How to Make a Retro Short Skirt

Make your own retro skirt

Retro skirts have a vintage style appeal for those of us that enjoy the classic looks of the '50s and '60s. Retro skirts have a high waist and a full skirt bottom that hits just below the knee. If you want to make your own vintage style statement sew a retro skirt yourself at home. You can modernize the retro skirt by shortening its length to just over the knee. Play around with fabric colors and prints for your skirt; the sky is the limit.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric (2 yards or less depending on length)
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Elastic waist band
• Pins
• Fabric trim

Instructions

1. Fold the fabric over in half, right sides facing each other. Wrap the fabric all around the back side of your waist. Fold over and pin the fabric where your waist ends to separate any excess fabric.

2. Cut away any excess fabric. Unfold the fabric and lay it wrong side up. Pin the two ends of the fabric together and sew along the bottom of the pins to create a side seam.

3. Sew the elastic waist band onto the top waist end of your skirt. Turn the skirt inside out and sew fabric trim all around the waist of your skirt.

4. Hem the skirt by folding the fabric under, towards the inside of the skirt. Pin the fabric in place when the hemline is at the desired length. Sew along the edges of the pins to finish off your hemline.

References

• "The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book"; Joan Bordow; 2008