Tuesday, September 4, 2012

DIY Maxi Skirt

I love maxi skirts!
I'm actually kinda sad that it took me so long to get on board. By the time I bought and fell in love with them I had a hard time finding anymore. I've been really wanting a black or black and white striped maxi skirt.
A few days ago I came across this pin on pinterest and knew I needed to do it right away. 
I borrowed a sewing machine from my mom, dragged hubs to Joann's, and we were on our way. 

I used a mix between the maxi skirt I already owned and one of my favorite skirts with a roll over top. The only thing I wish I had done differently was made the flair up top wider. It's pretty form fitting because I used the same width as my original skirt not thinking about it. 
Supplies:
1 1/2 yards of fabric (more if you're taller or wider than I am)
Coordinating thread
Sewing machine
Pins
Scissors

The first thing I did was lay out my fabric folded in half so I knew I'd get the same size pieces. 
Then, using my original maxi skirt I measured the width of the top and the length of the skirt marking them on my fabric. Mine was 14" wide and 36" long. I knew that I wanted my skirt to have a flare instead of straight down like the one I own. I decided I wanted it to be 28" wide so I measured that out at the bottom. Using a measuring tape, I put one end at the marking for the waist and the other end at the marking for the bottom. I drew my line following that edge in order to give it a gradual angle. I did this on both sides then cut out the skirt. 

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For the roll over waist band I cut out two pieces of fabric. They were "14 by 10", the length of your waist by double the thickness of your waist band. 

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Lay the two pieces right sides together and pin up the 10" sides. Sew both sides together and remove pins. 

Once  you have it stitched up both sides you are now going to fold it in half all the way around. This will create a tube shape with all the seams inside the tube. One side will be your folded edge and the other side will be the raw edges. 

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Now for the skirt! With right sides together, pin up both sides and sew using s straight stitch. 

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Flip your skirt the right way. Lay your waist band down with the raw edges facing up. Pull the skirt through the center of the waist band. Pin the waist band to the skirt. There will be three pieces of fabric, two from the waist band and one from the skirt. You will be stitching all three together all the way around. Use either elastic thread or a serger/zigzag stitch to give it stretch. My machine didn't have any of these options so I used a straight stitch that worked pretty well. 

If you use jersey knit like I did you don't need to hem the skirt. If you are like me and can't cut a straight line for anything do ahead and hem your skirt. 
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Pin all the way around the bottom and stitch! 

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I'm still pretty new to sewing so there were definitely some mistakes, but luckily you can't see most of them!
I'm hoping to find some striped knit and make a few more. 

This is a super easy project! It took me two hours total and a good part of that was trying to figure out how to use my mom's antique machine. Sadly I'm not kidding I looked it up online to figure out how to do something on it and it comes up as vintage! 
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Solid Metal! This this is heavy!

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20 comments:

  1. Skirt looks great! I would love to attempt this, but my skills in sewing are quite lacking!

    http://chelseadward.blogspot.ca/

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    1. Thanks! It really wasn't too hard. I'm a beginning sewer myself.

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  2. New follower from the GFC Blog Hop! Wow, you are so clever! This skirt looks fantastic. Hi-Five to you!

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  3. How fun is that dress! I love a good Maxi!! I am your newest follower thanks to the GFC Blog Hop. Feel free to follow back at http://www.southernnewlywed22.blogspot.com

    Can't wait to read through your blog.

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  4. that is such a cute look on you - by the way, is it bad I've yet to get into them as well? I've got one dress and I think it's a maxxi dress? not sure. hahaha. it's comfy, I just didn't shop a lot this summer. whoops! haha. newest follower from the gfc blog hop!

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    Replies
    1. I did the same thing! I bought one on sale and now it's like they're obsolete! They are so comfy though!

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  5. how clever! i love maxis! im your 50th follower :)

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  6. I am excited to be your newest follower! Nice to meet ya! Found you on GFC. Please follow back when ya get a chance :).
    xox
    Ash
    http://abpetite.blogspot.com/

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  7. I can't believe you made that! What an excellent DIY project! I've nominated you on my blog as a must see blog with under 200 followers! Feel free to check it out over at daybydaydarling.blogspot.com!

    Colleen

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  8. Oh man, I really wish I had a sewing machine now! Boo for being broke.. I love the skirt.

    I found your blog on the GFC blog hop. New follower! :)

    Katlyn
    follow me @ www.thedreamymeadow.com

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  9. i would love to make myself one of these! i really want one!

    Have a fabulous day! Stop by nichollvincent.blogspot.com and say hello! :)

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  10. That is so awesome...and seems very doable!

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  11. That looks amazing!!! You made it look super do-able!!

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  12. Impressed by your skills! That looks amazing!

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  13. I love maxi skirts too! I wish I could work a sewing machine (or had one!) because I'd be making my own all the time and doing cute variations like ruffles and stuff. Thank you for linking up to TPP - hope to see you again this week :)

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  14. Tank you so much for your tutorial. It is exactly what I have been looking for. I do have a question though, which way did you have the stretch? Did you have it going across your hips or down the length of the skirt?
    ~Heather

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    1. Hi Heather, In all honesty, I just did the skirt the only way it fit on the fabric! The important thing is to make sure that the band stretches across your hips. The rest of the skirt is so loose I've never even noticed which way it stretches. Plus, jersey knit is pretty forgiving.

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