How to Sew a Pencil Skirt

Pencil skirts are stylish and easy to create if you know how to sew. Pair your pencil skirt with a hip length blouse to create a dressy little outfit you'll want to show off. Follow these steps to sew a pencil skirt.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Table Tape measure Scissors Sewing machine 1 to 2 yards of fabric (polyester or satin) 1 to 2 yards of elastic (1 to 1 1/2 inches wide) Thread to match the fabric

1. Using your tape measure, measure your hips and add five inches to the measurement. Make a note of the total measurement.

2. Using your tape measure, measure from your waist down to your knee, and add on 1 to 1 1/2 inches (depending on the width of the elastic you're using), and add one additional inch to that. Make a note of the total measurement.

3. Measure your fabric using the measurements you took and cut the fabric according to those measurements.

4. Pin the ends of the fabric together lengthwise, with the right sides of the fabric facing each other.

5. Sew 1/2 inch in from the edge of the pinned fabric, removing each pin as you sew so as not to hit a pin with the machine needle.

6. Sew an edge stitch along top edge of skirt to prevent fabric from fraying.

7. Take the elastic and wrap it around your waist, stretching it a bit so that it feels comfortable around your waist and is not too tight. Hold the point at which the elastic measures comfortably, and cut the elastic with the scissors.

8. Sew the ends of the elastic together.

9. With the skirt turned to the wrong side, slide the elastic band over the top of skirt and sew the elastic band to edge of fabric, making sure the edge of elastic band is flush with the edge of the fabric. Stretch the elastic band as you sew, so that it fits the skirt.

10. Turn fabric and elastic band in towards the wrong side of the fabric and make a 1-inch long stitch down the seam and through the elastic band to tack the elastic band in place.

11. Sew an edge stitch along the bottom of the skirt to prevent the fabric from fraying.

12. Turn 1 inch of fabric in to the wrong side of the skirt and make a hem.

Tips & Warnings

• If you'd like your pencil skirt to have a slit in it, follow step five, but don't sew all the way to the bottom of the skirt. Stop at the point where you'd like your slit to start, allowing for the 1-inch hem. Wear your pencil skirt with a long dressy blouse if you want to take attention away from a thick waist. Wear a wide belt with your pencil skirt to accent your waistline.