Today, I will show you how to sew a skirt. It is very easy, with no pattern needed.
Before you begin, you will need a sewing machine, sewing pins, sewing scissors (make sure you only use your sewing scissors on fabric/thread or else it will ruin the scissors), a safety pin, dual duty all purpose thread, 3/4 of an inch thick elastic, and fabric. My sister and I both made matching skirts, so we bought 4 yards of fabric, and had a little left over. If you are making only one skirt for yourself, just wrap the fabric around your waist in the store, and get around a yard more. The workers at the cutting counter can help you with figuring out the right amount. Also, make sure to get thread that matches your fabric, or if it has multiple colors, pick one that blends in (like white) or compliments all the other colors. You can buy all of these things at your local fabric store, such as Joann's or Hobby Lobby.
First, you'll need to thread your sewing machine by sticking your thread on the knob on top, and pulling the thread in the directions it reads on the machine. You will also need a bobbin, which is the thread you put under/in front of the foot. For instructions on how to set it up, or make a bobbin using the thread you bought and are using for the thread on top, look in your instruction manual for your sewing machine. Keep in mind, making a bobbin can be tricky sometimes, so if you can buy one in addition to your regular thread, I reccomend it.
To begin, take the fabric around your waist, and add six inches, then cut. The fabric comes folded in half, so you can keep it folded while you cut. Just make sure that the fold goes horizontal around your waist.
Once you've cut the fabric, unfold it, and lay it out with the pretty side (right side) facing up. Then you will take one side and fold it in half, so now the original fold is going horizontal across the middle of the fabric, the new fold is vertical on the side, and the pretty sides (right sides) are touching eachother on the inside. Pin the side parallel to the new fold, and sew just that one side together. While sewing, keep the edge of the fabric in line with the line that says "5/8" so it is straight and not on top of the edge. Remember to backstitch at the start and end of each seam. You can do that by holding down the button with the U shaped arrow, then release.
Now, cut to the length you'd like, but leave a little extra fabric, because you can always cut more off after. You should have two openings on the top and bottom. It doesn't matter which is which right now. Fold over about an inch all the way around the opening on both sides and pin all around. If it is too long now, unpin one side and fold it up a little more, but be sure to only pin 1 inch from the fold. Where the pins are is where the seam should be, so keep the pins straight and be sure to sew in line with them. When pinning and sewing over the side seam, be sure to open the seam so that they are flat on both sides, so the elastic wont get caught in it. If you want, you can iron it open, so that the elastic will go through more swiftly. Leave like 1 and a half inches open around the top, so you can put the elastic in it after. Sew it completely shut on the bottom, because that becomes the hem, or if you are more experienced, you can use a hemming foot, but I don't really know how to do that.
Note: If you use a different size elastic, make the opening just a little bit bigger than the elastic thickness, because you don't want it too small that the elastic won't fit in, but you don't want it so big that it twists. Also, remember you'll need a little bit of space to sew.
Next, cut your elastic to the size of your waist, but you might want it a little tighter so it will stay up easier. Or you could measure a different skirt with an elastic waistband that fits you well. Cut it to the correct length, put a safety pin through one end, then poke it through the hole on the top of the skirt and pull it through the entire circumference by pushing the safety pin and pulling the fabric back so that more of the elastic goes in. Once it gets out the other end, sew both of the ends of elastic together, but first make sure none of it is twisted. Then, sew the hole closed, just like how you sewed around the whole thing before, except only do it for a few inches to close the gap.
Flip it inside out, and you're finished! I really hope you liked this project and be sure to let me know if you made one, too! Also, be sure to like my new Facebook page The I in Creativity
To begin, take the fabric around your waist, and add six inches, then cut. The fabric comes folded in half, so you can keep it folded while you cut. Just make sure that the fold goes horizontal around your waist.
Now, cut to the length you'd like, but leave a little extra fabric, because you can always cut more off after. You should have two openings on the top and bottom. It doesn't matter which is which right now. Fold over about an inch all the way around the opening on both sides and pin all around. If it is too long now, unpin one side and fold it up a little more, but be sure to only pin 1 inch from the fold. Where the pins are is where the seam should be, so keep the pins straight and be sure to sew in line with them. When pinning and sewing over the side seam, be sure to open the seam so that they are flat on both sides, so the elastic wont get caught in it. If you want, you can iron it open, so that the elastic will go through more swiftly. Leave like 1 and a half inches open around the top, so you can put the elastic in it after. Sew it completely shut on the bottom, because that becomes the hem, or if you are more experienced, you can use a hemming foot, but I don't really know how to do that.
Note: If you use a different size elastic, make the opening just a little bit bigger than the elastic thickness, because you don't want it too small that the elastic won't fit in, but you don't want it so big that it twists. Also, remember you'll need a little bit of space to sew.
Next, cut your elastic to the size of your waist, but you might want it a little tighter so it will stay up easier. Or you could measure a different skirt with an elastic waistband that fits you well. Cut it to the correct length, put a safety pin through one end, then poke it through the hole on the top of the skirt and pull it through the entire circumference by pushing the safety pin and pulling the fabric back so that more of the elastic goes in. Once it gets out the other end, sew both of the ends of elastic together, but first make sure none of it is twisted. Then, sew the hole closed, just like how you sewed around the whole thing before, except only do it for a few inches to close the gap.
Flip it inside out, and you're finished! I really hope you liked this project and be sure to let me know if you made one, too! Also, be sure to like my new Facebook page The I in Creativity
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