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How to Make an Underskirt for a Dress

An few inches of white underskirt peeking out beneath a dress creates a sweet effect, while showing half an inch of red underskirt is a flirty way to attract attention to your legs. Ruffled underskirts add volume to gathered skirts, and any underskirt will help a dress hang better and be less see-through. Underskirts are often called petticoats. Make your petticoat with an easy-fitting elastic waist for comfort.

Things You'll Need

Tape measure
Fabric
Scissors
Sewing machine
Iron
Pins
3/4-inch-wide elastic

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the wearer's waist. Cut a rectangle of fabric twice as wide as the waist measurement and 8 inches shorter than the desired finished length of the underskirt.
- 2
  Lay the fabric out with the right side of the fabric up and the length measurements on the sides. Fold the fabric in half by bringing the left side over to the right side.
- 3
  Set a sewing machine to sew a straight stitch with a standard stitch length. Sew the side edges of the fabric together by stitching 1/2 inch from the edge.
- 4
  Cut a strip of fabric for the ruffle 21-inches wide and four times as long as the waist measurement. Fold the strip in half by bringing the short ends together with the right side of the fabric on the inside. Sew the ends of the ruffle together as you sewed the sides of the skirt together. Press the seam open. This will make a long ring of fabric.
- 5
  Fold the ring in half, lengthwise, with the right side of the fabric on the outside. Set the machine to sew a straight stitch with a long stitch length. Sew two rows of stitching along the edge of the ring opposite the fold. Make one row 5/8-inch from the edge and one 3/8-inch from the edge. Pull the bobbin threads on these seams to gather the ruffle to fit the bottom edge of the underskirt.
- 6
  Pin the ruffle to the skirt with the folded edge pointing toward the top of the underskirt and the gathered edge even with the bottom of the skirt. Adjust the gathers evenly. Set the machine to sew a straight stitch with a standard stitch length. Sew the ruffle to the skirt by stitching between the rows of gathering stitches.
- 7
  Set the machine to sew a medium zigzag stitch and sew along the top edge of the fabric to finish this edge. Fold down a 1 1/2-inch fold to make a casing. Stitch 1 inch from the fold leaving a 2-inch opening for inserting the elastic.
- 8
  Cut a length of 3/4-inch-wide elastic 1 inch longer than the wearer's waist measurement. Use a large safety pin to thread the elastic through the casing. Pull the ends of the elastic out and pin them together. Try on the skirt and adjust the length of the elastic to a comfortable fit. Cut off the excess elastic, leaving enough for a 1-inch overlap. Overlap the ends of the elastic 1 inch and sew them together by stitching across the overlap several times, sewing perpendicular to the edges of the elastic. Sew the opening in the casing closed.

Sewing