Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Purchase a pattern, fabric and notions from a fabric store. Notions include thread and accessories such as buttons and zippers. The pattern will tell you how much fabric to purchase and what type of material will be easiest to work with for the skirt's style.
Prewash, dry and iron the fabric before cutting the fabric out. Prewashing is important to ensure that the fabric does not shrink after the skirt is sewn together. Launder the material separately from other clothes.
Cut out the pattern pieces with a sharp pair of scissors. The pattern pieces may require ironing at a very low temperature to make them lay flat.
Lay out the fabric on a large, flat surface and place the pattern pieces on top of the fabric, using sewing pins to secure the edges of the pattern to the fabric.
Cut out the fabric with a sharp pair of scissors. The pattern will still be layered on top of the fabric and attached to the fabric with sewing pins. You may need to make some rough cuts to separate the pieces from each other so that it is easier to cut close to the edges and curves.
Remove the sewing pins from the fabric and pattern layers, and place the sewing pins back in a plastic container or pincushion. Separate the pattern from the fabric and put the pattern away in the pattern envelope for storage.
Set up a sewing machine with thread, a foot pedal and power source. Use a spool of thread that matches the color of the fabric you are sewing, place the spool on the spindle and weave the loose end of the thread through the machine. Attach the foot pedal to the machine and place the pedal on the floor where your right foot can reach it. Attach the power cord to the sewing machine, plug it into the wall and turn on the machine.
Use a sewing machine to sew side seams according to the pattern directions. Set the sewing-machine's stitch type to "Straight" and stitch length to "2." Typical skirt patterns have two side seams, which are sewn with the right sides of the fabric facing together.
Use a sewing machine to sew the waistband to the skirt. Set the sewing machine's stitch type to "Straight" and stitch length to "2." The pattern will indicate whether the waistband is to be finished with elastic or material with a zipper and button.
Try the skirt on your body and fold and pin the hemline to the desired length with a few pins. Remove the skirt from your body and use an iron to help press narrow hem seams prior to placing the remainder of the pins. Pins should be placed no farther than an inch apart on the skirt's hem.
Use a sewing machine to hem the bottom of the skirt using a straight stitch with a stitch length of 2, removing pins as you sew. Sewing-machine needles can break if they run over pins.