How to Alter a Skirt

Sometimes you buy what you think is that perfect skirt, but find it needs a little tweaking. Sometimes you just want to make a change. Altering your skirt can improve fit and give your wardrobe new life.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A pattern for the type of skirt you are altering.

Altering Basic Skirt Length

1. Measure and mark the length you want the skirt to be all the way around.

2. Leave 1 1/2 inches from where you want the hem to be and the raw edge (bottom edge of skirt) of the fabric.

3. Surge the raw edge or fold the edge under 1/2 inch, iron and pin in place.

4. Sew the hem with a straight stitch.

5. Remove pins, and press with iron. Then press under where you have marked the hem placement.

6. Finish by either sewing in place by hand, picking up the smallest amount of fabric on the right side of the skirt to secure, or machine stitch.

7. Take out pins and press with iron.

Add Waist to Hip Length

8. Draw an alteration line on the skirt which goes against the natural grain of the fabric.

9. Cut pattern along the line of the alteration you have drawn.

10. Lengthen the grain line on the paper, marking the amount of fabric you want to add to the skirt.

11. Line up the other half of the pattern with the mark you've made as well as with the grain line. Next, tape or pin it in place.

12. Create a new seam line between the waist and the hip.

Reduce Waist to Hip Length

13. Draw an alteration line on the skirt which goes against the natural grain of the fabric.

14. Fold the pattern along the line of alteration you have made.

15. Make a pleat in the skirt which is half the amount of fabric by which you wish to reduce the skirt.

16. Keep the pleat parallel to the line of alteration.

17. Attach the fold in place by using pints or tape.

18. Mesh the seam line between the waist and the hip.

Tips & Warnings

• Try on the skirt after initial measuring and pinning to make sure it's the correct length.