Sequin Mini Skirt: a tutorial

I first spotted this gold stretch sequin fabric at Golden D'or (in Dallas) about a year ago. I  would have jumped at the chance to buy it then, but it was the price tag that really held me back. At $48 a yard it's kind of investment. Since then, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. Then when I saw beautiful skirts like this one everywhere with $75+ price tags, I figured I could make one way cheaper. Since I only had to purchase 2/3 a yard and have lots of material left over for other projects, I'd say it was well worth the cost. 

If you're not sure where to purchase a fabric like this you can order online here and here. Also please note that you can use this tutorial for virtually any stretch fabric to make your own mini skirt.

Materials:

2/3 yd Stretch Sequin Fabric

2/3 yd Black Spandex or Jersey Knit (oops, not pictured)

It's very important that you use a stretch sequin for this project. The base of my sequin fabric is mesh spandex-like material

Tutorial:

First determine which the direction that your material stretches the most, and in the most flattering way. This is the direction that the width of your skirt should be. 

To determine the dimensions of your skirt panels:

Width:

Measure around your hips (the fullest part of your bottom), divide that number in half and add 2. This is going to be too big, that's okay we want a little extra material to work with during construction.

i.e. if your hips are 36": 36 / 2 + 2 = 20 inches. 

Length:

Take a measuring tape and measure from your waist (where the top of the skirt will fall on you) down to where you'd like the skirt hem to fall. Add 1.5" to that number (to allow for seam allowances and hemming).

Cut to the dimensions calculated.

Place your panels right sides together (sequins facing sequins). Make a mark 3-4 inches from the top of the panels (down the length)

Then make a second mark  (across the width) 1-1.5" over. 

Connect the marks with a smooth curved line. Repeat at the bottom of the same side, so that one one side of your skirt panels is contoured and the other is not. 

Sew along that one side with a 1/2" seam allowance.

Cut out the extra fabric at the top and bottom.

I didn't get a good picture of this step, but next you'll want to sort of "try on" the skirt wrong side out. Wrap the skirt around yourself and pin where the seam of the other side should start. This will help to insure the skirt is neither too small or too big. Make sure that you can also get the skirt on and off with the pins in place (be careful no to poke yourself!).

Fold the skirt over so that the curved side meets the pins that you've just put in place. Trace the shape on the other side and cut. Sew with a 1/2" seam allowance. 

Trace the same shape on to your black lining fabric.

Cut two panels from the spandex. Sew down the length of both sides of the lining.

With the skirt inside out and the lining right side out, pin the waist of the lining and the skirt together.

Sew with a stretch stitch (or zig-zag) with a 1/4 " seam allowance.

Turn right side out and you should have something like this:

Pin and top-stitch the waist, again with a stretch stitch. This will help the lining stay put. 

Pin a 1" inch hem and again sew with a stretch stitch. DO NOT use an iron on the sequin fabric. You could end up with a melted mess. 

That's it! An even easier way to make a skirt would be to use a store-bought one as a guide. Go here for more tips on making your own patterns.

A tutorial for this fold-over clutch is coming soon, plus maybe more sequin related projects. I'm sort of on a sequin kick now!

P.S. I had the thought of selling some of these skirts and/or clutches. If you'd be interested please comment below or email me, so I know it's worth the investment of the materials. Thanks!

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