https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/easy-elastic-waist-skirt • Posted by Handmade Jane
This skirt is super simple, all that's required is a rectangle of fabric and a length of elastic!
This skirt is super simple, all that's required is a rectangle of fabric and a length of elastic!
One metre of your chosen fabric* One metre of two inch wide elastic *I chose a cotton jersey for my skirt as I wanted a stretch version, but this would work equally well with a cotton woven too. First you need to measure your hips. Multiply this measurement by 1.5 and you have the width of your fabric. My hips are 37 inches, so the width of my fabric is 56 inches (I rounded it up). Then decide how long you want your skirt. I wanted mine pretty short, so the skirt in the tutorial is 19 inches long.
Finish one of the bottom edges of the rectangle (I overlocked mine). Turn up ½ inch, press and hem.
Fold the rectangle of fabric in half widthways with right sides together, so the two shorter edges meet. Sew this seam using a half inch seam allowance. You now have a tube skirt! Sew a row of long, gathering stitches along the top, unhemmed edge of the tube (don't backstitch at each end!). Divide your tube of fabric into quarters with pins. I did photograph this step but you can't really see anything so you'll just have to imagine it.
Now we need to attach the elastic. Measure your waist, add ½ inch and cut the elastic to this measurement. Sew the two ends together with a zig-zag stitch using a ½ inch seam allowance.
Press open. You may also wish to backstitch a few times for security.
Divide your elastic into quarters with pins.
Put your skirt and elastic together - you want the wrong side of the elastic to face the right side of the skirt. There will be a lot more skirt than elastic at this point. Your goal is to match up the four pins on the elastic with the four pins on the fabric tube. Gently pull up your gathering stitches so that the fabric is evenly distributed. Pin together using as many pins as necessary. This is what it should look like once the fabric is evenly distributed.
Sew right around the waistband with a zig-zag stitch, keeping close to the bottom edge.
This is the outside view of the sewn waistband.
And this is the inside view of the sewn waistband. That's it, you've finished!