How to Make an A-line Skirt

Couture has always been known for its dreary drapes and superb skirt patterns. Skirts have always caught the fantasy of fashionistas. Be it the fuschia and fur fabrications or the very scintillating hue harmony, skirts have always managed to lend a penchant with carefree ease. One of the most flattering skirt patterns that makes for a hit every time it makes its way out of the closet, is the A-line skirt pattern.

Here is a simple pattern that you could use in order to stitch your own skirt. All you need to do is to follow the instructions in the article and proceed with the flow.

1.The first step is to fold the stretchable material in such a manner that it forms a half.

2.Make sure that the finished edges of the material are placed together with the wrong side out.

3.Place the skirt that fits you perfectly on top of the stretchable fabric.

4.The placing of the skirt should be such that it facilitates and makes your measurement easier.

5.Place it flat and face up. One side should be closest to the edge and one side placed close to the fold.

6.With the help of sharp scissors, cut around the outline of the skirt, leaving an extra 1/2-1" of material on the sides and an extra 1 to 2" on the top and bottom.

7.What you will receive as the end product would be two pieces. These two pieces will serve to be the front and back of the skirt.

8.If the fabric is not wide enough so as to cut both pieces out together when folded over, there is nothing you should worry about. All you need to do is to just cut the two sides separately. If the fabric you have chosen to make the skirt with, isn't very stretchy, allow some extra edge on the sides to slip the skirt on. If you don't, the skirt would become really tight and you will not be able to breathe!

9.If, however, the skirt becomes too tight and the seams are not left to make the correction in the fittings. You could just take the side seams out and add panels of fabric to create space and increase the width of the a-line skirt.

10.After the cutting and chopping is done, you could fold the pieces from the middle and check if the sides, top and bottom of the skirt are in perfect symmetry or not.

11.Make sure that the flare and the flow that you get should be more or less equivalent on the sides.

12.Place the right sides of the two fabric pieces together and pin one side together all the way down from top to bottom. Stitch one side about 5/8" from the edge on your sewing machine.

13.Back stitch at the top and bottom of each side to hold the seam.

14.Repeat the same with the other side of the two pieces. Put the stitch length on 6 or 8, thereby helping the stitches to get bigger and longer. This will make the material stretch.

15.Iron the two side seams open on the inside. This will make the extra seam material lie flat.

16.Fold over about 1/2" of material from the top, around the skirt to make the waistband and iron it flat on the surface. Then fold 1/2" again on the top, so there's a double thickness.

17.Iron it flat again and pin it together every few inches.

18.Thread the elastic by making a guide into the skirt waistband and pin it up with a big safety pin.

19.Guide the elastic from the outside all the way around the waistband. As you go along, the elastic comes out the other side, pull it as tight as you desire.

20.Pin the elastic together and try on the skirt so the waist feels comfortable.

21.If the elastic is fitting perfectly, you don't need to make any amendments, just go ahead and sew the two ends together securely, either by hand or with the machine.

22.Ensure that the elastic lies flat and doesn't twist.

23.Make the hem in the same manner as you went about making the waistband, the only difference being that you don't have to leave an opening as you did for the waistband. You are free to try your self-made fashion couture!

As you get acquainted to making a-line skirts for yourself, you could try your hand at other skirt patterns, as well. They are easily available on-line. You might be surprised to find your sewing skills are reaping benefits. Hope you are not petrified of sewing skirts any longer. With a few more skirt sewing projects, you are ought to become a pro!