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Fitted Skirt with Darts Photo Tutorial | Dressmaking Pattern
Moderate |
Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps
Learn how to design and sew Debbie Shore's custom-fit skirt pattern with darts.
Making a pattern for your own skirt ensures the perfect fit, and with this style, you can easily make it straight, pencil, or A-line – whichever you prefer. The faced waistline provides a clean, smart look, and you have the option of adding a back vent for extra style and comfort. Cotton, linen, denim, and corduroy are all ideal fabrics for this skirt, offering both durability and comfort. If you're not a confident sewer, choose a fabric with a smaller print, as this will help disguise any occasional puckers or wobbly stitch lines. Customise your skirt to match your style and enjoy a perfectly fitted piece!
Before you start, it’s important to take accurate measurements of your waist, hips and the length of skirt you’d like. To find your waistline, tie a length of elastic around your middle and see where it sits. Measure around this point – don’t hold your tummy in, nobody’s watching! – and a well-fitted skirt is very flattering as well as comfortable. Measure the widest part of your hips, then the distance between these two measurements for your waist-to-hip length. Measure from your waist to the desired length of your skirt. If you have a similar skirt already, you may find it easier to use that measurement.
Make up the skirt in an inexpensive fabric first. This is known as a toile, and enables you to make any tweaks required to create a perfect fit before cutting into your skirt fabric.
Note: Use a ½in (1.25cm) seam allowance throughout.
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You will need:
Equipment
- Tape measure
- Zipper foot
- Pens and long ruler
- Sticky tape
- Optional: a curved ruler or French curve
Materials
- Depending on your size, 1m (1yd) of fabric that’s 55in (140cm) wide should accommodate up to 48in (122cm) hips
- The same amount of fabric in something inexpensive but of a similar weight to your chosen fabric, such as calico, for your toile
- Approx. 12 x 20in (30 x 50cm) of lightweight interfacing
- 8in (20cm) zip
- Large piece of paper for your pattern – I’ve used tracing paper, but wrapping paper would also work well
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Project steps:
Step 1
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Step 2
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