Friday, June 1, 2012

DIY | Hi-Low Maxi Skirt

Boy, it has been awhile since I've done a tutorial. Which means I did forget to photograph a couple parts. Oh, well. That can't be helped now. Today I'm going to show y'all how to make your very own hi-low skirt. These are on trend right now and I love them!

DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
To make your own you will need the above supplies. The elastic I used can be found here on Marie-Madeline Studio's website and my fabric can be found here. For my skirt I used 2 yards, but I had to the piece the fabric together for there to be enough. I would recommend that you buy at least 3 yards, 4 yards to play it really safe.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
When drafting your skirt pattern you will need to do some math. Sorry. In the above picture I show the math problem for my size. I forgot to write down the math problem for my length as I do it automatically in my head. I will talk more about the length for the "hi" & "low" part of the hem later in the tutorial. Also, I did do a video on drafting your own pattern here that you can watch.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
At the top of your paper {make sure there is enough room for your hem!} draw a line straight across with your hips pattern math problem measurement. My hips are 37", but my pattern math problem measurement is: 10 1/2". {I forgot to mention in the supplies picture that you will need a yard stick!}
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
After drawing your line straight across we are going to be marking two dots 1" above the line on both sides. This is to help us create that curve skirt patterns have. I don't know if you know, but a straight line won't fit us around the waist - we need a curved line to fit us!
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
Create that curve connecting the bottom line and top line as shown above. It might take you a few tries to get it right. It does for me still. So don't feel bad if you don't get it on your first try.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
It is now time to mark that side seam down to your hem. Now, if I was going to be making a maxi skirt with a larger hips measurement I would tape/glue more paper to the side to make it wider. Anyways, from your waistline down on an angle measure the length of the skirt {mine is 42"}.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
Mark like so at your hem line.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
Your skirt pattern should be looking like this now. If you need to, mark all the parts in white onto your skirt pattern. Just remember, the part of the skirt facing you {on the edge of the paper} is your fold line.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
We are now ready to mark that hem. Mark the "low" hem all the way across. We will mark the "hi" hem after you are done with this step.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
When measuring the hem, be sure to move the tape at the waistline too! This helps keep the hem even all the way across.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
With your "low" hem finished we will now mark that "hi" hem. With your "hi" measurement {mine is 32"} mark down on the fold line from the waistline with a dash. We will be doing this whole next step in dashes.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
Decided on how wide you want the opening to be on your skirt. Mine is somewhere between 4" - 6" before I started dropping that line. You can play around with different sizes on paper.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
Yay! You are now ready to cut out your pattern. Don't forget to label your pattern with the date, your current measurements, and what pattern this is for. Also, this is your back & front pattern piece.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
Don't forget to cut out the "hi" part!
Alright, now I forgot to take pictures of cutting out the fabric. But, you would lay both pattern pieces on the fold of the fabric {remember to lay the pattern fold on the fabric fold} and cut. But remember! On ONE PIECE DON'T CUT OUT THE "HI" PART!!! This will be your BACK PATTERN PIECE. You DO NOT want the "hi" part in the back of your skirt. Also, with the cotton voile I used pinking shears to cut out the fabric. This will help keep the seams from raveling when washing my skirt.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
Now that your skirt is cut out you will want to pin the front & back skirt pieces together. Then sew up the sides using a 1" seam allowance. Remember to backstitch when starting & ending your seams. When done clip your threads with scissors.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
     Taking your elastic you will want to line it up to the waistline of your skirt. I highly recommend that you start at one of the side seams. Leaving 1" free of the elastic start sewing the elastic to the skirt. Just be sure to keep the elastic stretched when sewing, otherwise your elastic won't fit your skirt right. Do this all the way around the waistline. Once you start getting close to your starting point, check to see if you will have extra fabric. If you will, start folding some of the fabric on top of the elastic just before sewing over it. When you come 1" from your starting point, backstitch a few stitches and end. Clip your threads with scissors. Now, using the 1" seam allowance sew both of the elastic ends together several times to make sure it is strong. Then finish sewing the elastic to the skirt {remember to keep the elastic stretched!}.
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
Once again, we have reached a part of the tutorial when I forgot to take pictures. It is the last step too. Anyways, it is now time to hem your skirt. I did a tiny rolled hem for my skirt. This tutorial shows the way I did it. {Music will play when you visit this link. But you can turn it off.}

Congratulations! You have sewed yourself a hi-low skirt!!!!

Now, if you don't want to draft your own skirt pattern, you can just add the "high" part to any basic a-line skirt pattern and sew it according the pattern instructions.

DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial
DIY: Hi-Low Maxi Skirt Tutorial

11 comments:

  1. Very cute! Love the print of the material too.. you look lovely! :-)

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  2. Love this combination...you look feminine, and it's just the right combination of vintage-pattern fabric with a modern shape.... lovely.

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  3. Lovely as always darling!! I have to make this skirt soon, better yet one day I think I will hire you as my personal fashion consultant. lol

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  4. beautiful, dear!! I absolutely love your outfit! You did a great job making your high-low skirt. How did you like working with the voile??

    xox!

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  5. @Achaia I love, love, loved working with the voile!!! That stuff is amazing!! Now I know why you love this stuff. *smile*

    ~Ash xoxox

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  6. So cute; I love your fabric choice! I've been wanting to get a floor-length thrift store dress and alter it into a high-low hemline, but drafting your own turned out really nicely, too.

    sewcollegiatechristine.blogspot.com

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  7. Lovely outfit..and oh, I love that hat!! =D

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  8. I don't have the patience to do this but I adoreeeee this skirt. PLEASE make more and sell them. <3 haha. I would buy them regularly!

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  9. That skirt is so pretty! Thank you for doing this tutorial :) I really want to get into sewing.

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