How to Sew a Wrap Skirt

Sewing a wrap skirt is the easiest wardrobe item for a beginning tailor. There are no zippers, buttons or clasps to sew. Furthermore, the fit of a wrap skirt is very forgiving. Whether you're sewing this for yourself or as a gift, you don't need the recipient's exact size. If you can operate a sewing machine, you can make a wrap skirt.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2½ yards of 44-inch cotton fabric
• Pins
• Thread
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Medium gauge drawstring

1. Wrap the fabric around the hips of the wearer to ensure that the skirt is large enough to remove easily. Mark the desired girth of the skirt with some straight pins.

2. Lay the fabric down on the floor, wrong side out. Smooth the fabric out and pin down the side of the skirt.

3. Sew a ½ inch seam down the side of the skirt, using a small stitch. Press the seams open and turn the skirt right side out.

4. Turn the waistband of the skirt under ½ inch and press this seam to stabilize without pins. Turn the seam over again, sewing an enclosure for the drawstring.

5. Find the middle of the waistband you just sewed and cut a small slit in the center of the drawstring enclosure. Knot both ends of the drawstring and thread it through the waistband by scrunching up the waistband and pulling the string with a large safety pin.

6. Try on the skirt before you complete the project. Place some pins in the bottom to create the desired length of the skirt, leaving an extra inch for the hem.

7. Take the hem of the skirt and press a ¼ inch seam in it. Turn the hem under an additional inch and sew the finished hem. Press the final hem for a finished appearance.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're making this skirt for the first time, use the first skirt as a beach cover-up. Perfect tailoring isn't needed at the beach or poolside.
• Embellish the skirt with rickrack, ribbon or lace if desired.