How to Cut a Six Piece Skirt

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It can be hard to find a 6-piece skirt that fits you perfectly. Fortunately, you can measure and cut a skirt that hugs your hips down to your knees before it flares out at the bottom. By making your own skirt, you'll also be able to control how long you want it. Once you're comfortable cutting a 6-piece skirt, play around using several using different fabrics and patterns!

Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Figuring Your Measurements

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Measure your waist and write down the result. Stand up straight and breathe normally before you wrap a measuring tape around your waist. If you're not sure where your waist is, feel above your hips and below your ribs to find it. Then, write down the measurement. [1] [2]
    • Ensure that the measuring tape lays flat around your waist. If it's twisted, your waist measurement will be off.
    • The waist is where the top of your 6-piece skirt will sit.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Wrap the measuring tape around your hips and write the measurement. Move the measuring tape down so it circles around the widest part of your hips. It's important to write the measurement for the widest part or your skirt won't fit properly. [3] [4]
    • Keep your feet together when you measure your hips or they'll be spread too far apart.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Since the 6-piece skirt will flare out at the bottom, you need to measure from the waist to the knees. Measure from the top of the waist to the middle of your knee caps and write this measurement down. [5]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Next, hold the measuring tape at your waist and measure the total distance to the floor. If you want your skirt to be shorter, just write down your desired length. [6]

    Tip: You may want to ask someone to help you with this measurement since it can be hard to stand straight while measuring.

  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    You'll need to adjust the waist and hip measurements in order to find the width for your skirt. Take each measurement and divide by 4. Then, write down the new measurement. [7]
    • For example, if the waist was 24 inches (61 cm), it's now 6 inches (15 cm). If your hips measured 34 inches (86 cm), the new measurement will be 8 1 ⁄ 2 inches (22 cm).
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    In order to move easily in your 6-piece skirt, you also need to adjust the waist to knee measurement. Subtract 3 inches (7.6 cm) and write the new measurement. [8]
    • For example, if your original measurement was 19 inches (48 cm), subtract 3 inches (7.6 cm) to get 16 inches (41 cm).
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Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Marking the Measurements on Paper

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Unroll pattern paper on a table and cut it so it's as long as your skirt will be. For example, if your length measurement is 34 inches (86 cm), the pattern paper should be at least 34 inches (86 cm) long. Then, place a yardstick down the long side of the paper. [9]
    • If you don't have pattern paper, use lightweight butcher paper.
    • You'll use the yardstick to mark your measurements on the side of the pattern paper.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    You'll be making the pattern for the skirt directly on the paper, so the top of the paper will be the top of the skirt. Mark 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) from the top which will be the seam allowance for the waist. [10]
    • If it helps you keep track of the lines, you can write Waistline at the top of the paper.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Take your adjusted hip measurement and measure this distance down from the waistline mark you made. For example, measure 8 1 ⁄ 2 inches (22 cm) from the top mark and make a new mark that says Hipline. [11]

    Did You Know? A small skirt usually has an adjusted hip measurement of 7 to 8 inches (18 to 20 cm), medium is between 8 and 9 inches (20 and 23 cm), large is between 9 and 10 inches (23 and 25 cm), and xl is between 10 and 11 inches (25 and 28 cm).

  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Use your adjusted knee line measurement and measure down from the waistline mark. For example, you may measure from the waistline down 16 inches (41 cm) to find the knee line. [12]
    • Remember to write Knee Line next to the mark so you don't forget which measurement the mark is for.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Refer back to the measurement you took for the length of the skirt from the waist down to the bottom. Measure this distance from the top waistline mark and make a new mark at the bottom. [13]
    • You can label this mark Length.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Lay a yardstick or ruler at each mark you made and use a pencil or pen to draw a long horizontal line for each. [14]
    • To make this easier, you could use an L-ruler.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Drafting a Pattern

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Place a ruler parallel to the horizontal line you just made for each measurement. Then, make a mark at the quarter measurement for the waist and the hip. [15]
    • For example, if the adjusted waist measurement was 6 inches (15 cm), make a mark on the horizontal line at this point. Your adjusted hipline measurement might be 8 1 ⁄ 2 inches (22 cm).

    Tip: You can make 2 more seam allowance marks on the waistline that are 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) and 1 1 ⁄ 4 inches (3.2 cm) down from this mark. For the hipline, make another measurement that's 3 ⁄ 4 inch (1.9 cm) from the quarter mark.

  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    To give your skirt room for you to move, subtract 2 inches (5.1 cm) from your adjusted knee line and measure this mark on the horizontal line. Then, add a few inches to the horizontal length line to give your skirt its flare. [16]
    • For example, you might add 3 inches (7.6 cm) if you'd like the skirt to have a noticeable flare.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Lay a ruler from the length and knee line marks you just made and draw a straight, diagonal line to connect them. To make smooth curves on your pattern, use a pattern master to draw from the knee line mark through the hip line mark up to the waistline mark. [17]
    • You can buy the curved pattern master from most craft supply stores.
    • You should now see a curve from the waist to the knee and a diagonal line flaring to the length line.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    To keep track of your pattern once you cut it out, write Front on the lower panel of the piece. Then, draw another piece with the same measurements, but make them curve and flare towards the middle of your pattern paper. [18]

    Tip: If you aren't trying to conserve paper, you can use the front piece as a template and cut out the back piece on another sheet of pattern paper.

  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Draw a dart in the center of the waistline. Find the middle of your waistline measurement and draw a triangular dart so the point is closer to the hip line. The size of the dart is up to you, but usually, you'll want: [19]
    • Small: a 3 inches (7.6 cm) dart
    • Medium: a 4 inches (10 cm) dart
    • Large: a 5 inches (13 cm) dart
    • Extra-large: a 6 inches (15 cm) dart

    Tip: Add an extra 2 inches (5.1 cm) to the length of the back dart.

