Carol Parry from Izzi Wizzi Sewing School teaches us how to create a fabulous summer skirt; perfect for your summer wardrobe!
Recently many of us have been stung by the Sewing Bee, we’re dusting off an old machine we haven’t used in years or buying a new machine but have yet to get it out of the box. Making that first garment especially for yourself can be very scary but it needn’t be so.
“The weather is warming up and it’s an ideal time to take that first step. So I’d like to share with you a very simple summer skirt that you can make by sewing a straight line (or even a slightly wobbly one!) Even a very new sewer can make it. The pattern can be adapted for all shapes and sizes, and you can make it a mini, knee length or a maxi skirt as it’s based on a basic body measurements. You could even make a matching little skirt for the small person in your life!”
Ok so let’s get started!
Requirements: fabric of your choice, measuring tape, pins, matching thread & elastic for your waistband
You need to cut two rectangles of your chosen fabric. You can make this in a stretchy fabric but if you are a complete beginner I recommend using a non stretch fabric for your first attempt. The type of material has a big effect on how the skirt will turn out so think about how your fabric feels and moves.
Step 1: Prepare your fabric
Measure your waist where you want your skirt to sit, then multiply this measurement by 1.5 (if you want a fuller skirt x2, less full x 1.25) *For a child’s skirt I recommend waist measurement x2, nice & twirly!
The length of your fabric rectangle depends how long you want to make your skirt. E.g. For a knee length like mine measure from the waist to your knees then add 5cm for hemming & the waistband casing.
E.g. my waist is 90 cm and I wanted a less full knee length skirt so here’s my maths
90cmx 1.5 =112.5, then I divided by2 =56.25 cm then I rounded up slightly so my rectangles are 57cm wide. My measurement from waist to knee is 50cm I then added 5cm. So I cut my rectangles were 57cm wide by 55cm long
Step 2: Stitch side seams
Pin then sew both side seams using a 1.5cm seam allowance.
Neaten the raw edges with a zig zag stitch .
Step 3: Make the elastic casing & hem
Turn your skirt inside out, fold & press over the 1cm of the raw edge then fold again to create a channel wide enough for your elastic. Pin then sew, remembering to leave a small opening. Thread through your elastic and fasten it temporarily with a safety pin Try on your skirt adjust the elastic to fit comfortably (trim off excess) and to check the skirt length for hemming.
Now overlap elastic and stitch together then slip it back into the casing, sew the gap in the waistband casing closed.
Lastly hem by folding over 1cm to the wrong side then folding again to enclose raw edge, press then sew.
Voila: one simple summer skirt!
Izzi Wizzi Sewing School holds beginners sewing machine workshops near Brecon. For more information, call 01874 625873 or email:
izzi-wizzi@hotmail.com
