simple serged skirt

 

My kids and I have been visiting beautiful Southern Utah for the past week and a half.  With the temperatures climbing well past 100, I’ve being trying to go pantless as often as possible.  But in an effort to not completely scar my hosting inlaws, I have been wearing skirts and dresses.  The skirt I’m about to show you really isn’t anything complicated or revolutionary.  My guess is that there are multiple tutorials and patterns out there for something similar.  But this is what I came up with to supplement what I’d thrown into my suitcase a week ago.   

Made of 100% cotton gauze, it’s light, airy and incredibly comfortable, in spite of a double layer of material to keep things modest.   And with a soft and stretchy  knit waistband, it also accommodates  an expanding belly nicely; assuming you happen to find yourself blessed with one of those this summer…

If you have a serger, the entire skirt can be made without even dragging out your sewing machine.  If you don’t have a serger, it will take just a bit longer on a conventional machine, but is still super simple and easy. 

All you’ll need for this skirt is four yards of cotton gauze and 1/2 yard of cotton jersey knit.  Ignore the ribbon in the photo, some minor changes were made mid-production.  If you are feeling extra wild and crazy, go for two yards of one color of gauze and two of another, and make a reversible skirt!  I dare you.
 

Measure the length from your hip to your ankle bone.  This will be the length you’ll need to cut the gauze.  Measure your hips at the widest point for the width of the skirt.  Then measure your waist…or what used to be your waist (I went with my regular waist measurement because I’d like to be able to wear this skirt next year, too).  This, minus two inches will be the width to cut the knit. 

  Paying attention to the stretch and grain of the gauze  (you want the stretch to be along the width, so the grain needs to be vertical), cut four total panels for the body of the skirt.  Cut the length to the measurement of your hip to ankle (if you are using a sewing machine, increase to allow for a hem), and the width 1/2 of your hip measurement.

Then cut the one piece of knit the width of your waist, minus one inch by about 18 inches high.

Right sides together (with a solid gauze, just pick a right side), sew two panels of skirt together at both sides.  Repeat for the other two panels.  I used a rolled hem on my serger for my seams.So now you have two skirt bodies.  If using a serger, hem the bottom edge of both skirts, all the way around, with a rolled hem.  If using a sewing machine, do a simple double folded hem on both skirts.  Or go buy a serger.  You won’t regret it! Now take your knit piece and fold the width in half.Sew/serge (regular overlock stitch with the serger, stretch stitch with the sewing machine) that long open edge, leaving both the top and the bottom edges open.
  Fold the knit waist band in on itself, so that the top and bottom open edges match And the new top of the waistband is the folded edge Go back to your two skirt pieces And place one inside of the other, wrong sides facing.  With the wrong sides facing, there will be no exposed seams on either the outside or the inside, against your skin.  Plus, if you took my dare about the reversible thing, you’ll need all the seams hidden.  Tricky tricky. Match side seams, pin in place. Grab your waistband And pin it to the top of the doubled skirt pieces, with the raw edges of the knit matching the raw edges of the gauze.  The center seam of the waistband should fall in the middle back of the skirts, with the side seams of the skirts at, well, the sides. Serge/sew the entire waistband to the entire raw edge of the skirts, catching all layers (there should be four: two of the gauzey skirt and two of the folded knit).  You will need to stretch the knit waistband as you serge, so that you gather the entire top of the skirt to fit within the circumference of the smaller waistband.    And then you’ll have this.  The waistband can be worn at it’s full height, for any needed belly support.  Or it can be folded over yoga pant-style, too. 

Flip the skirt right side out (or leave as is if you went the daring route) and slip it on because, baby, you are done!

  And there you go; a sweet and simple no-iron skirt you can throw in your overnight bag for a quick weekend trip or as a cover up to the beach.  And when the kids wipe their faces on it, you can just dye it to match Otterpop lips and wear it again!

  

At least that’s my plan anyway, because we all know it will happen.