Use non-traditional fabric to make a cute and on trend summer skirt with this DIY Wrap Skirt tutorial for less than $10!
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With unexpected material you can find great prints at reasonable prices.
TOOLS & MATERIALS:
- Fabric
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Pins
- Snaps
- Hook & eye
- Sewing machine
- Needle & thread
- Iron
step 1
Measure around your hips to determine how wide your fabric needs to be. Be sure to add extra for the flap that wraps around the front.
Lay your fabric out and fold it in half long ways. You can do this if your fabric is 58 inches wide, if your fabric isnt wide enough you will need to cut two strips of fabric.
step 2
You will want to wrap your fabric around you and pin it.
You can see in the photos how I wrapped it around myself and pinned it in place. I also pinned darts, two in the back and one on each side.
When you take your skirt off, if your darts are not in exactly the right place you can lay your skirt out flat and using your tape measure move them and make sure the two in the back are even.
step 3
When you take your skirt off, depending on the print of your fabric, you may want to turn your darts to the other side.
If you are using two pieces of fabric instead of a fold at the top you can sew your darts on the inside of your skirt. If youre really good you can sew them on the inside across the fold at the top of your skirt. I just sewed mine on the inside of the skirt.
Use your sewing machine to sew your darts at the top of your skirt.
step 4
Turn your skirt inside out, putting the right sides (pretty/face of the fabric) together.
Pin your edges together and sew all the way around your skirt, Be sure to leave about a 6-8 inch opening to turn your skirt right side out.
After you are finished sewing the edges of your skirt, trim any seams and miter the corners of your skirt before turning it right side out.
step 5
Turn your skirt right side out.
Use your iron to press your skirt, smoothing out all of your darts and seams.
step 6
Sew the edge opening closed.
If the opening is on the side of your skirt is the side the wraps inside, you can sew it with your sewing machine otherwise youll probably want to sew it by hand to hide the seam.
step 7
Using your needle and thread sew a hook and eye on the inside of your skirt.
Sew a snap on the front of your skirt and the front flap.
Would you consider using upholstery fabric for clothes? Why not? On a recent trip to Ikea I found they really have some great prints at seriously reasonable prices. The fabric I used is a little heavier than a normal apparel fabric, but I actually like having the skirt be made with a heavier fabric.
This is a simple way to make a skirt and it actually goes together pretty quickly. If you dont want to sew too much you could fray the edge of your skirt and leave it raw, depending on your fabric.
Im not being paid or reimbursed in anyway by Ikea for this post or any others. However, I have to admit they do have some really fun prints and you cant beat the price! I actually have two other fabrics lined up for future DIYs!
THANKS A LOT! she is more lovely than the skirt by “Zara” que Olivia Palermo wears (excuse my english. i’m spanish, i live in Paris and i have forgotten my english.)
Merci, Cathy!
Hi Cristina,
You’re welcome! Thank you!!! De nada! Je vous en prie! You’re so sweet and you have nothing to apologize for. I’m so glad you like this skirt!
xoxo
Cathy
This is GORGEOUS. I have just the tablecloth to steal from my mother for this! Oh it will be such a better skirt than a tablecloth! I once read you should never buy (or make) a skirt that can’t pass the “white t shirt” test: that is – if you cannot wear it with a white t shirt, no matter how nice or unique or whatever, pass on it. Because you could have a skirt that serves the same purpose but can also be worn with a plain white tee. It has proven to be excellent advice. Which is what caught my eye in the last photos – if it can make an undershirt look haute! And as always, this is such a beautifully well-done tutorial – honestly, I remember the first time I read your blog – about 1.5 yrs ago – I had just gotten a sewing machine and was searching for an immediate gratification project and found your t t-shirt dress – I made a hot pink dress and a black dress from Walmart t-shirts withing 36 hrs and I still wear them – and that post was, and remains, the catalyst for many a project. And this skirt is the same thing – truly captures the spirit and beauty of the DIY Renaissance we’re going through. Your ability to create beautiful and unique objects that are easy and classic yet modern, fresh, and extremely – malleable? Adaptable? Inviting of innovation? For example – I love how you basically are entrusting that your audience is capable of fitting this skirt using draping techniques. I love how you explain and photograph each step succinctly and completely. By the end, we’ve made a draped wrap skirt that fits us and is in a fabric we love; but we’ve also gained the ability to make a really cool asymmetrical bodice – or, at least I have ;-) I find it to be genius, how you manage to capture so much in a single project or post… I read tons of sewing/DIY blogs, and yours stands alone in its own non-category. Tie dye that I would actually WEAR, Valentine’s sweaters that you don’t have to wear on Valentine’s Day (and might even be making a deconstructionist or subversive statement, but only if you feel like making it), upholstery fabric and skirt draping and sewing 101, and having good glue and never too many shiny objects – you’re doing some wonderfulness with your blog and I love it and I am always happy to see I’m not the only one who’s watching. If I blogged, I’d want it to be like yours. Okay, sorry for the gushy love-post. Keep it up, please? I am loving the inspiration. That, and how your posts are grammatically and syntactically perfect. I also really appreciate that. Really. It’s so refreshing. Thanks again! I will try to comment more often but in brief sentences from here on out!
Kindest Regards,
Taryn
Taryn,
Wow! All I can say is thank you! I’m so happy to have inspired you and to see that your enthusiasm hasn’t wained. It’s exciting to know that you’ve been reading my blog almost since the beginning and you’re still coming back and find it interesting. Your kind words left me a bit speechless until I could find the right words to respond. Whenever I start to question what I’m doing or having a down day I will definitely re-read your comment. ;)
From the bottom of my heart Thank You and please keep creating and DIYing!
xoxo
Cathy