why can't i work out how to make this skirt?

[Charliepw]

I bought a fab stretchy skirt from H&M a while ago and i want to make another in the same style but no matter what i do, i get stuck.

I've made a miniature version to try to work it out, big enough to fit a big doll.

It is basically two long strips of fabric the width of my hips, that fold over and are front and back.
So there is no seam at the bottom and only a seam at the top where there is some elastic as well.
There are two seams down the sides.

I sew up the seams to make one very long tube, and then tuck up half inside the other half and sew up the wasteband, then I try pulling it through the right way through a little hole i left.
but instead when it comes through the right way, it's not a long thin tube, it's a big narrow circle like a bracelet.

Can anyway point me in the right direction please.

[HalfwayUpALadder]

What kind of waistband does it have?

[FinallyHere]

Not sure about the turning it right way round.

Could you sew the side seams on the wrong side, then turn right way round. The top is now entirely open, now sewing.


Attach the waistband from the right side? N

[Lifesalemon]

Can you post a photo of the original so we can see what you are aiming for?

[Lifesalemon]

I think the same as finally said.
You probably need to turn it the right way and then attach the waistband. I can't see how you can turn it through any way that would work out with a waistband already attached.

[RaisingSteam]

So it's a double layer jersey skirt. And with a fold at the hem. I suspect you'd need to sew the sides, then fold with the outside longer than the inside (wrong sides together), turn over a casing/hem for the waistband and topstitch it.

Else you are getting into some multidimensional maths problem to do with toroids.

[Charliepw]

I'm actually having trouble replying to this thread, which is annoying.
Just changed computer to see if this works.

[Charliepw]

Ok, now i can type again.
I've attached three pics, one is the black skirt from H&M and you can see only the one seam in the length of the skirt.
Another shows the only raw edge i can see
The other shows my unpicked mini versions in two pieces of fabric.

In answer to above, there seems to be only one piece of 1" elastic around the top seam, stitched to that seam so that it does' move.
The whole skirt is rollable in that you could wear it with the elastic around your hips if you so desired, but obviously you wouldn't.

RaisingSteam i think your way would be the easier way, but now the whole thing seems like a puzzle that needs to be solved.

[RaisingSteam]

Possibly - sew one side.
Sew the top seam and elastic and turn inside out
Sew the remaining side as far as you can and close the gap on the inside. May be possible to do this by turning through a gap?

[RaisingSteam]

Yes it does- trialled it with a tubular bandage. Sew one side and top, turn half-inside out a bit like when you fold up a sock. Sew round the circle leaving a small gap, turn and close the gap. Well it's worth a try!

[Charliepw]

really?
you've worked it out?
ok, so i'm going to try it with my small mini version.
So after sewing up one side, and then sewing both ends of the waistband together (with elastic (if i was using elastic)
then i sew up a bit of the second side seam, leaving a gap and then turn it.

Have you any pics of your successful tube?

[RaisingSteam]

Sew one side, then the entire waist seam. So your tube is sideways IYSWIM. Don' have a picture, I literally just tacked it and pulled it out!

[Lifesalemon]

I would leave the waist until last. I would make a long tube skirt by sewing side seams and then turn through halfway, putting wrong sides together and then attatched waist.

[Charliepw]

Hello
RaisingSteam, thanks for the pic, i'm gonna try this with sticky tape which will be quicker than tacking, and i have children all over the place today.

Lifesalemon, I did it that way in the first place and when you turn it through it's not a long thin double sided tube, it becomes a wide narrow tube, more like a wide belt.

strange.

[Charliepw]

RaisingSteam, OMG, i think that works.
I only did it with sticky tape, but it turned through the right way!!!!

You might be a genius.
x

[Lifesalemon]

Pleased to hear you have solved the puzzle

[Charliepw]

Oh my, when i tried to tack it, it didn't work at all.
doh!
please please please do it again and take pics of it as you do it.

I can obviously sew up one side
but it's the next step that gets me,
I have attached pics.

pic 1, i've sewn up a side, and it's folded,
pic 2 i've sewn up the side and it's opened out flat
pic 3 i've folded it up the other way.
is that right?

and then do i sew it across with elastic?

the dark shadow in the photos is my cat

[RaisingSteam]

Yes , sew right across what is now your long side, through both layers, either stitch the elastic along the seam as you go or sew it after

Then stuff one half of the skirt Inside the other half, so you have two "tubes one inside the other, waist seam matching at the top, right sides together. At this point you will feel like you nearly have the skirt but it's sideways. Don't panic. Then sew around the tube through both thicknesses, leaving a gap a few inches from the seam. Turn through the gap and sew it up. Will take photos after tea if you're still stuck.

[Charliepw]

Yes please, if you don't mind, i'd really like you to take pics.
i'm still stuck.

[RaisingSteam]

OK I only seem to be able to add 3 photos. Front is pink, back is plain.

1. where you have got to - sew waist right across.
   
2. turn through so "back" is inside "front" like a sideways tube
   
3. sew around the raw edges of this tube leaving say 4 - 6 inch gap
   
4. turn and close the gap

[RaisingSteam]

tadaaa

[Charliepw]

RaisingSteam (interesting name, does it relate to ironing or a quick temper or something else entirely like you are super hot like Alex Vause from 'Orange Is the New Black' and all the humans around you are constantly fanning themselves?)

thank you so much for this,
right i'm off to try this out and then i'll post a pic, if i'm successful.

[Charliepw]

Yes, i did it, though i haven't added elastic yet, i'm gonna try that next.
photo of double sided tube skirt on scary doll.

[Charliepw]

Ooh photo didn't appear, hang on.
thank you so much mrs, for all your help.

[RaisingSteam]

oh good stuff. my username is from a Terry pratchett book actually. The more of them I read the more MNers I discover!