Guest DIY: 20 Minute Maxi Skirt

Pretty excited to bring you this tutorial by the lovely Emma from Stepford. I'm not sure how I stumbled across Emma's blog, but I was immediately drawn to her cute DIYs leading up to Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day. Hop on over and check her out! 

I asked Emma to put together a DIY for Tinker Finca, and here's what she came up with. I love it! Can't wait to make my own Maxi Skirt, and it only takes 20 minutes! Perfect. So, without further ado, take it away Emma!

If you can sew a straight line then you can make this skirt!!

Spotlight has SO many different and amazing fabrics at the moment it’s hard not to want to sew something. 

This simple skirt takes advantage of a great print and even a novice sewer could make it.

You need: 

1. About 2 meters of fabric - I would suggest using lightweight fabrics especially if you want a full skirt i.e. cotton, voile, chiffon, jersey
2. Elastic 
3. Cotton
4. Measuring Tape

Step 1. 

First you will need to measure the following; Your waist where you want the skirt to sit, the largest part of your body (usually your bum) and if you can do it easily the length from your waist to your ankles.

Step 2. 

Taking the measurement of the largest part of your body split the number in half, add 2cm for ease and another 3cm for seam allowance or if you would like the skirt to be fuller add a few more centimeters. Then take the length measurement add 4cm for the hem and another couple for the elastic casing (the amount you allow for will depend on the elastic you choose). These two measurements make up a rectangle – you will need 2 rectangles

Step 3. 

Head to your local fabric shop and buy around 2m of fabric (my fabric was directional so you could get away with less) the fabric I picked was 112cm wide and $12.99 a meter. You will also need some elastic for the waistband (again the type is entirely up to you, but you will need enough to go around your waist) I grabbed some white 32mm wide knitted elastic at the bargain price of $1.29 a meter.

DON’T FORGET, IF USING PATTERNED FABRIC, TO CONSIDER THE DIRECTION THE PATTERN GOES IN

Step 4. 

Cut your fabric into the two rectangles mentioned in Step 2.

Step 5.

With right sides of the fabric together pin your two rectangles together.

Step 6. 

Sew along the long side of your rectangles at 1.5cm seam allowance and 2.5 stitch length – don’t forget to double stitch at the beginning and end.

Step 7.

Finish your edges off by zigzagging along the edge – to make a neater finish lower your stitch length – alternatively you can choose to enclose all seams by doing a French seam

Step 8. 

Iron over the top of your skirt about 2cm, then fold over again by an amount slightly larger than the width of your elastic. Iron and pin

Step 9. 

Sew this edge down leaving a 3‐4cm gap to insert the elastic

Step 10. 

Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and thread through the hole

Step 11. 

It’s a good idea to check the fit around the waist at this stage, carefully try on making sure the elastic doesn't slip through

Step 12. 

Sew the two ends of elastic together and sew the gap closed

Step 13. 

Hem the bottom of the skirt using the same method as the waistband – iron a fold about 2cm and then fold again, iron and sew

Step 14. 

Prance around in your brand new skirt and dream of all the additions you could make to it – can anyone say pockets…..