A Very Simple Skirt Tutorial

This has been such an exciting last few days for me. My Shoe Makeover Tutorial was actually featured on one of my favorite blogs Ucreate and I feel so honored to be amongst the talented ladies that Kari has displayed on her lovely blog. Thank you so much for all your sweet comments, I absolutely love reading them and I'm so happy that many of you are inspired to take on the project!

I'm really hoping to get more clothing tutorials up soon as creating clothes for myself is really becoming a passion of mine. I thought this one would be a good one to start with. It's a very, very simple project and perfect for a beginner seamstress. If you've never sewn before but have always wanted to, I encourage you to take on this project.

Materials Needed

1 yd or 1 and 2/3 yd of Fabric (explained below)
1.5" wide elastic
Coordinating thread color

Fabric- I found this yellow damask stretchy knit fabric for just 3.99 a yard at Golden D'or in Dallas. If you live in the area I'd strongly recommend checking it out. They have a great selection of apparel fabrics.

For this project I would recommend using a knit, voile, silk, charmeuse, or any other soft fabric. Cotton would work too but I would stay away from heavier weights.

You'll need one side of your fabric to be at least 60". My fabric just happened to be 60" wide so all I had to buy is one yard (You can find the width of your fabric on the bolt sticker) This is what my fabric looked like.

However, if your fabric is only, say 45" wide, you'll need to buy 60" (1 and 2/3 yard) of fabric. You may also want to do it this way if you are wanting to make a longer skirt.

Fold fabric like a hot dog so that the 60" sides are together. I folded mine with one side longer than the other because I wanted to add a little length.

Pin around the perimeter to keep fabric in place.

At the top fold of the fabric lay down your elastic to use as a guide and pin just underneath it.

Sew a straight line across the top where you just pinned. Now you have a casing for your elastic.

Measure a piece of elastic around your waist or your hips depending on where you want to wear the skirt. Cut the elastic about an inch longer than what is a comfortable fit around your waist/hips. Attach a safety pin through one end of the elastic.

Thread your elastic through the casing. Pin each end in place at each opening of the casing.

Stretch...

and let go to get a nice, even gather.

If you want a finished edge at the bottom of your skirt, go ahead and hem or serge the bottom layers of your skirt now. I chose to leave my edges unfinished because stretch knit doesn't fray.

Pin the two sides together and sew straight down. Sew directly across from this seam so that there will be a seam on either side of your hip.