Elastic Waistband Skirt

Customized Elastic Waistband Skirt

Posted by fabrika fine fabrics

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Follow these simple instructions to make a cute elastic waistband skirt, made to fit you!

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You Will Need (7 things)

  • Fabric Scissors
  • Chalk
  • Pins
  • Ruler
  • Thread
  • Fabric
  • Sewing Machine

Steps (13 steps, 120 minutes)

  1. 1

    Before you get started, you'll need to take some measurements and prepare your fabric.
    -To determine fabric yardage: measure the finished length you want your skirt to be- we did from the waist to 4" above the knee- then double that number, plus add 5" (2.5" for the elastic channel and 2.5" for the hem).
    -Measure your waist.
    -Cut elastic (use at least 1.5" wide elastic) 5" shorter than waist measurement.
    -Cut fabric to proper width by adding 20% of your waist measurement to both the front and back panels.
    *don't forget to remove selvedge edges, pre-wash, and press fabric before getting started.

  2. 2

    -Mark folding lines with chalk, and press your waistband channel and bottom hem by folding the top and bottom of your fabric 2.5".

  3. 3

    Now you are ready to sew your side seams!
    We are using french seams, but you can also clean finish your side seams with a serger or bias tape.
    -Start by sewing 1/4" seams with wrong sides together.

  4. 4

    -Trim raw edges down halfway.

  5. 5

    -Press seam open.

  6. 6

    -Flip right sides together on the seam you just pressed open and press flat.
    -Sew 1/4" seams.
    *we used edge of presser foot (with centered needle) as a guide.
    -Repeat on other side seam.

  7. 7

    -Measure and press waistband channel starting with the full 2.5", then press raw edge under 1/2".
    -Hold pressed fabric in place with glasshead pins, so that you can iron over them without them melting.
    -Prepare the bottom hem the same way you did for the waistband.

  8. 8

    -Sew hem in place by topstiching at 1/4".

  9. 9

    -Sew the waistband elastic channel closed by edge stitching, but leave a 2" opening to feed elastic through.

  10. 10

    -To feed elastic through channel, stitch a piece of rigilene to the end of your elastic.

  11. 11

    -Gradually feed elastic through channel.
    -When you get back to the opening, remove rigilene.

  12. 12

    -Pull both ends of elastic through opening, and stitch/backstitch until secure.
    -Stitch opening closed- either by hand or machine.

  13. 13

    -Give one last pressing to skirt and put special attention on pressing the waistband gathers flat.