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Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Cutting the Patterns and Your Fabric

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Take sharp scissors and carefully cut out the front panel, starting at the bottom and up the diagonal line. Then, cut around the curve to the top of the paper. You'll also need to cut out the back panel. [20]
    • Since you'll be cutting the fabric on the fold, these 2 panels will actually create 4 panels of your 6-piece skirt.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Start at the base of the panel and cut a straight line through the center so you're cutting up towards the dart. When you reach the bottom point of the dart, cut a V to remove the dart completely. Repeat this for the other panel. [21]
    • If your pattern paper was longer than the length you want your skirt to be, trim off the excess paper at the bottom.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    It's easy to get the pieces of your pattern mixed around, so write on each piece in order to keep track of it. For example, label them: [22]
    • Center back
    • Side back
    • Side front
    • Center front

    Tip: The side pieces flare diagonally at the bottom.

  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Tape a 3 in (7.6 cm) wide strip of pattern paper to each panel. The paper should connect from the knee line to the length line. Then, draw a diagonal line from the bottom of the extended length line to the point of the knee line. [23]
    • You can now trim off the excess paper from the side of each flare.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Spread the fabric for your skirt on the work surface and fold it over so the wrong side of the fabric faces up. Then, lay 1 of the panels on the fabric so the straight side matches the fold. [24]
    • You can readjust the fabric's width once you've laid the pattern piece on it.
    • You'll be doing this for each of the pattern pieces you made.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Take a piece of tailor's chalk and run it on the fabric so you trace the outline of your panel and can remove it. Do this for every panel you make. [25]
    • If the fabric shifts around a lot, you can pin the sides in place so your pattern won't move as you trace.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Now you'll need to add space for a seam allowance, so use the tailor's chalk to draw an identical pattern that's 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) from the outline you just made.
    • If you'd like to hem the bottom of the skirt, add a 1 inch (2.5 cm) seam allowance. [26]
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Cut a Six Piece Skirt
    Remove the paper patterns from the fabric and carefully cut along the seam allowance lines. Remember that you shouldn't cut along the fold. Instead, you'll open up the folded fabric to see the entire piece. Now you can pin the pieces for sewing your skirt. [27]
    • Since this is a big sewing project, you should use a sewing machine to sew the skirt panels together.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you measure a six piece skirt?
    Alessio Iadicicco
    Apparel Manufacturing Specialist
    Alessio Iadicicco is an Apparel Manufacturing Specialist based in Dallas, Texas. He was the CEO and Co-Founder of MarkersValley, an online apparel and manufacturer sourcing platform that connects luxury fashion brands to a network of highly-vetted, truly Italian manufacturers. After 6 years building MarkersValley, he transitioned into a career as a SBA Lender, currently working as VP of the SBA Business Development Office at U.S. Bank. Through this role, he helps small business owners secure the SBA funding they need to thrive. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economy and Management of Financial Enterprises from The University of Naples Federico II. MarkersValley has connected fashion brands in over 100 countries and has a network of over 100 independent Italian factories and artisans. MarkersValley has been featured in Forbes, EQ, St. Louis Business Journal, Il Mattino, and Corriere Della Sera.
    Alessio Iadicicco
    Apparel Manufacturing Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Whatever the number of sheets of the skirt, always start by measuring the pelvis and waist circumference. The total number of pieces involved in the skirt must match the total number of measurements taken.
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  • Question
    How do you cut a 6 piece skirt?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    In order for the cuts to be accurate, you need to have accurate measurements. Start by measuring your waist. Stand up straight and breathe normally before you wrap a measuring tape around your waist and write down the measurement. Next, move the measuring tape down so it circles around the widest part of your hips and write down the number. Then, measure from your waist to your knees and write it down. Finally, measure how far long you want the skirt to be by measuring from your waist to where you want the skirt to end. To adjust your waist and hip measurements to find the width for your skirt, divide them by four. Then, subtract 3 inches (7.6 cm) from the waist to knee line measurement to adjust for your knees. Use these measurements to cut your skirt.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 8
  • Question
    How do you cut a 6 pieces gown?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    If you have good measurements, you can draft a pattern that you can use to cut the gown. Start by making a mark at the waistline and hipline quarter measurements, then mark the knee and length lines. Lay a ruler from the length and knee line marks you just made and draw a straight, diagonal line to connect them. Label the front piece, then repeat the process to make a back piece that is a reverse image. Finish the pattern by finding the middle of your waistline measurement and drawing a triangular dart so the point is closer to the hip line.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

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      Things You'll Need

      • Pattern paper
      • Scissors
      • Pencil
      • Measuring tape
      • Pattern master
      • Tailor's chalk
      • Pins

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      References

      1. ↑ Alessio Iadicicco. Apparel Manufacturing Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2021.
      2. ↑ https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/bundles/your-heart/healthy-body-weight
      3. ↑ Alessio Iadicicco. Apparel Manufacturing Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2021.
      4. ↑ https://www.thecalculatorsite.com/articles/health/how-to-measure-your-hips.php
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=27
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/REit6uWpSJQ?t=83
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=45
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=50
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/REit6uWpSJQ?t=97
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=68
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=76
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=99
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=110
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=131
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=152
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=210
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=217
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=247
      10. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=318
      11. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=433
      12. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=447
      13. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=464
      14. ↑ https://youtu.be/vjUEaMPVdsA?t=515
      15. ↑ https://youtu.be/ByHWjck9BHo?t=24
      16. ↑ https://youtu.be/ByHWjck9BHo?t=37
      17. ↑ https://youtu.be/ByHWjck9BHo?t=48
      18. ↑ https://youtu.be/ByHWjck9BHo?t=78

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