How to Make a Tiered Denim Skirt

Use lightweight denim for less bulk.

Tiered denim skirts add a western cowgirl flair to your style. You can find these skirts for sale at various retail stores, but why purchase a ready-made garment when creating your own requires only basic sewing skills and a couple of hours? Start with your favorite denim material and add creativity to the basic instructions, using buttons and iron-on patches to embellish. You can even mix denim with other fabrics for a look that's completely unique.

Things You'll Need

• 1 1/2-inch sports elastic, measured to your waist
• 3 yards lightweight denim
• Scissor
• Ruler
• Chalk
• Pins
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Ironing board

Instructions

1. Measure your hips and waist. Enter the largest of the two measurements into an online calculator, such as the one at jcarolinecreative.com. The calculator will tell you how large each tier should be. Lay out the fabric on your workspace. Measure and mark with the chalk each tier parallel to the selvage, or edge of the fabric. Cut each tier out.

2. Mark a 1/4-inch from the short edge on each tier. This is your seam allowance Pin the short edges of each tier, right sides together. Sew the sides together. You should have four circles of fabric. Use the iron to press the seams open and flat.

3. Sew long stitches either by hand or machine across the top of the second tier, starting at the seam. Do not knot the thread. Pull the thread gently to gather it. Do this for the top of each tier except for the first one.

4. Pin the top of the second tier to the bottom of the first tier, adjusting the gathers to fit the bottom of the first tier. This seam will be 1/2-inch. Sew the tiers, right sides together and press the seam open. Repeat for each successive tier.

5. Fold the top tier down 1 1/2 inch, wrong side out. Pin in place and press. Cut the elastic two inches less than your waist measurement, and mark it in fourths. For example, if your elastic is 24 inches, mark it at the six-inch mark, the 12-inch mark, the 18-inch mark, and the end.

6. Mark the waist in fourths, as you did with the elastic. Line up the first elastic mark with the first waist mark, and sew the elastic firmly in place. Line up the next elastic mark with the next waist mark, and sew firmly. Do this for each of the four marks. Fold the top of the tier over the elastic and press in place. You can stitch the marks firmly again through the layers if you wish.

7. Turn up the hem 3/4 inch, pin and press. Turn it up again, pin and press. Sew a hem stitch 1/2 inch from the bottom.

References

• jcarolinecreative: Instructions for Peasant Skirt