How to Make an Easy Paneled Skirt

An easy paneled skirt can flatter your shape. Depending on the fabric you choose, you can make a casual day-to-day skirt or a fancy skirt for events and costumes. Just follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Ribbon, thin cord or other waistband material
• Sewing machine
• Hand sewing needle
• Iron

1. Measure around the widest part of your hips, as well as how long you want the easy paneled skirt to be, then divide by three and add an inch to each layer. The width will let you know how wide you want each panel to be. 45-inch fabric works well for many, but you may prefer 60. If you want smaller than 45 or between 45 and 60, cut only the top layer to be the size you prefer. If you are a petite person, make 6 layers of 45-inch fabric total; if you are not, make seven.

2. Lay your fabric out, and make small incisions on the side at each marker. You can then fold the fabric to line up the incisions, and simply cut across to create a smaller rectangle.

3. Line up the outside of one layer to its other side; and sew together. Then light up the outside of two layers, and sew together the edges. Then one by one, connect three or four (depending on your size). You should end with layers that get progressively larger.

4. Iron a defined 1/2-inch fold for the hem and a 1 1/2-inch fold for the waistband. If you iron the fold thoroughly, you will not need pins and will get an easy and professional-looking hem.

5. Pick the side of the skirt to be the front. If you are inexperienced in gathering, there could be imperfections, but these likely will not show when you wear the dress. If you are more comfortable, you can put them in the back where the skirt flows more easily (because your legs do not push against it when you walk). After choosing, fold the skirt in half and cut 2 approximately 1/2-inch slits an inch from the centerpoint of your fold.

6. Use your hand needle to loop from the inside through the fabric. Then wrap back around to the inside of the holes to create a border on the edges. This prevents fraying and gives the skirt a finished look.

7. Cut your ribbon, cord or other drawstring material about 6 inches longer than the waist of the skirt. Thread the drawstring material through the holes. Done.

Tips & Warnings

• You will need to wrinkle-test the fabric and check the edge for fraying before you make the easy paneled skirt. Crumple some up in your hand for 20 seconds or so. Then see how much it wrinkes.
• If you find bumps in the gathered area, simply rip them carefully, cutting the thread as you go and resew.
• If your gathering doesn't line up, keep carefully ripping the beginning as you approach it until it matches.
• To easily thread the waistband, attach a paper clip or safety pin and slide the fabric around it in small movements.
• Fabrics can surprise you. A good way to judge is to hold it up to your body, and see how it drapes. It varies depending on your size, but you will likely want about 3 yards of either 45- or 60-inch fabric. Add the numbers from the first step to be sure.