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Blessings Overflowing

Faith~Family~Creativity

April 12, 2016 By Jackie 4 Comments

Simple Elastic Waist Skirt

Over the years I have made quite a few skirts, and I have even created tutorials for some of them. Today I want to share a tutorial with you for making a simple elastic waist skirt for girls or women of any size.

Simple Elastic Waist Skirt

My niece turned five last month and, like for all of her previous birthdays, I made her an outfit to wear to her party. This year she decided she wanted a rainbow colored skirt, and I was happy to oblige.

Here are links to all of the outfits I have made for her over the years.  

  • 1st Birthday: Sock Monkey Skirt
  • 2nd Birthday: Minnie Mouse Dress
  • 3rd Birthday: Doc McStuffins Inspired Tutu
  • 4th Birthday: Frozen Inspired Skirt & T-Shirt

If you would like to make an elastic waist skirt like this here’s how.

Supplies

  • Fabric (I used a 100% cotton fabric. See step 1 to determine yardage.)
  • Elastic (I used 3/4 inch elastic.)
  • Safety Pin
  • Thread
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Pins
  • Iron
  • Sewing Machine
  • Serger (Optional)
  • Small Piece of Ribbon (Optional to use as a tag)

Skirt Supplies

Instructions

1. Determine the measurements to cut the fabric.

Length: Decide where you want the skirt to fall. Add 1 inch to that measurement for the hem, and 1 1/4 inches (if using 3/4 inch elastic) for the elastic casing (1 1/2 inches added for casing if you are using 1 inch elastic). Basically, you need to add 1/2 inch to the elastic width to determine the size of the casing.

Width: Measure your waist and double it to determine the width of fabric.

Example: For a 5 year old with a 20 inch waist you would cut the width at 40 inches. To have the finished length of the skirt be 16 inches you would cut the length of the fabric 18 1/4 inches.

You may have noticed that my instructions above mention two different widths of elastic. I usually use 3/4 inch elastic for girls. For an adult you would want at least 1 inch elastic. You can use larger elastic, just make sure to add 1/2 inch to the width of the elastic.

Adult sizes: You will probably want to cut two pieces of fabric instead of one super long piece. This will mean that you will have two side seams instead of one seam in the back like the following steps describe.

Measuring and Cutting Fabric

2. Use a serger on all raw edges. Don’t trim much off.

If you don’t have a serger you can use an overcast stitch on your sewing machine.

Serging Raw Edges

3. Fold the fabric, right sides together, so the two short sides are even and pin them together. This will be your seam.

Pinning Seam

4. Use a sewing machine to sew the seam using a 5/8 inch seam allowance.

Sewing Seam

5. Press the seam open.

Pressing Seam

Since you already have the iron and ironing board set up you are going to iron the hem and the elastic casing, too.

6. Fold the top of the skirt down (towards the inside of the skirt) 1 1/4 inches and press. This will be the casing for the elastic.

Pressing Elastic Casing

7. Fold the bottom of the skirt up (towards the inside of the skirt) 1 inch and press. This will be the hem.

Pressing Hem

8. Stitch along the top of the skirt near the serged edge leaving a 2-3 inch opening to insert the elastic through.

Sewing Casing for Elastic

9. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and thread it through the opening you left in step 8.

To determine how much elastic you need you can go about it two ways. You can use the waist measurement and cut the elastic that long. Or, you can try on the skirt and then see how much you need and cut off the rest.

In the picture below you will see a piece of grosgrain ribbon on the seam. I always like to fold a small piece of grosgrain ribbon and sew it into the elastic casing seam to show where the back of the skirt is.

For a skirt with only one seam like you will want the seam to be in the center back. If you are making a skirt with two seams you will want to have those be on the sides and the back will be halfway in between them.

Using a Safety Pin to Thread Elastic Through Casing

10. Overlap the ends of the elastic and stitch where they overlap several times.

Be sure to pull the elastic out of the casing for this part. You don’t want to sew the elastic onto the skirt.

sewing elastic

11. Put the elastic back into the casing and sew the opening closed.

12. To keep the elastic from shifting stitch “in the ditch” on the seam lines. (See picture below.)

stitching in the ditch

13. Stitch the hem in place by stitching near the serged edge of the hem.

Sewing Hem

That’s it. You can give everything a final press and then your skirt should be ready to wear now.

For my niece’s birthday outfit I not only made this skirt, but I also embroidered a T-shirt with a unicorn appliqué design that I purchased here.

Simple Elastic Waist Skirt with Matching T-Shirt

My niece was so excited when she saw her birthday outfit, and I have to say I think she looked pretty cute in it. 🙂

Finished Skirt & Embroidered T-Shirt

This was the first sewing project I had completed in months and it was very quick and fun.

Let me know if you have any questions.

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Filed Under: Crafts & DIY Tagged With: Sewing, Tutorials

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This little ray of sunshine turned ten years old t This little ray of sunshine turned ten years old today. Janna loves laughing, learning, writing, singing, nature, animals, school, people...just about everything really. 🙂  Janna has been a true joy, and I am so thankful God has allowed me to be her mama. 

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Happy birthday, Janna! You are so loved. ❤️
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I have mixed emotions when I reflect on all that h I have mixed emotions when I reflect on all that has happened in 2020. There have been so many negatives for so many people. I can’t say it has all been positive for me either. However, there are some things that have happened in 2020 for which I am so grateful. 
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P.S. We had our masks on at all times other than when we took pictures.
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For anyone reading this who is struggling with a tantrum throwing toddler, a strong-willed child, and/or a child who questions everything, I would like to encourage you. Look for the positive qualities your child possesses such as perseverance, dedication, and curiosity and build upon that. I will never regret the hard days of parenting because my prayers and hard work have paid off. Helping James reach his full potential and keep those qualities without breaking his spirit has been worth the effort.

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