How can I make a skirt like this one?

[PersonAtHome]

I've recently bought a sewing machine, I have no idea how to use it but am going to a five week beginners class soon.

I'd love (at some point) to make myself a skirt like this one: www.whistles.com/women/clothing/skirts/gobi-print-textured-skirt-27460.html?cgid=Skirts_Clothing_WW&dwvar_gobi-print-textured-skirt-27460_color=Black%20and%20White#start=0

I've got two questions - firstly, how hard would that be for a beginner to make? And if it'd be too hard are there any things I could practice along the way to get me to the point where I can make that? Secondly, how can I make that exact shaped skirt?! Would I need to buy it and copy it or is it easy to find the same sort of pattern somewhere?

I tried it on at the weekend (I'm much shorter so it's long on me) and love it but don't want to spend £100!

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Are you particularly keen on the waistband? it looks like it's shirred or something. It's not impossible but it's faffy.

A skirt like that, otherwise, would be fairly easy.

Does that one pull on or have a zip or how do you get it on?

[PersonAtHome]

The waistband is elasticated - so maybe that means it is shirred (I'll go and google). The skirt is pull on.

Unfortunately that was the thing I liked most about it - nice comfy elasticated waistband so it didn't dig in. Is shirring a more advanced technique?

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

I think using shirring elastic on your sewing machine is reasonably advanced. Never done it, sounds difficult to cope with the stretchyness I think. Might be easier to do the shirring bit by hand, everything else on the machine? Otherwise just looks like you need skirt material about twice what you'd need for a slimmer fitting skirt, to accomodate the shirred style.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

www.craftsy.com/sewing/article/shirring-tips/ It's not impossible! Practice on a good size of scrap fabric a few times.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

x-posts, judgey - was not meaning to seem argumentative

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

Very easy :-)
It's basically two big rectangles of fabric (ignoring the pockets) sewn together at two sides then the fabric is hemmed at one end & a channel for the elastic is created at the other end (fold over fabric twice & sew down leaving a gap to thread the elastic through).

Or possibly it's a sewn on waist so as above two rectangles of fabric but also a wider than hips length of waistband which elastic folded into, skirt is gathered (long stitches then pull threads) & then sewn onto waistband.

If it's sherring that's even easier it just means elastic in your bobbin & sewing straight lines :-)

You wont need a pattern.

[TeresasGreen]

Follow The Fold Line on FB and ask there - they are brilliant at suggesting stuff like this.

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

Woops also x posted! But honestly my 9 yr old can do sherring it's a take the plunge type thing but very very forgiving.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

www.made-by-rae.com/2013/08/tutorial-shirring-with-elastic-thread/ lots of photos here

[billybagpuss]

Daft question, but what would you wear it with?

The waistband does look tricky, the rest is actually very very easy. If you are likely to wear a blouse that hides the waistband you could just do a gathered skirt.

[amistillsexy]

I'd forget the shirring and just make an elasticated waist skirt. That shape of skirt would be very simple, and you could make a wide waistband and thread elastic into it. So long as you use quite wide elastic and sew it into the waistband at each side (to stop it from twisting while you wear it,) it would be fine and much easier to make.
I used to make them like that all the time in the 80's (as a poverty stricken student). I also made baggy trousers (wide at the thighs, tighter at the calf) in crazy prints 😃

[Jimwenttothedarklands]

A long drindle skirt I think.

Easy enough if you google. First search that came up but there are loads:
untrainedhousewife.com/how-to-make-a-dirndl-skirt-without-a-pattern

Essentially, cut a rectangle of fabric for the skirt. Sew up one side to make a tube. This is the skirt. The seam goes down the back.

Sew on a strip of fabric to make a waistband. Fold the waistband over to neaten it and make a tube with a gap on one side. Pin some elastic onto a safety pin. Thread the safety pin through the waistband tube, pulling the elastic through. Once you've got the right ampunt of elastic on, sew it up, sew the hole, hem the skirt and tada!

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

No worries Super :)

[Oakmaiden]

I'm on my phone - so I'm not sure if I am missing something, but the waistband just looks like a channel with elastic running through to me?

Op - when you tried it on was the waistband fairly solid?

McCall's do a range of "learn to sew " patterns with a skirt that is fairly similar. Possibly a bit more flared, but you might find following a pattern gives you more confidence. jaycotts.co.uk/products/m6994#.Wviu9BbTWEc

[ChardonnaysPrettySister]

Shirring is really easy, and much better than a simply elasticated waist.

Plenty of tutorials online. It’s best finished with a spray of water and a hot iron to shrink the shirring.

You need a very fine and drapey fabric though.

[Jimwenttothedarklands]

My post disappeared! Haha!

I said... sheering isn't hard. You have to mess about with stitch tension and length, that's all. Could be a good way of getting to know your machine? Just practice lots.

[PersonAtHome]

Thank you so much for all the replies! I feel very inspired and will go back and read each one more thoroughly and do all the related googling and thinking and trying. Lots to explore for next weekend.

In the shop I tried it on with the t shirt I was already wearing which was the perfect length to hang just over the waistband but I could also imagine tucking a t shirt into it (and then kind of bagging it out a little so it drapes).

Thanks again for all the tips and suggestions.

[YouWereRight]

Tilly and the buttons have a tutorial for a shirred skirt. I think you would get a similar look with a more drapey fabric.

[SwedishEdith]

Placemarking as I want to try this now.

[PersonAtHome]

Thanks YouWereRight that tutorial looks ideal for me (after some initial practice).