Gathered Midi Skirt

Gathered midi skirt

I made this gathered midi skirt when it was still so hot here in Cape Town. I just wanted something cool to wear. I had two long strips of leftover fabric which I sewed together to make a rectangle. The join isn’t great as it was difficult to get the gingham pattern to line up. I might sew some decorative stitching or some ribbon at that seam.

Gathered midi skirt

So the pattern for this is really simple. To get the width, you need to measure the widest point around your hips or bum. Add at least 20 centimetres to that measurement which allows for a seam and fullness to gather. The lighter your fabric the more fullness you can use. The heavier your fabric, the less fullness you can get away with.

Pear shaped people like me can’t easily get away with volume at the hips so I opted for less. I’m a UK dress size 10 and my width was 150 centimetres.

To get the length you need to measure from your waist to where you want to hem your skirt. Add 15 centimetres to that. This extra allows for a deep fold at the top for your elastic and a hem at the bottom. My length was 80 centimetres. At this length – the skirt doubles up as a sun dress. See below.

Gathered dress

You can also use up different pieces of fabric and make a two colour skirt/sundress. Or rows of different coloured fabric. My only advice is to make sure the colours don’t run or bleed. And that the fabrics are of a similar weight or it could fall all weird.

You need: –

• enough fabric to make around 150 x 80 centimetre rectangle
• matching colour thread
• un-bendable elastic
• sewing scissors
• pins
• sewing machine

You do: –

One you’ve made your rectangle by either cutting it from a single piece of fabric or putting fabric pieces together, you need to fold over the top to make a casing for your elastic. Your elastic has to slide in the middle of the fold. My fold was 7 centimetres. Press the fold with an iron.

Fold over top for casing

Now sew up the centre back seam making sure your folds line up together.

Sew centre back

Sew the first seam for your casing and then sew a second seam making sure it’s wide enough for your elastic to fit through.

Sew casing

Measure your un-bendable elastic around your upper chest – above your bust and under your arms. Make sure it’s not too loose or too tight. Cut it.

Slide elastic into casing

Using a large safety pin or an elastic threader feed your elastic into your casing. Sew the ends of the elastic together. Finally pin the hem at the bottom of the garment. Sew hem.

A quick easy skirt come dress for hot days.

More next week on Greenie Dresses for Less blog.

Have a great week.

Greenie.