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This afternoon, I cut myself a one-yard piece from a length of scrap fabric my mom had given me. Then I went and dug this skirt out of the hamper--a basic, pull-on skirt with an elastic waist. I measured the waistband, which, as expected, equaled my hip measurement (you have to be able to pull it on, after all). Then I measured the hem, which was a few inches wider. Okay. Onto the fabric.
Wow, are these graphics professional or what?
I started with the fabric folded in half. Ta da!
From here I started to think, okay, what are my limitations?
I need a decent length. Most of my skirts are around 22 to 25 inches long. So, 22 inches, plus hem, plus elastic casing, I need a minimum of 23.5 inches. That means I can't cut this thing out horizontally, because that measurement is only about 22 inches. Cutting two pieces. one on top of the other, on the fold is also out, because that would only give me 18 inches in length (36 divided in half).
If I were a tiny little thing, I could cut it out as shown. But in order to get that little bit of flare towards the bottom, the maximum waist measurement would be about 16 inches x 2 = 32 inches. That wouldn't make it over my hips.
If you're tiny like that, you don't need this tutorial. You can probably make skirts out of table napkins.
Okay, so I quickly realized I'd have to fold this chunk of fabric the other way. Then, having 44/45 inches in length to work with, I can cut a front and a back on the fold and end up with a skirt that's almost an acceptable length for me. I figured I'd give that a try, just to see how it turned out.
But as I was marking off the fabric...I realized...hey...there's going to be a really long strip of fabric left over.
A really long strip of fabric that I could gather.
A really long strip of fabric that I could gather and sew onto the bottom as a ruffle.
A really long strip of fabric that I could gather and sew onto the bottom as a ruffle and make the skirt longer!
And cuter!
Yes!
And so I got to work.
And here's the finished product, with which I am very pleased indeed. I'm so happy with it, I've almost forgotten how my bobbin thread tangled up, oh, about 57 times.
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30 comments:
Oh so cute!! What a nice color of fabric and good design with little ruffels at the hem. For the first time ever you made me want to make a skirt.
You are my queen! I would never have thought I could use only a yard of fabric for a skirt. You've given me the confidence to do it, sister! Looks fantastic!
that is ADORABLE!! and I LOVED the comment about dinner napkins...SO TRUE.
Very cool skirt!! I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing blog:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-sew-a-skirt-for-yourself-from-one-yard-of-fabric/2009/05/23/
--Anne
Very cute and chic!
I must try this. I need skirts desperately, and have promised myself not to buy more fabric until I make a SIGNIFICANT dent in my huge stash!
Love your blog!
Your skirt looks fantastic - and I love the colours in the material.
Love it! Thanks so much for this!
Great skirt! Very feminine and thrifty :-) I love seeing the skirts you create
ADORABLE! If I can make one of these for my adorable daughter-in-law, I could score some major points. Thank you!
I love this skirt. If I want one in a hurry, I usually just cut a tube larger than hip measurement and put some elastic in, call it a day. Yours is way cuter!
Wow! That is super cute! I'd love to link to this if you didn't mind.
ok, thats it, i am sending you some fabrics i had stashed here.. you can play til your hearts content.. lol.
Brilliant! One yard!!! So cute! I linked at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com
I love that you started with a remnant.
I think the skirt is super cute!
Thanks for the inspiration.
Katrina
Fantastic!!! I'm going to making some maternity skirts this week by using your one yard pattern and a wide jersey waistband instead of the elastic casing... thanks for sharing your moment of brilliance with us!!
wow, thanks for sharing this! I definately am going to try your tutorial!
Hi,
You have very nice 'scrap' fabric!! Lovely skirt shape, would look good in loads of different types of fabric too. I have just finished making a skirt but I thinki this will on the list of things to do too.
I love the skirt, but I also like those shoes! Can you tell me the brand?
Michelle in Australia: They are Danskos in the Guivevere style. They stopped making that style, but there are some out there. I hope you can find your size!
Thanks Petunia! It seems Danskos are hard to come by in Australia, but I'll keep looking. Thank you!
I'm so excited to try this!!
right now i'm making a skirt out of one yard of fabric. though it won't be the same design, your article was very well written.
Fantastic! Thank you for sharing. I must make one :-)
Lovely skirt and the top is a perfect color with it. I also wanted to say that you don't have to make an elastic waist skirt big enough to pull over your hips - if you have a large difference between waist and hip measurement, it can also look good if you make the skirt a bit slimmer in the waist and pull it on over your head instead. I did that with a drawstring skirt I made recently as I have a 10" difference between waist and hips and the skirt turned out too bulky in the waistline at first.
I found this pattern on google and just tried it (by hand, I lack a working sewing machine). You are a money-saving genius. The pattern worked absolutely perfectly.
Help, I'm confused and I apologize for joining years after your post: The bottom of the skirt is 13x2x2 inches (13, squares, cut folded and doubled). Is that not 52"? How did you fit a 45" ruffle on it the skirt? Sorry and thank you!
Whoa! It has been a long time! I think (tho it is early and I could be wrong) you end up with TWO strips, so you sew them end to end and then gather.
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