How to Make a Cute Skirt
Designers select different skirt lengths each fashion collection season. Textile patterns as well as fabric types influence designers on the silhouette and style. The finished length influences the skirt silhouette such as in a sarong, a-line or pencil. Making a cute skirt such as a summertime sarong will require waist to ankle as well as hip measurements and a fabric with sufficient drape. Sketching or drawing the sarong and adding any trimmings to the sketch will guide pattern-making and construction.
Things You'll Need
- Flexible tape measure
- Pre-made sarong skirt pattern
- Pattern paper
- Marker or pencil
- Yardstick
- French curve ruler
- Scissors
- Lightweight fabric (3- to 4-yards)
- Straight pins
- Sewing machine
- Sewing machine needle
- Iron
- Drawstring (your choice)
Instructions
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1
Measure your skirt length by placing your flexible tape measure on your waist. Measure the length from the waist to the ankle. You can also opt to change your length to a short sarong skirt.
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2
Measure your hips by placing your tape measure around the widest area of your hips. According to "Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts," you should multiply your hip measurement "by two and add 2 inches." A sarong requires extra yardage. Following a specific pattern formula ensures that your skirt will wrap around your hips with sufficient drape.
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3
Trace a pre-made skirt pattern resembling your sarong sketch on pattern paper with your marker or pencil. Although you can make the pattern yourself, use a pre-made pattern for knowledge of notches and drape.
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4
Adjust your traced paper pattern with your dimensions using a yardstick for your length as well as a French curve ruler for any shaped seams. It is also important to add your notches, used to align your skirt parts during construction as well as your seam allowance.
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5
Cut your paper pattern with your scissors.
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Pin your pattern onto your skirt fabric, such as lightweight cotton voile, with your straight pins. Make sure you pin in the seam allowance area to avoid any pinholes into delicate fabric. It is important to use lightweight fabric for this project to ensure you have sufficient drape at the front of your sarong.
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Stitch your front and back panels together with your sewing machine. Make sure you change your sewing machine's needle to accommodate your lightweight fabric to avoid punctures into the sideseams.
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8
Fold your skirt's raw edges using a double fold hem at the waist, bottom hem, and at the front skirt panel ends. Press the double fold with your iron and stitch.
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Cut two equal length drawstrings such as a braid or twill tape with your scissors. Stitch each drawstring to each front panel end.
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Cut a slit in the sarong skirt's sideseam slightly wider than your drawstring's width.
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Try on your sarong and wrap it around. Pass the drawstring through the side slit. Tie your drawstring around your completed cute sarong skirt.
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References
- Photo Credit Smiling girl on beach in bikini and sarong image by Courtney Keating from Fotolia.com
