Fit And Sew Clothes That Fit You Perfectly

How to sew a skirt

Sewing a skirt is quick and easy -If you could sew two pieces of fabric together with a straight stitch you can sew a skirt. No matter if you sew a regular pencil skirt or an A Line skirt.

In most skirts -you would have 2 side seams, one zipper of your choice a waistband, a hem and closure of your choice – you could go one step further and add a lining which give it a luxurious feel of elegance and quality.

The first thing you need to do is to decide on what kind of skirt you want – for this project I decided on McCalls 5335

Because I am a Palmer Pletsch certified instructor and I don’t like to waste a lot of time, money and energy there is only one way for me to get started and that’s by Tissue fitting my pattern.

You could start your sewing project like so many other sewers – by picking a skirt according to your waist or hip measurement – and then sew a muslin/test garment – But why waist your valuable time and money like that. In some cases your hips or waist measurement might not be your widest part of your lower body – it could be your thighs. -And by buying a pattern according to your waist or hip measurement you would have alot of alterations to do -

But you can sew your skirt without the headache of buying a pattern that is to small or too big – The golden rule is to buy your pattern according to the widest part of your lower body and then tissue fit your pattern before you cut into your fabric. If the pattern do not come in your size just buy one size smaller.

There are a few items you need to do your tissue fitting – Please watch the video for your supplies that you will need:

After you have gather your supplies you are ready to start cutting your pattern from the pattern envelope. You will cut the pattern on your size that you have measured – an easy way to cut a multiple size pattern is by marking the line of your size all around the pattern this way you don’t cut on the wrong size by accident.

After you have cut your pattern on your size you are ready to watch the next video that will walk you through the process of preparing your pattern pieces for fitting.

Now that you have your skirt pattern pinned up – we need to get in front of the mirror to do your fitting. You will need your 1″ elastic around your waist in this step. (You don’t need the other elastic I had around my waist and hip area – this is just for you to see the center of my front) Please know that you are more than welcome to send me an email with photo’s if you have any questions on your fitting.

Your tissue fit nice with no excess wrinkles and pulls – you are ready to prepare your fabric to cut your pattern out. Remember to pre-wash and dry your fabric before you cut it out. IF you don’t pre-wash your fabric your finished project may shrink after the first time you wash it – And you don’t want this disappointment.
PLEASE NOTE: Before you fit the skirt you need to sew the invisible zipper in the back of the skirt, as well as the back seam up to the vent or godet. You will find a quick and easy way to sew your invisible zipper at this link

Now that your skirt is on grain and cut out with your zipper inserted and your back seam sewed – it is time to pin fit your skirt – Insert your pins on the marks you have made when you tissue fitted your skirt – you probably won’t need any other changes. And if there is any it would be minor.

Now that you have your darts perfect and your new stitching line marked – it’s time to move on to the sewing machine to sew your side seams and darts – and then you will have your final fit – Your Skirt is almost complete!! The last thing you want to do before your final fit – is pressing the seams and darts.

Congratulations – You have sewed your waistband with hook and eye – your skirt look like a master piece – Now you have a reason to celebrate call up a friend and treat yourself to a cup of coffee at your local neighborhood coffee shop – showing off your new addition to your wardrobe.