It doesn't have to be expensive or made by strangers; it can be very intimate and personal.You can make your own clothing by doing it yourself.Try one of the three simple ways to make a skirt and people will love it.
Step 1: Pick your materials.
You can use any fabric to make this skirt, but you will need elastic that is 12 inch wide.A more structured skirt can be created with a stiffer fabric material.Light and airy fabric can be used to create a looser skirt.
Step 2: Take your measurement.
Use a soft measuring tape to find the distance around your hip, waist, and total length of the skirt.To find the length, you can use the measuring tape from your hips to the desired level on your legs and add 212 inches for the elastic casing.
Step 3: Cut your elastic.
Cut 2 large rectangular pieces of fabric the length of your choice by the distance around your hips using your measurements.If your hips measure 30 inches, your elastic should be cut to 29 inches.
Step 4: You need to sew the side seams.
Place the two pieces on top of each other.Give each piece a 12 inch seam allowance and sew them together.If you are having trouble keeping your fabric flat, use an iron to flatten the seams.
Step 5: The elastic shell needs to be created.
You will need to make a fabric case to cover up the elastic inside the skirt.Use an iron to press the top 12 inch of fabric.To secure the section along the pressed area to the body of the skirt, fold the fabric an additional 2 inches.To add the elastic, open a 4 inch opening near one of the seams.
Step 6: The hem needs to be sewed.
The skirt should be folded over 12 inch.If you have to hold it in place, use your iron.To sew the hem in place, use a top stitch.
Step 7: The elastic should be added.
Take your cut elastic and put it in the elastic case you created.When you get to the other side, sew the two pieces together using a straight stitch after pulling the elastic through the loop.If necessary, use a safety pin to hold the elastic in place.To close the opening, use a topstitch and a backstitch.
Step 8: The waistband needs to be finished.
The gathered ruffles should be adjusted around the top of the waistband.Attach the ruching to the elastic when the gathers are adjusted to your liking.Stitch in the spaces between the gathers as this will flatten them out.
Step 9: Pick out what you want.
It is best to choose a material that isn't too heavy or stiff because circle skirts are known for their flowy appearance.The elastic used to make the waistband is exposed, so you can choose the width and color you want.A wide waistband is a fun way to top off your skirt.
Step 10: Take your measurement.
If you want the skirt to sit the widest part, use a soft measuring tape around your hips.A bit of geometry is needed to find the measurements.Take your hip measurement and add two inches to find the skirt's radius.The answer is the circle's radius.If your hips measure 30 inches (76.2 cm), add two additional inches and divide by 32.You will get a radius of about 5.1 inches.Add one inch to your total hip measurement to measure the elastic.If your hips measure in at 30 inches, you should cut your elastic to 31 inches.To find the distance from your hips to your desired end point, use a soft measuring tape to measure the length of the skirt.For seam allowance, add an extra inch of length.
Step 11: Make a pattern out of paper.
A piece of paper large enough to occupy a sketch of that size is what you will need to create a paper cut for 14 of the skirt.Place your pencil at the end of the measuring tape.Hold the measuring tape to the bottom left corner of your paper if you can locate the measurement for your radius.You hold the tape with your left hand.You can use the pencil in the hole to move the paper with your right hand.The corner should be the center point of the circle.
Step 12: Add your length to the pattern.
You can choose the length of your skirt.To mark this distance from the line you just made, use your measuring tape.The starting point for your hip measurement is the edge of the paper.The rainbow shaped circle strip should be left on the edge of the paper.
Step 13: Take your pattern and fabric and cut it.
You can make a curved band by cutting out your paper along the lines you created.You have to fold your fabric in half and half again.To cut out the paper pattern, place it over the corner where all the fabric is connected.You should have a large ring or donut shaped piece of material when you unfold the fabric.
Step 14: You need to iron down the waist.
You will need to press and serge the edges to finish the waistband section.This will keep the edges from unraveling.Use an iron to flatten the fabric that was folded down from the top of the skirt.If you have one, you can use a zig-zag stitch to finish the seam.
Step 15: Take the elastic and sew it.
When you put the skirt on, the fabric around the waist is a bit smaller than the elastic.Before being added to the skirt, the two ends must be sewn together.Use a straight stitch to sew the pieces together after folding the elastic in half.Next, sew the edges back onto the elastic, so that there isn't a seam when the skirt is worn.
Step 16: The elastic should be pinned to the fabric.
Because of the larger size, your skirt should gather slightly around the elastic.Pin the skirt evenly around the waistband by placing it along the top edge of the elastic.If you want to get an even gather around the entire waist, use as few pins as you need.
Step 17: You have to sew the waistband.
With your elastic pinned to the fabric, begin to sew around the edge with the elastic on the outside of the skirt.As you sew, stretch the elastic to make sure there are no loose sections.You can either use a straight zigzag or a stitch.
Step 18: Hem the skirt.
Use an iron to flatten the skirt by folding over the bottom 14 inch.If you want to hem it all the way around the edge, use a straight or zigzag stitch.
Step 19: Pick your materials.
The fabric that is used to make the skirts is a bit heavier than they should be.To keep the skirt from blowing around, find a fabric that is a bit thicker and has enough weight.Choose a color that matches the fabric of your skirt and use a wide band of elastic to create the waistband at the top.Try to find fabric that is large enough to fit in a single piece.Instead of two smaller pieces sewn together, this skirt uses a single length of fabric.
Step 20: Measure your body.
You need to measure your hips and length to make a basic skirt.Measure the widest part of your hips with a soft measuring tape.Measure from that point to where you want the skirt to end.Depending on your height, this measurement will range from 40 to 70 inches.Take one inch off of your hip measurement to measure your elastic.This will make your elastic tight enough that it won't loosen or slide off.Add one inch of extra fabric to the length and width allowances.
Step 21: You should cut your fabric.
You should measure a large rectangular stretch of fabric with the width being the measurement around your waist and the length being your desired length of the skirt.Attach the two cut ends to this shape and fold it in half.
Step 22: Along the length, sew it.
To create a flat seam, fold over 12 inch of fabric on either edge of the length and iron it down.To create a tube, use a zigzag stitch to secure the two sides of the fabric.
Step 23: The waistband needs to be started.
You can work along the top stretch of the material if you turn the fabric inside out.Serge the edge of the fabric if you have a serger.Do not use a zigzag stitch if you want the ends to be stable.
Step 24: Take the elastic and sew it.
Take your piece of elastic and fold it in half, with the two ends laying on top of each other.A straight stitch is 14 of an inch from the edge of the cut.After turning the elastic loop inside out, fan the two bits leftover from the sewn ends away from each other and use a zigzag stitch to attach them back onto the band.The seam will be flatter when the skirt is worn.
Step 25: Attach the elastic to the waistband.
Place the top of the skirt inside the elastic band.If there is more fabric than elastic band width, pin it evenly around so that the gathers are not close to each other.
Step 26: Attach the elastic band to your body.
The skirt is 14 of an inch up from the bottom of the elastic.Make sure to keep a straight line as you remove the pins.
Step 27: The hem needs to be finished.
The hem can be created by folding the bottom 12 inch of the skirt.The bottom edge of the fabric needs to be kept from unraveling.Attach it to the skirt with a straight stitch.