Basic Project 2:
Elastic-Waist Skirt
Did you know you can make a skirt without using a
pattern? You can—and it’s really easy, too! The skirt
featured here is made from lightweight, woven cotton
fabric cut into a long rectangle, has an elastic casing
at the waist, and is accented with a tiny trim along the
hemline. This is the simplest type of skirt to make. Why
not make several and have a new skirt for every day of
the week?
194 Part 4: A Gallery of Projects
What You Need
Knowledge of straight seams, elastic casing, and
attaching trim
44-inch-wide
x
20-inch-tall (111.75
x
51 cm) cotton fabric
(this fits a 28-inch [71 cm] waist)
To customize the size: width = 9 inches (23 cm) + hip mea-
surement; length = 3 inches (7.5 cm) + desired length (for
example, from waist to knee)
45-inch-long (114.25 cm) trim
2-inch-wide (5 cm) elastic 29 inches (74 cm) in length
Straight and safety pins
Sewing machine
Measuring tape
Scissors
Iron
Seam gauge
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3 4
Create a narrow hem along the bottom edge of
the skirt by folding twice at
1
4
inch (.6 cm). Press
and pin to hold it in place.
Lay the skirt flat, and press the seam open.
With the right sides together, fold the skirt fabric
in half, matching up the two short sides. Sew
a straight seam with a
5
8
-inch (1.5 cm) seam
allowance.
Cut out the skirt fabric to the specified measure-
ments. Measure and cut the elastic and the trim
piece.
195Basic Projects
You can finish the edges with a
zigzag stitch before sewing the
seam for a more finished look.
1
2
195
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The seam gauge
will help you create
a nice, consistent
casing.
Measure 2
1
4
inches (5.75 cm), and fold the top
edge over again all the way around the skirt to
create the casing for the elastic.
Straight stitch along the bottom folded edge,
leaving a 3-inch (7.5 cm) opening to feed in the
elastic.
7 8
Turn the skirt to the right side, and carefully pin
the trim to the pinned hemline. Straight stitch to
secure the trim and create the hem.
Create an elastic casing by first pressing the top
edge of the skirt under
1
2
inch (1.25 cm). Do this
around the entire top edge.
196 Part 4: A Gallery of Projects
Position the trim so it
hangs past the edge
of the fabric.
5 6
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Remove the safety pin, and sew the two ends
together. Zigzag stitch down the seam allowance
so it lies flat on the elastic.
Slide the elastic into the casing and stitch the
opening closed, by hand or by machine. The skirt
is now ready to wear!
11 12
Secure a safety pin in the end of the elastic. Feed it
into the casing, and pull it all the way through so it
comes out the other side. Be sure to keep the other
end out of the casing.
Scrunch up the fabric over the elastic and pull
both ends out so you have enough space to fit
them under your sewing machine foot.
9
10
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