How to Make a Banded Skirt
- 1). Measure the waist of the person who will be wearing the skirt to find the width measurement of your skirt. Measure the length from the waist to 1 inch above the knee to find the length measurement of your skirt.
- 2). Cut a piece of elastic that is 1/2-inch shorter than the waist measurement you took. Cut a rectangle from your fabric that is two times the width measurement of your skirt and 1/2-inch longer than the length measurement of your skirt.
- 3). Thread your sewing machine. Fold your elastic in half so that the short raw edges meet and pin. Sew the short edges together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance and remove the pins to create a large circle out of your elastic.
- 4). Fold your fabric in half with the right sides together so that the short raw edges meet and pin them together. Sew along the raw edges with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Remove the pins. Press open the seam with your iron so it lays flat. Your fabric will be a large, tube-like circle, which will be main part of your skirt.
- 5). Fold up one of the raw edges of the fabric tube toward the wrong side of the fabric 1/3-inch and iron into place. Fold up an additional 1/3-inch and iron and then pin into place. Sew into place with a 1/4-inch hem stitch.
- 6). Line up the top raw edge of the fabric tube with one of the long edges of the elastic circle so that the right side of the fabric faces the right side of the elastic circle. Match up the seam of the fabric with the seam of the elastic circle and pin in place.
- 7). Pin the front center of the fabric tube to the front center of the elastic, and pin the sides of the fabric to the sides of the elastic. Arrange the fabric around the elastic so it is evenly distributed and pin into place. Use as many pins as necessary to ensure the fabric is even and neat.
- 8). Sew around the pinned edge of your fabric with a ½-inch seam allowance. Remove your pins. Set your sewing machine for a overlock or medium-size zigzag stitch. Zigzag around the entire edge of the seam you sewed so that the raw edges are neatly wrapped in the zigzag stitches. Backstitch a few stitches at the end of the seam. Turn your skirt right side out and iron if necessary.
