Make A Long Flared Skirt - Free Size (Sewing Pattern & Tutorial) - SewGuide (original) (raw)
This is a sewing pattern to make a very flared long skirt with an elastic waist, which is Free Size. Make one, and almost anybody in your family can wear it; how is that?.
How much fabric do you need to sew this skirt? – this depends on how you will cut the fabric for the skirt.
If you cut fabric panels for the skirt lengthwise you will need 4.25 meters. If you cut the fabric panels crosswise you will need 3.50 meters. Cutting lengthwise is recommended because the fabric falls gracefully when cut like this but then, you have to contend with the middle joint and get more fabric – it is your choice. For more details checkout posts on the grain direction of fabric and Fabric Cutting Tips and Tricks
Related posts : If you want to make a long skirt with much less fabric and without the gathers at the waist check out this post on sewing a full length skirt. The only downside is that it has a joint along one side which you may not find appealing. But with printed fabrics, this is not so noticeable.
Or this one may appeal to you which is 2-skirts-in-one : Make a long full reversible skirt.
Long Flared skirt sewing pattern & tutorial
Step 1. Mark the pattern for the long skirt
The first pattern given below is for a skirt cut lengthwise. You will be folding your 4.25 meters into 4 layers of length 40 inches ( or more if you are taller than 5 feet 4″). This length will give a skirt which is 39 inch long
The selvedge on one side will form the middle joint.
Alternative: The second pattern given below is for a skirt cut crosswise. You will be folding your 3.50 meters of fabric into 2 fabric layers of width 65 inches. Fold the two pieces again by the middle and mark the pattern as given below.
Step 2. Cut out the pattern pieces.
4 panels of the pattern are cut from fabric
Since I have cut the fabric lengthwise I need to join the fabric panels at the middle to form the back and front panels of the skirt.
Keep the fabric pieces right sides together and stitch the edges together. Press the seam allowance open.
Step 3. Join the front and back skirt pieces together
Step 4. Make the waistband
Cut out a fabric piece of length 45 inch and width 4 .5 inches (To be accurate about the length, measure the top edge of your finished skirt and then add 1 inch seam allowance). This is your waistband piece.
Join the ends of this piece together to form the tube as shown below.
Step 5. Join the waistband and skirt
Keep the waistband wrong side out. Keep the skirt also wrong side out.
Keep the waistband on the top edge of the skirt. Stitch with a 1/4 inch allowance.
Turn the skirt rightside out.
Bring the skirt rightside out ; the waistband brought up
Bring down the waistband piece over the seam of the waist.
Fold down the waistband to the front over the seam
Fold the edge to the inside 1/4 inch and stitch in place. Leave a 2 inch portion unstitched to insert elastic.
Waist band top stitched ; Leave a little space unstitched for inserting elastic
Step 6. Insert elastic
Cut out 25 1/2 long elastic piece. (For accuracy measure your own waist with the elastic – tug it around you a little snugly and add 1 inch to this measure)
I am using two elastic pieces of 1/2 inch width and inserting it into channels on the waistband.
(You can use single piece of 1 inch wide elastic instead of two pieces of elastic.)
For inserting two elastics make a stitching line by the middle of the waistband.
Make channels in the waistband to insert thinner elastic
Insert elastic with a pin. Join the edges of the elastic together with a zig zag stitch.
Stitch the opening closed.
If your waist is very thin, add another drawstring along with the elastic so that you can tie and secure it or reduce the length of the elastic.
Step 7 Hem the skirt
A narrow hem is recommended here. Learn different ways to sew a curved hem here ; Optimally, you can use your rolled hemmer foot to make a rolled hem.
Related posts : Easy to sew patterns and tutorials for clothes