DIY Maxi Skirt!

 

 So if you follow my facebook, you will have read that I sewed my very first article of clothing this week! We recently inherited Ben's grandmother's sewing machine, and after a few basic sewing courses from my husband (I never thought I'd learn to sew from my husband) I got to work on this lovely piece! I must say that for my very first sewing experience, this turned out fabulous!

You will need a few basic supplies to get you going! And really, if I can do this, so can you!

Supplies:2 yards of fabric
1" waistband elastic (length depends on your waist size)
coordinating thread

Instructions:

1. Wrap the fabric at the waist so it goes around you one and a half times. I wanted a high waisted skirt, so make sure you measure from where you want the waist to be.

Once you have made your measurements, fold the fabric in half--waist side up--, the outside facing in, and pin up the two edges of your fabric that will form the back seam. Once properly pinned, you can cut off the excess fabric.

2. Sew your two pinned edges together.

Once you have measured the length you need, depending on where you want your waist and the hem to fall, sew up the hem line. You will want to leave a few extra inches in length for the next step:

3. Stitch up the waist. You will need a few extra inches of length so that you can turn the waist down, stitching it up at the edge, and then stitch all the way around again 1.5 inches below that, leaving space to fish the elastic into the waistband.

4. Once you have fished your elastic all the way through the waist, bring the ends together and sew them up with your machine, finishing the elastic loop. I put a few intermittent stitches in my waist b

and, every six inches or so, to keep the elastic from curling over on istelf.

With my extra fabric I decided to make a sash. I did this by cutting two long strips and sewing them together, end to end. Once I did this, I folded the fabric in half, outside facing in, and sewed up the long side, creating a long tube. I then turned the sash inside out again, folded the short ends inside to created a clean edge, and sewed the remaining ends up! Wrapped around the waist twice, it makes a really cute finishing touch and also covers up the unseemly "elastic waistband" look.

Voila! You're done!

I'm pretty impressed with my first sewing project! I LOVE the cute lemon fabric I chose! I can't wait to wear this. All. Summer. Long!

Thanks for reading!