It can be hard to find a skirt that fits you.You can measure and cut a skirt that hugs your hips and knees before it flares out at the bottom.By making your own skirt, you can decide how long you want it to last.Once you're comfortable cutting a 6-piece skirt, you can use different fabrics and patterns.
Step 1: Measure the waist.
Before you wrap a measuring tape around your waist, stand up straight and breathe normally.If you don't know where your waist is, feel above your hips and below your ribs.Write down the measurement.Put the measuring tape around your waist.Your waist measurement will be off if it's twisted.The top of your skirt sits at the waist.
Step 2: Put the measuring tape around your hips.
If you want the measuring tape to circle around the widest part of your hips, move it down.If your skirt won't fit properly, it's important to write the measurement for the widest part.When you measure your hips, keep your feet together.
Step 3: From the waist to the knees is where to measure.
Measure from the waist to the knees since the skirt will flare out at the bottom.Write down the measurement from the top of the waist to the middle of your knee caps.
Step 4: How long should the skirt be?
Measure the total distance from your waist to the floor with the measuring tape.Write down your desired length if you want your skirt to be shorter.
Step 5: Measure the hip and waist by four.
To find the width for your skirt, you'll need to adjust the waist and hip measurements.Divide each measurement by four.Write down the new measurement.The waist is now 6 inches (15 cm) if the waist was 24 inches (61 cm).The new measurement will be 8 2 inches (22 cm).
Step 6: Take the 3 inches from the waist to the knee line measurement.
To move easily in your 6-piece skirt, you need to adjust the waist to knee measurement.Write the new measurement after subtracting 3 inches.To get 16 inches, subtract 3 inches from your original measurement.
Step 7: Take a pattern paper and spread it on a flat surface.
It's as long as your skirt will be if you unroll the pattern paper and cut it on a table.The pattern paper should be at least 34 inches long if your measurement is more than 86 cm.Put a yardstick on the long side of the paper.You can use lightweight butcher paper if you don't have pattern paper.The side of the pattern paper will be marked with the yardstick.
Step 8: A mark is made from the top of the paper.
The top of the paper will be used to make the pattern for the skirt.The seam allowance for the waist is 2 inch from the top.You can write Waistline at the top of the paper if it helps you keep track of lines.
Step 9: The hip measurement should be marked on the paper.
Measure the distance from your hip measurement to the mark you made.To make a new mark that says Hipline, measure 8 2 inches (22 cm) from the top mark.
Step 10: A mark for the knee line is needed.
Measure down from the mark on the knee line.You can measure from the waist down to find the knee line.You don't want to forget which measurement the mark is for if you write Knee Line next to it.
Step 11: You can mark the total length of the skirt on your paper.
Refer back to the measurement you took for the length of the skirt from the waist down.Make a new mark at the bottom if you measure this distance from the top.This mark can be labeled.
Step 12: A horizontal line from each mark to the pattern paper can be drawn.
Use a pencil or pen to draw a long horizontal line from one mark to another.You could use an L-ruler.
Step 13: You can make a mark on the waistline and hipline quarter measurement.
The ruler should be parallel to the horizontal line you just made for the measurement.Make a mark at the quarter measurement for the waist and hip.Make a mark on the horizontal line if the waist measurement was 6 inches.Your hipline measurement might be 8 2 inches.
Step 14: The knee and length line are marked.
To give your skirt room for you to move, subtract 2 inches from your knee line and measure the mark on the horizontal line.To give your skirt a flare, add a few inches to the horizontal length line.If you want the skirt to have a noticeable flare, you can add 3 inches.
Step 15: You can connect the marks with a ruler or pattern master.
Draw a straight, diagonal line from the length and knee line marks to the ruler.To make smooth curves on your pattern, use a pattern master to draw from the knee mark through the hip mark up to the waistline mark.The curved pattern master can be purchased from most craft supply stores.You should now see a curve from the waist to the knee and a diagonal line on the length line.
Step 16: To make a back piece, label the front.
Write Front on the lower panel of the piece to keep track of your pattern after you cut it out.When drawing another piece with the same measurements, make them curve and flare towards the middle of your pattern paper.
Step 17: The dart should be drawn in the center of the stomach.
The point of the triangular dart is closer to the hip line if you find the middle of your measurement.The size of the dart is up to you, but usually, you'll want: small, medium, and large.
Step 18: The panels should be cut out.
Take sharp scissors and cut out the front panel, starting at the bottom and going up the diagonal line.Cut around the curve to the top of the paper.The back panel needs to be cut out.Since you'll be cutting the fabric on the fold, these 2 panels will create 4 panels of your skirt.
Step 19: The panels should be cut in half vertically with darts.
Start at the base of the panel and cut a straight line through the center.Cut a V to remove the dart when you reach the bottom point.This should be done for the other panel.The excess paper at the bottom should be trimmed if your pattern paper was longer than you want.
Step 20: The pieces should be labeled.
Write on each piece of your pattern in order to keep track of it.For example, label them: center back side side front.
Step 21: You can add a flare to the bottom of each piece.
Each panel should be covered with a 3 in wide strip of pattern paper.The paper should connect from the knee line to the length line.Draw a diagonal line from the bottom of the extended length line to the knee line.The excess paper can be trimmed from the side of the flares.
Step 22: Place a panel on the fold.
If you want your skirt to face up, spread the fabric on the work surface and fold it over.If you want the straight side to match the fold, lay 1 of the panels on the fabric.Once you've laid the pattern piece on the fabric, you can adjust its width.This will be done for each pattern piece you made.
Step 23: The pattern panel has a trace of fabric on it.
You can trace the outline of your panel with the help of a piece of tailor's chalk.Do this every time you make a panel.Pin the sides in place so your pattern won't move as you trace if the fabric shifts a lot.
Step 24: You should draw a 2 inch seam allowance around the line.
If you need to add space for a seam allowance, use the tailor's chalk to draw an identical pattern that is 2 inch from the outline you just made.If you want to hem the bottom of the skirt, add a 1 inch seam allowance.
Step 25: Cut along the seam allowance lines to make your skirt.
Carefully cut along the seam allowance lines after removing the paper patterns from the fabric.Don't cut along the fold.You can open the folded fabric to see the whole piece.You can use the pins to sew your skirt.You should use a sewing machine to sew the skirt panels together.