This patternless skirt has 2 easy steps and forsakes the horrors of paper and pinning in leiu of simple measurements and common-sense steps. The flattering A-line skirt is fast to make and pretty on its own or embellished with unique pleats or reverse applique. For this basic skirt design, we started with a solid cotton jersey; you can use a range of other stretch fabrics or upcycle a pair of men’s extra-large t-shirts into a skirt.
Materials & Tools:
-1 1/2 yards of 60"-wide cotton jersey
-Fold over elastic in a length equal to waist measurement
-1 spool of coordinating thread
Source: ,Amazon.com: Improv Sewing: A Freeform Approach to Creative...
Measure, mark, and cut your fabric.
Measure yourself at your preferred low waistline, pulling the measuring tape tightly around you. Next, determine the desired length. We think a jersey A-line skirt is most flattering hitting just at the knee. Remember, because you’re using jersey, you can leave the skirt unhemmed. If you want a hem for a more finished look, add 3/4" to your length measurement.
With the right sides together, fold the fabric in half so it stretches horizontally (from hip to hip). Grab your chalk and mark the following design lines:
-Waist: Draw a straight line near the top edge of the fabric that equals half your waist measurement. Mark the center of that line.
-Length: Draw a line from the center marking on the waistline to the desired length.
-Bottom edge: Draw a line marking the skirt’s bottom edge, 6" longer (3" on each side) than the waist (this gives the skirt panels 3" of flare on each side of the center line). If you want more room through the hips, increase the flare.
-Side seams: Draw lines connecting each end of the waistline to each end of the bottom edge. Curve the bottom edge slightly so the hemline is 1/2" shorter at the side seams than the center of the hemline. This gives the skirt a more even line.
Pin the fabric layers together and cut along the marked chalk lines through both thicknesses of the fabric.
Assemble the skirt.
With the front and back panels still pinned with the right sides together, use a straight stretch stitch to sew up the sides with a 1/2" seam.
Sew fold over elastic along the waistband (see chapter 1, page 19).
Leave the skirt unhemmed if you didn’t add extra length when you measured and cut the fabric, or if you did add length, sew a double-fold hem.
Design tip: Keep in mind that the wider the bottom edge is, the fuller the skirt will be.
Excerpted with permission from "Improv Sewing" (c) by Nicole Blum and Debra Immergut, Photos by (c) Alexandra Grablewski, Illustrations by (c) Ryan McMenamy, used with permission from Storey Publishing.
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