How to Make a Pageant Skirt With a Wire Hem
- 1). Take the waist and length measurements for the skirt. Lay the fabric on a flat surface in front of you. Draw a straight horizontal line the same size as the waist measurement. Draw a straight line from each end of the horizontal line in a 45-degree angle towards the bottom left and bottom right corner of the fabric the same size as the length measurement for your skirt. You should now have a shape that looks a little like an upper case "A." Draw one more shape with exactly the same measurements on the fabric with your fabric chalk.
- 2). Cut around the skirt template with sewing scissors.
- 3). Place the front and back of the skirt fabric together with the right side of the fabric facing inwards.
- 4). Pin the side seams of the skirt together with sewing pins.
- 5). Fold one inch of fabric at the top of the skirt over and pin into place with sewing pins. Leave a gap in the pins on both sides of the skirt to insert the flat elastic later.
- 6). Fold half an inch of fabric at the bottom of the skirt over and pin into place with sewing pins. Leave a gap in the pins on both sides of the skirt to insert the fishing wire later.
- 7). Sew along the side seams and around the hem and elastic casing with your sewing machine.
- 8). Attach a safety pin to one end of the flat elastic and insert it through the gap in one side of the skirt. Thread it all the way around the skirt until it meets the other end of the elastic. Pin one end of the elastic to the other with a sewing pin. Cut off any excess elastic with sewing scissors.
- 9). Measure the length of the hem of your skirt with your measuring tape. Add four inches to that measurement and cut a piece of fishing wire in the same length. Tie a knot in one end of the fishing wire.
- 10
Thread a safety pin through the knot in the fishing wire and insert it into the gap in one side of the hem of the skirt. Thread it all the way around the skirt until it meets the other end of the wire. Pull the wire tight to create a full hoop look at the bottom of the skirt or leave it loose to create a ruffled effect. Tie one end of the wire to the other. Cut off any excess fishing wire with sewing scissors. - 11
Sew the elastic casing shut on both sides of the skirt with your sewing machine. Sew the wire casing shut on both sides of the skirt with your sewing machine.
