Making a pleated skirt is not a difficult job. In fact, you can make it quite simply with a simple count and without a pattern. Follow the instructions in this article so you can make pleated skirts for friends or wear yourself!
Step
Part 1 of 3: Measuring and Marking Fabric
Step 1. Prepare the necessary equipment
You will need to have sewing tools and fabric long enough to make a pleated skirt. The pleats on the pleated skirt cause the need for much more fabric than the skirt without pleats. Before sewing, prepare the following supplies:
- Fabrics whose colors and patterns you like. The pleats on pleated skirts are better if they are made of cotton or wool, rather than light fabrics, such as silk or satin. Prepare a long enough fabric at least 3 times your waist circumference or the person who will wear the skirt. So, take the time to measure your waist before buying fabric so you can make a pleated skirt the way you want.
- Cloth Chalk
- Scissors
- measuring tape
- Sewing machine
- Sewing thread
- Zipper 18 cm.
Step 2. Measure the waist circumference and skirt length
Use a measuring tape to measure the waist circumference and skirt length. Wrap the measuring tape around the waist with the smallest circumference or according to the desired position of the waistband. Then, measure the length of the skirt starting from the position of the waistband to the bottom of the skirt.
Do not forget to record the measurement results
Step 3. Cut the fabric to size in the step above
After measuring, prepare a cloth whose length is 3 times the waist circumference plus 4 cm (for the zipper seam) and the width according to the length of the skirt plus 5 cm (for the hem). For example, if your waist is 75 cm and your skirt is 80 cm long, prepare a fabric that is 229 cm long and 85 cm wide.
Make sure the fabric is cut into rectangles
Step 4. Determine the pleat width
After preparing the fabric, determine the pleat width, for example 2 cm, 4 cm, or 6 cm. When making pleats, make sure all the folds are the same size. So, determine the pleat width before folding the fabric.
Keep in mind that the number of folds decreases as the pleats are widened. If you want to increase the folds, reduce the width of the pleats
Step 5. Mark the fabric
After determining the width of the pleat, mark the edge of the long side of the inner fabric. As a first mark, measure 2 cm from one end of the fabric and then mark with sewing chalk. Then, make the second mark 2 times the width of the pleat from the first mark and so on the same size. This way, you can make the pleats to the desired width each time you fold the fabric.
For example, if you want to make pleats that are 6 cm wide, mark the fabric every 12 cm
Part 2 of 3: Making Pleated
Step 1. Fold the fabric and hold the pleats with a pin
After marking the fabric, start making the pleats. To do so, fold the fabric by joining the 2 adjacent marks and then direct the pleats to one side. Make sure the direction of all the pleats is the same so that the result is neat. Place the pin in the crease of the fabric each time you make a pleat.
Step 2. Hand sew the top edge of the fabric with sparsely spaced stitches
After attaching a pin to each pleat, run down the top edge of the fabric so that the pleats don't change. Sew the fabric with stitches spaced apart so that the thread is easily removed if the result is not satisfactory.
Step 3. Measure the length of the top skirt
After basting the pleats, measure the length of the top skirt using a measuring tape. The result of this measurement must be equal to the waist circumference plus 4 cm (for the zipper seam). If the result is 4-5 cm wider, the fabric will need to be cut to the correct size.
The measurement results of the top skirt are usually not short if the length of the fabric is at least 3 times the waist circumference, but if the fabric is too short, make pleats again from the beginning or the ends of the fabric must be connected so that the length is the same as the waist circumference
Step 4. Make the skirt waistband
Prepare the fabric for the waistband. If the length of the top skirt is in accordance with the waist circumference plus 4 cm, prepare a rectangular piece of fabric for the skirt waistband that is about 10 cm wide and the same length as the top skirt. Then, fold the two fabrics along the long sides with the insides facing each other.
Step 5. Sew the waistband on the top of the skirt with a sewing machine
Bring together the long side of the waistband and the top of the skirt. Place the skirt with the outside side up then place the waistband with the inside side up. Make sure the edges of the two pieces of fabric form a straight line and then sew with a straight stitch 1-1½ cm from the edge of the fabric so that the waistband is connected to the skirt and the folds of the fabric are not exposed.
- Trim the excess thread when the waistband is finished sewing.
- Don't worry if there is thread dangling at the end of the waistband because the thread will be hidden after the zipper is attached.
Part 3 of 3: Finishing the Skirt
Step 1. Hem the bottom edge of the skirt
Before sewing the two short sides of the fabric, first hem the bottom edge of the skirt. Fold inward about 1 cm from the bottom edge of the skirt and secure it with a pin. Then, sew the hem near the edge of the fabric while removing the pins one at a time.
- Slightly press down on the fabric folds to flatten the hem before sewing. Do not get the pleats sewn.
- Cut off the dangling thread when the hem is finished.
Step 2. Place the zipper on the skirt and secure it with a pin
When you're ready to zip up, bring the two short sides of the fabric close to your lower back when the skirt is worn. Then, place one side of the zipper on the outer side of the fabric 2 cm from the end of the fabric and hold it with a pin starting from the top edge of the fabric down.
Step 3. Sew the zipper on the skirt
If the zipper is fastened with a pin, sew the zipper with a straight stitch about cm from the edge of the fabric and the edge of the zipper while removing the pins one at a time.
Cut the dangling thread when the zipper is finished
Step 4. Sew the back of the skirt
The pleated skirt is finished sewing when the two short sides of the fabric have been joined. For that, unite the two ends of the fabric so that the edges of the fabric form a straight line. Make sure the outer sides of the fabric are facing each other so that the seams are in when the skirt is worn. Then, sew the seam with a straight stitch 2 cm from the edge of the fabric starting from the bottom of the zipper to the bottom of the skirt.
- Cut off any dangling threads after sewing.
- The pleated skirt is ready to wear when the zipper is attached and the back of the skirt is connected!
Step 5. Time to iron the skirt
After sewing, the skirt should be ironed so that the pleats look clearer and neater. Iron the pleats one by one starting from the waistband down. This step is optional.
