I’ve been experimenting to come up with an easy no pattern needed skirt to teach my sewing club how to make their own skirts. They have already learned to make an encased elastic waistband on their PJ pants, a gathered flat waistband on their apron project, and hems. Yay girls!!! Since this skirt uses all these techniques, I felt it would be a great project to build upon those skills.
However, this project will have to wait until next year. Our school year is almost over and I have decided to teach an even easier skirt, which is also very cute!
While perusing the sewing section at my local Wal-Mart, I came upon this adorable “Cottage Core” cotton print from The Pioneer Woman, whose cooking blog I adored.
To make this skirt, you cut two pieces of fabric each being as wide as your waist measurement. This creates a very full skirt! I happen to think this style is adorable for girls but not so flattering for most women. Which is why it needs a flat front waistband.
Cut one waistband piece 6 inches tall and half your waist number wide. Cut interfacing to match and press on. Press in half along width to make crease.
Cut back waistband back piece double your waist number wide by 6 inches tall. Press in half along width too. No interfacing on this piece. It will be the elastic casing.
The front skirt piece is gathered to the width of the smaller front waistband and sewn in. The back waistband piece isn’t gathered at all, but sewn to the back waistband piece which is the already the same length. This will become the back elastic casing.
The front flat waistband piece is interfaced for more structure.
Finish sewing waist front: Press long top edge of band under a half inch. Also press under the side edges of the front waistband. Fold the waistband pointing up. it will be sewn to back piece unfolded. Sew skirt edge to unpressed edge of waistband.
Fold under back waist band and sew closed along seamline creating an open casing. Insert a two inch talk piece of elastic half your waist number minus 1 inch. In my photo I use two one inch pieces, making a double casing, but its not necessary.
Feed elastic through with a safety pin and sew down at edges.
Finish skirt side seam edges by serging or zig zagging side seam allowances.
Sew front flipped up piece to finished back piece. making sure to match up the pressed creases of the front to the finished top of the back
Now flip the folded waistband over and cover the front waist and the side seams and stitch closed. This will cover the exposed seam allowance at waist and also the raw edges of the back waist. Finish with a one inch hem.
I sewed crochet trim to my skirt giving it a homespun look.
Happy sewing!
