How to Sew an A‐Line Skirt

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An A-line skirt is a great project if you're new to sewing clothes. This style fits close around the waist before it flares to the hem in an A-shape. For a skirt that you can put together in less than an hour, create an elastic waistband. Once you're comfortable with sewing skirts, customize your project by choosing the fabric, length, and closure style.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Cutting the Fabric

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  1. Order downloadable patterns or buy a paper pattern from craft or thrift stores. To find your size on the pattern, wrap a measuring tape around your waist where you want the skirt to sit. [1]
    • Read the pattern to find out how much fabric you'll need to make the skirt.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    Look for a pattern size that closely fits your waist measurement. Then, cut out the pattern using a sharp pair of scissors. [2]
    • The pattern may have lots of lines that represent waist sizes or there may just be a few sizes labeled small, medium, large, etc. The pattern key should tell you what waist size corresponds to each size.
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  3. A-line skirts work well with loose, flowing fabrics, such as cotton or rayon. If you want a skirt that holds its shape more, use double knits, rayon, or wool crepe. In general, an A-line skirt that falls to your knees takes around 2 yards (1.8 m) of fabric. [3]
    • If you don't want to buy a pattern, lay an A-line skirt that fits you well on your fabric and use it as a template.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    Spread the fabric on your work surface and fold it in half lengthwise. Line up the raw edge of the fabric so your pieces are even. Then, lay the pattern template along the folded line and insert sewing pins through the template into the fabric every 3 inches (7.6 cm). [4]
    • Most pattern pieces are made of thin material so handle yours carefully when you arrange it on the fabric.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    Carefully cut the fabric to create 2 pieces for your A-line skirt. It's fine if the edges of the fabric aren't completely smooth since these will be part of the seam allowance. [5]

    Tip: If you do a lot of sewing, buy a large cutting mat. Then, lay your fabric out and run a rotary cutter around the pattern pieces. The rotary cutter is a faster way to cut fabric.

  6. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    Pull a piece of knit elastic until it's as long as your waist measurement. Add 1 inch (2.5 cm) to the length and cut the elastic. Then, set the elastic aside while you sew the sides of the skirt. [6]
    • Cutting the elastic strip a little longer ensures that you can overlap the ends when you sew them in the casing.
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Video: Cutting the Fabric


Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Sewing the Sides

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    Lay the front and back pieces of fabric on top of each other so the edges line up perfectly. The right sides of the fabric that have the pattern should be touching so the wrong sides face up. [7]
    • It's important to sew the fabric while it's wrong-side out. This ensures that the seams aren't as visible when you turn the skirt right-side out.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    Slide sewing pins through both layers of fabric right along both of the straight sides. Insert a pin every 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm). If you prefer clipping the fabric, clip small fabric pins around the edge instead. [8]
    • The holes from the pins won't be visible on the skirt as long as you insert them directly along the edge of the fabric.
    • You don't need to pin along the waist of the skirt or the bottom curved hem since you won't be sewing them closed.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    Take the pinned fabric to your sewing machine and sew along a straight edge. Use a straight stitch with a 5 ⁄ 8 inch (1.6 cm) allowance to sew along a straight side of the skirt. Then, repeat this on the opposite straight side of the skirt. [9]
    • Remember to make a few backstitches when you begin so your stitches don't unravel.

    Tip: If you have a serger , use it to sew along the straight sides. The serger trims excess fabric and finishes the raw edge of the fabric.

  4. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    The fabric of your skirt may fray over time if you don't finish the edges. Adjust your sewing machine to make the zigzag stitch and sew along raw edges of the sides you just straight stitched. [10]
    • Don't leave a seam allowance when you finish the edges since you're sewing directly on the edges.
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Video: Sewing the Sides


Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Making the Waist and Hemline

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    Turn the dress right-side out and use a ruler to measure as you fold so the waistline is even. Then, press an iron over the folded fabric for a few seconds to help it keep its shape. [11]

    Tip: Adjust your iron for the type of fabric you're sewing with. For example, if you're making a cotton skirt, set your iron to "Cotton" or high heat. If you're working with a synthetic blend, you'll probably keep the iron cooler.

  2. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    To create the hollow casing for your elastic, insert 2 sewing pins vertically so they're 2 inches (5.1 cm) apart. Try to position these pins so they're at the back of your skirt. Then, straight stitch from 1 of the pins around to the other pin without sewing the gap. Sew 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0.32 cm) from the bottom of the folded fabric. [12]
    • This makes a casing for you to slide the elastic through.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    Hold the elastic by the pin and push it through the gap you left in the casing. Keep pulling the pin while you scrunch up the fabric until the elastic is through the entire casing and comes out of the gap. [13]
    • You can also buy a bodkin at sewing or craft stores. Hook the elastic onto the bodkin instead of a safety pin and pull the bodkin through the casing.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    Overlap the elastic ends by 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) and sew 2 lines of the zigzag stitch across them. Then, pull apart the waistband so the fabric stretches back out. Use a straight stitch to sew the gap closed. [14]
    • Check that the elastic lies flat in the casing. Smooth out the elastic if it's twisted up.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Sew an A‐Line Skirt
    Turn the skirt inside out before you hem and fold the bottom of the skirt over by 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm). Iron the fabric to make it easier to stitch. Then, sew 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0.32 cm) from the bottom of the skirt using a straight stitch. Sew around the entire hemline to finish the bottom of the skirt. [15]
    • Once you've finished sewing the hemline, turn the skirt right-side out.
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Video: Making the Waist and Hemline


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      Things You'll Need

      • Skirt pattern
      • Sewing machine
      • Fabric
      • Elastic
      • Measuring tape
      • Scissors
      • Sewing pins or clips

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about sewing, check out our in-depth interview with Mia Danilowicz .

      References

      1. ↑ http://threadsmagazine.com/assets/pdf-download/TH_member_may.pdf
      2. ↑ http://threadsmagazine.com/assets/pdf-download/TH_member_may.pdf
      3. ↑ http://threadsmagazine.com/assets/pdf-download/TH_member_may.pdf
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/RktMhAt2qAk?t=37
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/RktMhAt2qAk?t=63
      6. ↑ https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_c/C234/welcome.html
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/RktMhAt2qAk?t=136
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/RktMhAt2qAk?t=152
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/RktMhAt2qAk?t=208
      1. ↑ https://sewguide.com/zig-zag-stitch/
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/RktMhAt2qAk?t=379
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/OVXd951Q8ss?t=228
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/OVXd951Q8ss?t=264
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/OVXd951Q8ss?t=318
      6. ↑ https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_c/C314/welcome.html

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