How to Sew a Romantic Ruffle Skirt - from scratch

This three-tier ruffle skirt is probably the simplest skirt to sew, as it's made up of nothing but rectangles! It uses a few simple sewing techniques that I will teach you, and I have added adorable peek-a-boo ruffles between each tier to make it more unique and fun!

Here is a video tutorial for extra help:

---

What You Will Need:

• Approx. 3m of fabric (e.g. cotton, gauze, linen, gingham)

• An invisible zip

• Medium-weight interfacing

• General sewing equipment (e.g. sewing machine, thread, scissors, measuring equipment)

---

Measurements You Will Need:

• Your hip measurement

• Your waist measurement

• The length you would like your skirt to be

---

Method:

Cutting your pattern pieces:

• To figure out what size to cut each rectangle, input your measurements (hip = h, length of skirt = l, waist = w) into this diagram. I have also included seam allowance in this diagram.

  
  

  

  Sewing:

• If you have an overlocker, finish each bottom edge of all 3 tiers. If you only have a sewing machine, use a zigzag stitch to finish the bottom edge of all 3 tiers.

• If you have an overlocker, use a small three-thread stitch like a rolled hem to finish the top edge of all 3 tiers. If you only have a sewing machine, sew a narrow double hem along the top edge of all 3 tiers.

• Starting with tier 1, sew two parallel lines of stitching at your longest stitch length, along the top edge, do not backstitch at either end.

• Gently pull the two top threads to create gathers.

• Gather tier 1 until it is the same length as your waistband.

• Repeat the process with tier 2, making it the same length as tier 1.

• Repeat the process with tier 3, making it the same length as tier 2.

• Place tier two on top of the bottom edge of tier 1. Overlapping them by 0.75".

• Pin it in place and then oversew the two tiers together.

• Repeat the process with tiers 2 and 3, placing tier 3 on top of the bottom edge of tier 2.

• Using a stitch ripper to remove the gathering stitches.

• Attach your interfacing to the wrong side of your waistband.

• Iron your waistband in half.

• Pin your waistband right sides together to the top of your skirt.

• Iron your waistband back up.

• Iron a 1/4" hem along the top edge of the waistband.

• Pin your skirt right sides together.

• Measure the length of your zip along the side of your skirt, starting at the centre fold in your waistband.

• Mark along the side of your skirt 1" before your zip ends.

• Sew along the pinned skirt, starting from that mark you just made.

• Open your zip, and pin one side of it right sides together with one side of your skirt.

• Using an invisible zip presser foot on your machine, sew the zip to the skirt.

• Repeat with the other side of your zip and skirt.

• Fold your waistband in half, right sides together. At the same time, this should open your zip up so that you can pin the two shortest edges of your waistband right sides together.

• Sew down the two short sides.

• Turn your waistband right side out.

• Oversew along your waistband.

• Sew a double hem along the bottom of your skirt.