How to Sew a Mini Skirt

Mini skirts are a simple sewing project, and they don’t take very much fabric. You can buy a mini skirt pattern from a fabric store or online, or make a basic mini skirt following the directions below. When you measure your hips and waist, the measuring tape should be snug but comfortable, since mini skirts should be tight, but not too tight.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flexible measuring tape
• Fabric
• Matching thread
• 7- or 9-inch zipper
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Zipper foot
• Seam ripper

Cut the Mini Skirt Fabric

1. Measure the fullest part of your hips. Divide this measurement in half and add 2 1/2 inches.

2. Cut 2 rectangles of fabric, each this wide and 3 inches longer than you want the mini skirt.

3. Place the pieces of fabric right sides together and pin them together.

4. Measure your waist, or the place where you want the top of the mini skirt. Divide this measurement by two and add 2 1/2 inches.

5. Trim the upper corners of the fabric so that the top of the mini skirt is this wide.

Sew the Mini Skirt

6. Stitch along one side of the skirt using 5/8-inch seam allowance. Press the seam allowance open.

7. Set the sewing machine to the longest stitch length. Baste the opposite side of the skirt together using 5/8-inch seam allowance. Press the seam allowance open.

8. Turn the zipper pull up. Pin the zipper tape to the basted seam allowance, so the top of the zipper tape is just below the top of the fabric.

9. Attach the zipper foot to the sewing machine. Sew both sides of the zipper tape to the seam allowance only.

10. Set the sewing machine to a normal stitch length. Stitch the side of the skirt below the zipper.

11. Turn the skirt right side out. Topstitch the zipper close to the seam using a zipper foot.

12. Carefully remove the basting stitches using a seam ripper. Make sure to remove any loose threads so they don’t get caught in the zipper.

13. Hem the top edge of the skirt by folding it over about 5/8 toward the inside. Press it flat. Fold it over another 5/8 inch and press it again. Topstitch along the fold using matching thread.

14. Hem the bottom of the mini skirt the same way as the top.

Tips & Warnings

• To make side slits in the mini skirt, leave the bottom 3 inches of the side seams unstitched. Press the seam allowances open, and topstitch the seam allowance in place around the slits.
• Use caution when working with scissors, pins, irons, sewing machines and seam rippers.

[tristatigerpaw]

on 6/29/2009 Wow, GREAT instructions! I hate putting in zippers, but these instructions are nice and simple. I like to do them with stretch material so I can totally skip the zipper and just make it a pull on... Or I just go buy one from CoquetryClubwear.Com for like ten bucks. But I will definately try this "recipe" for the zipper!