Simple Skirt
By, Blondie Blue Eyes

This skirt is easily adjusted for any size girl. These instructions are for a size 6-8 girl’s skirt. This skirt is 18” long with instructions on how to easily adjust the length and waist size.

You will need fabric. I used 3 coordinating fabrics for this simple skirt.

1 yard of a print
½ yard of coordinating fabric (for the waist and hem)
¼ yard of another coordinating fabric (the cream fabric)
3/4" or 1" elastic measured to fit the waist of the dear one you are making the skirt for, my daughter is about 22". If I was making this for me, Iwould use a wider elastic just my personal preference.

You will need to cut ( I prefer to use a rotaty board and cutter for these straight cuts, plus it is faster)
A 4”X45” strip for the waistband
An 11”X45” strip of the print
3”X45” of the cream
6”X45” of the black for the bottom

You can make the waist bigger or smaller by increasing the length of elastic. If you would like a longer skirt add a few inches to the length of the printed fabric (for example 14”X 45” would add 3” to the length of the skirt). This skirt is so easily adjustable to fit any size of girl. To make a ladies skirt I would cut 2 strips of each size, adding length as necessary. To find out the size of elastic just measure your waist and cut the elastic for comfort.

Step 1: Pining and Sewing the Elastic Casing

The sizes of strips needed were listed in the Intro. Now that we have the pieces cut, here is the next step.

Fold both of the black pieces of fabric in half and iron them down creating the elastic casing and the hem of the skirt. Making sure you have the right side out. It can be hard to tell on some fabrics.

Determine which side is the top and bottom of the skirt, then pin the 4” strip of fabric to the top of the printed fabric making your elastic casing. Trim the edge of the fabric if you have a difference is sizes of fabric. I think my print is slightly bigger than 45” wide. Straight stitch the pieces together using a ¼” seam allowance. I serge my edges, if you don’t have a serger, zig zagging the seam works well too. Then iron the seam flat. Ironing makes all the difference when sewing. Zig Zagging your seams is also important to keep them from fraying.

Step 2: Adding the Cream Strip

Now pin the cream fabric to the bottom of the printed fabric. Again using a ¼” seam allowance then zig zag the seam.

Step 3: Adding the Coordinating Fabric

Iron the fabric open and the seam flat. It should look like this.

Step 4: Finishing the Bottom

Now we are going to add the bottom of the skirt using our 6” black strip of fabric that we ironed in half, just like we did with the elastic casing. Pin it to the cream fabric with the raw edges next to the raw edges of the cream fabric. Straight stitch it using a 1/4” seam allowance, then zig zag the seam. Then iron open and flatten the seam.

Step 5: Looks Great

It should look like this. Now we are ready to stitch up the side of the skirt.

Step 6: Closing Up the Skirt

Fold the skirt in half right sides together. This part is the important part, don’t sew up the elastic casing or you will be unpicking and unpicking isn’t fun. I hate unpicking. Start straight stitching where the printed fabric starts and go down the hem trying to match up the strips of fabric the best you can. Making sure to back stitch where you start and stop then Zig Zag the seam.

Step 7: Adding the Elastic

It’s elastic time. Measure the waist of the girl you want the skirt to fit, add an inch, and cut your elastic. Using a safety pin run the elastic through the casing, make sure you pin the other end of the elastic to the fabric or watch it so it doesn’t go inside of the casing or you will have to start over.

You could safety pin the elastic and try the skirt on the little lady, if you would like before sewing it closed.

Sometimes I think I have the perfect size elastic and when my daughter trys the skirt on it is slightly too big.

Step 8: Sew the EElastic Casing Closed

Pin the elastic together making sure it isn’t twisted or it will be sewn twisted and possibly uncomfortable. Stitch the elastic casing shut backstitching a few times over the elastic ensuring it will hold. Snip off the excess elastic, turn right side out, and you’re ready to try on your new skirt.