How to Make a Tea-Length Skirt

The poodle skirt was a popular variation of the tea-length skirt in the 1950s.

Reaching the height of fashion in the American 1950s, the tea length skirt remains a popular choice among women because they can wear it at both formal and casual occasions. A true tea-length skirt hits the mid calf roughly four inches above the ankle, though more modern variations that fall just below the knee are also accepted. While many stores sell tea-length skirts, sewing your own skirt is often a more economical choice that offers more room for personalization.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• 4 yards heavy cotton blend fabric
• Fabric pen
• Iron
• Ballpoint needle, size 75/11HS
• 8 yards standard cotton thread
• 3 yards elastic, 3/4 inches
• 40 sewing pins
• 5 yards elastic thread

Instructions

1. Bend to one side and find the natural crease of the waist. Wrap measuring tape around the waist and record measurements in inches. Add four inches for slack to waist measurements. Hold measuring tape at the waist and measure the distance from the waist to roughly four inches above the ankle and again add four inches for slack to measurements.

2. Lay fabric out and fold it in half vertically so that the wrong sides face out and the fold is on the left side of the fabric. Start at the folded edge and mark half the distance of the waist measurements with a fabric pen. Mark the waist to ankle distance starting from the top left corner. Hold the measuring tape at the folded end and mark half the distance of the waist measurements from this point to create a rectangular shape on the fabric.

3. Cut the pattern from the fabric and unfold. Lay the fabric so that the wrong sides face out. Fold the bottom of the fabric up about three inches to create the hem. Iron the seam to hold. Thread the ballpoint needle with at least four yards of cotton thread. Sew a straight stitch along the bottom both directions to secure.

4. Fold the top of the waist over two inches. Iron to press the seam. Cut elastic to the waist measurements plus 1 inch for slack. Leave 1/2 inch of elastic slack on the left hand side and run the rest underneath the ironed fold. Pin to hold.

5. Thread the ballpoint needle with at least four yards of elastic thread. Wrap the skirt around the waist and note the most comfortable fit. Mark with a pin. Sew a top-stitch two ways through the elastic and the fabric. Complete with a zig-zag stitch to secure.

6. Fold the skirt in half with the wrong sides facing out. Use the mark where the elastic fit the waist comfortably as a guide. Hold the measuring tape from this point to ensure an equal distance from the edge and mark the line that will become the side seam. Pin fabric together to hold.

7. Thread ballpoint needle with at least four yards of cotton thread. Sew a straight stitch back and forth down the seam to secure. Turn the skirt inside out to wear.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the same basic measurements for the skirt pattern to add lining to the skirt. Sew lining to the back of the fabric before adding the elastic seam and hem.

• You can purchase decorative appliques at a fabric store and add them onto the completed skirt with an iron or a simple stitch.

References

• "The 1950s and 1960s (Costume and Fashion Source Books"; Anne Rooney; 2009
• "Sew Retro: 25 Vintage-Inspired Projects for the Modern Girl & A Stylish History of the Sewing Revolution"; Judi Ketteler; 2010