the stitches in one of the side seams of the lining, so that you can get into the tunnel. Use a safety pin to insert the elastic into the tunnel.
7. Try to estimate the ideal width of the elastic band by fitting it on your girl, or by comparing to a finished skirt. Next, stitch the ends of the elastic together, and secure by running a few zigzag lines. Cut off the ends of the elastic band (but not too close to the zigzag stitches).
8. Finally, close the opening in the side seam with a few hand stitches. Your skirt is finished!
Would you like to learn how to add in-seam pockets to this skirt (or to any other garment)? Check back next week!