How to Make a Skirt With a Knit Waistband

Measure the wearer's waist. Cut a piece of 4-inch-wide rib knit trim this length to serve as the waistband of the skirt.

Stretch the waistband and measure its length when it is stretched, not relaxed. Knit fabric stretches more in one direction than the other. Cut a rectangle of knit fabric with the sides that stretch the most -- the ones that will correspond to the width of the rectangle -- equal to the distance you measured when you stretched the waistband. This is the edge that will be sewn to the waistband. The other dimension, the height, of the rectangle should be equal to the desired length of the skirt. Do not stretch the fabric when you cut it.

Fold the waistband in half lengthwise. Stretch the waistband strip by pulling lengthwise as you pin it to the top edge of the skirt. Pin it with the two edges of the folded waistband even with the top edge of the fabric and the fold of the waistband pointing toward the bottom edge of the fabric. Sewing the strip with the waistband stretched will cause the skirt to gather at the top when the waistband relaxes into its normal length.

Sew the rib knit strip to the skirt with a stretch stitch, stitching 1/4-inch from the edge. Iron the seam toward the skirt and stitch a straight stitch on the front side of the skirt, 1/8-inch from the seam. This is called "topstitching." It is always sewn with the right side of the fabric up. You want this seam be able to stretch so use a stitch length that is equal to nine stitches per inch and stretch the rib knit fabric as you sew.

Fold the skirt in half with the side edges touching and the right side of the skirt on the inside of the left. Keep both edges of the rib knit even at the top of the skirt. Stitch 1/4 inch from the edge with a straight stitch. Zigzag stitch the seam allowance, or the fabric that extends beyond the seam, to finish the seam.

Cut 1/2-inch strips of fusible interfacing designed for knits and sew them adhesive side up on the back side of the bottom edge of the skirt. Fold up a 1-1/2-inch hem and fuse the interfacing strip to the fabric to hold the hem in place. Fuse the interfacing to the fabric with a warm iron according to the directions on the interfacing package. Sew two rows of topstitching around the bottom edge of the skirt to finish the hem. Sew one row 1-1/8 inch from the fold of the hem and one 1-3/8 inch from the fold. Use a medium stitch length since you only want to have a slight stretch in this seam. Fusible interfacing is available in fabric stores.