Simple Skirt Tutorial with Options for 3 Different Looks

My daughter loves to wear skirts and dresses.  I've been working for the last few days on a few new skirts for her spring and summer wardrobe.  These are very simple skirts but I can change up the look with various options.  I love these skirts, and am so excited to share this tutorial with you! (Don't you just love all these bright and cheery colors for Spring?)

Option 1.  Simple Skirt with Contrasting Band:

Materials needed:
-Fabric (+/- 1/3 yard for main skirt panel and 1/4 yard for contrasting panel)
-Coordinating thread
-3/4 inch elastic
-Ruler
-Scissors
-iron

Determine the length you want your skirt.  Measure from right below the belly button to where you want the the skirt to end.  (The contrasting border fabric will be 3 inches wide.)

Your desired skirt length measurement - the 3 inch contrast band  =  measurement "A"

Measurement "A" + 1.75 inches = length needed for main skirt panel (measurement B)
The contrasting fabric border will be 6.5 inches tall.

1.  Fold the main skirt fabric selvage to selvage and cut the width of the fabric (42 to 44 inches unfolded) by measurement B.   Fold the contrasting border fabric the same way and cut the width of the fabric by 6 1/2 inches high.  Be sure to cut off the selvages. 

2.  Fold the border fabric in half longways and iron.

3.  Lay your main skirt fabric out right side up, line up raw edges of border fabric and raw edges main fabric.  Pin and sew.

4.  Finish the seam edge with pinking shears, a zig zag stitch on your sewing machine or with a serger.  Press the seam flat with finished edge pointing up.

5.  With right sides of the skirt together, line up the raw edges of the side seams.  Pin and sew.  Finish the seam and press flat with iron.

6.  To make the elastic casing, turn the skirt inside out.  Fold top edge over 1/4 inch and press with iron.  Fold the edge over another 1.25 inches and press again.  

7.  Sew along the bottom edge about 1/8 inch from the edge.  Leave a 1 1/2 inch opening in the casing to thread the elastic through.

8.  Cut a piece of elastic to your waist measurement plus 1 inch.  Using a safety pin, thread elastic through the casing.  At this point I like to safety pin the elastic together and have my daughter try on the skirt.  Once you are certain it fits, sew the elastic together using a tight zig zag.  Trim off any excess elastic and and sew the casing closed.

9.  Top stitch around the edge of the contrasting border.

Option 2.  Simple skirt with Ruffled Bottom

Materials needed:
-The same as option one, except you will need 3/8 yard for the contrasting fabric.


1.  For this skirt, cut the main fabric panel the same as option one and cut two 6 1/2 inch strips from your contrasting fabric.

2.  Iron the border fabric in half.

3.  Unfold the ironed border fabric and sew the strips, right sides together, to make one big circle.  Fold the fabric back the way you ironed it.

4.  Line up the side seam of the skirt, pin and sew.  Finish this seam with pinking shears, a zig zag stitch on your sewing machine or with a serger.

5.  Next, set your sewing machine to the longest stitch length and sew a gathering stitch 1/4 inch from the raw edge of the border fabric.  

6.  While holding the fabric firmly, pull on the top thread to ruffle the fabric.  Distribute the ruffles evenly along the circle of fabric.  Keep pulling the thread and distributing the ruffles until the ruffled circle is the same width of the skirt fabric.

I didn't get a picture of the ruffling step, but this is how fabric will ruffle up when you pull the top thread.

7.  Lay the skirt flat, line up the raw edges of the ruffle and the skirt.  Pin and sew the ruffles to the skirt.  Just sew right over the gathering stitch.  Finish this seam and iron flat so the finished seam is pointing towards the top of the skirt.

8.  Flip the skirt right side out and top stitch along the top of the ruffle.

Option 3.  Simple Skirt with Fabric Belt.

Materials needed:
-Same as skirt option 2, but you will need an additional 1/ yard for the belt.

1.  Cut your skirt and border fabric the same as option 1.  Cut main skirt fabric in half so you have a front and back piece.  Cut 2 strips of fabric 27 inches long by 2.75 tall.  (If you want a wider belt, add an inch or two to the height of the belt pieces.)

2.  Iron the fabric ties in half and cut an angle at one end of the fabric ties as shown.  Sew along the edges of the ties, flip them right side out and iron flat.

3.  Take the 2 skirt pieces, fold top edge over 1/4 inch and iron.  Fold over another 1 1/4 inch and iron again.

4.  Unfold the 1 1/4 inch ironed edge and line the raw edges of the belt and skirt fabric as shown.  Do this for both belt pieces.

5.  Line up the skirt sides and pin in place.

6.  See how the belt is sandwiched between the skirt pieces?

7.  Sew the side seams and finish the edges with your pinking shears, zig zag stitch on your sewing machine or with a serger.

8.  Create the skirt casing like you did in skirt option one.  Go slow and be very careful not to stitch into the fabric belt.  I sewed right up to the edge of the belt, stopped my machine with the needle in, lifted the presser foot and flipped the belt tho opposite direction, then kept sewing.

8.  Insert the elastic and sew the ends together.  Close the casing.

9.  Top stitch around the ruffle.

Ta Da!  You've made a new skirt!  Now go find someone to try it on so you can admire your sewing skills!

Work it Girl!

Ahh yes, it is almost wildflower season in Texas!

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