Wrap skirts are possibly the perfect first project if there ever was one; they don't need to be sized perfectly because of the tie waist, they only require a few seams, and teach you a lot about the importance of knowing which side of your fabric will be facing outwards. The hardest part is figuring out the geometry of cutting the fabric, which can be solved by a pattern you can print and assemble at home!
Never used a printable pattern before? No worries! Follow along with this video on how to assemble the pattern and make the skirt.
Materials
1+ yard of lightweight fabric – I'm using this silky stretch textured fabric from Joann but this shape would also work well with knits, rayon, or cotton blends.
Thread and bobbin that matches the fabric (need help threading your bobbin? Follow this tutorial)
Scissors
Straightpins
Iron
Sewing machine
Cutting the Fabric
1. Fold your sheet of fabric in half and lay the straight edge of the back panel pattern along the fold of the fabric. This ensures that the two layers of fabric will be connected along the straight side of the pattern, opening to a full skirt back. Draw or pin around the pattern so that you have an outline of the pattern on the fabric and cut ¼ - ½ inch around the outline of the pattern.
2. Open the cut fabric so you now have two mirroring sides of the back panel, as shown in the diagram below.
3. With the sheet of fabric still folded in half, lay the side panel on the fabric and trace or pin around the pattern so that two layers of the fabric are pinned for the one panel. For the side panel, do not align any side to the fold of the fabric, as you want two separate cutout panels for the sides.
4. For the waistband, decide if you would like a waistband that knots at the waist or ties into a bow. If you would like a knotted waistband, use the waistband pattern panel to cut four copies of the panel. If you would like a bow waistband, cut five copies.
Sewing the Garment
1. Start by pinning together the short edges of your waistband so that you have a long strip of fabric. Leave the two edges on either side of the long strip unsewn so that the waistband remains a strip instead of a circle of fabric. Sew each side that you have pinned.
2. Fold the waistband in half longways so that the “outsides” of the fabric face each other. Pin and sew the three open sides of the strip together, leaving a 6 inch gap in the middle of the strip so that you can turn it right side out.
3. Turn the waistband strip right-side-out and iron it to crease the edges.
4. Pin the straight edge of each side panel to the corresponding straight edge of the back panel. You will know they go together if the outsides of the fabric are all facing the same way when laid flat. Sew the sides together where you pinned.
5. Fold the hem of the skirt ½ inch two times to create a rolled hem. Iron the hem down and sew a straight stitch along that ironed hem all along the skirt.
6. Align the center of the waistband with the center of the back panel of the skirt. Pin the waistband to the top of the back and side panels of the skirt, making sure your pins are on the inside of the skirt. Sew along the top of the skirt to attach the waistband to the skirt.
7. Finish off the skirt by topstitching the waistband. To do this, flip the skirt over so that the outside of the fabric is facing up. Iron where the waistband meets the skirt so that the waistband sits flat at the top of the skirt. Stitch along the base of the waistband, connecting the excess fabric from the seam between the skirt top and the waistband.
