How To Sew A Maxi Skirt With Elastic Waistband

Want to learn how to sew a maxi skirt with elastic waistband?  An elastic waist skirt is one of the most basic garments that you can make.  It doesn’t take a lot of fabric and can be made in a few hours.  Gather your sewing supplies and let’s make a maxi skirt!

Supplies Needed

• 2-3 yards light to medium weight woven fabric 
• Matching or complimentary thread
• Sewing machine 
• Iron
• Scissors or cutting mat and rotary blade 
• Non roll elastic (1 ½” to 2” wide)
• Tape measure
• Large safety pin
• 6 ½” x 24” quilting ruler (optional)

Take A Few Measurements

You will need three measurements to make a skirt with an elastic waistband. Grab the tape measure, wrap it around the smallest part of your waist.  

While holding the tape, rock your upper body from side to side.  This will nestle the tape measure right into the smallest part of your waist.  Record that measurement for later.

Next, measure from the waist down to your desired skirt length. Record that measurement for later.

Finally, place the tape measure around the fullest part of your hip including your bum.  Record that measurement for later.

Prepare Your Fabric 

First things first, finish the raw edges of the fabric using either pinking shears, zig zag stitch or serger.  Launder and dry the fabric to remove any excess dyes, dust and get rid of pesky shrinkage that will take your skirt from fab to tight.

Press the fabric once dry to remove wrinkles and to get ready for cutting.

Mark And Cut The Fabric 

Lay the fabric selvedge to selvedge on your cutting surface.  Make sure that the fabric is on grain before you start cutting your skirt pieces.  

Once the fabric is on grain and completely straight, make the following marks to the fabric.

Depending on the width of your elastic, you will double that measurement and then add an additional 1” 

For example, if your elastic is 1 1/2” wide, mark 4 1/2” down from the top of the fabric.  This will become the casing for the elastic and bypass the need for a separate waistband.  

Next, go down 6 1/2” from the top of the fabric and place a mark for the pocket placement.  Place the marks on the side of the fabric with the selvedge edge and not on the fold. 

Using your hip measurement, add 2-4” depending on how full you want the skirt to be.  Divide this number by two and add ½” seam allowance.  This will be the width of your fabric. 

If you like your maxi skirt to be extra full and you don’t feel like doing math, use the width of the fabric.  Place a mark 2” from the top of your fabric and measure down to the length previously determined.  

This will be your finished hemline.  Add a 1” hem allowance.  Cut both skirt pieces based on your chosen width and length.

Pockets??

You can make the skirt without pockets but seriously, why would you want to?  If you have a pocket pattern, you can use it.  If not, grab a pencil and a blank sheet of paper to draft one. 

Lay your hand flat with the fingers slightly splayed on a sheet of paper.  Draw a rough shape around your hand to create the pocket pattern. 

You can finesse the shape to be more pocket-y or leave it the way it is.  The trick here is to have the opening of the pocket large enough for your hand to fit through with ease.  

Add a ½” seam allowance around the entire pocket pattern.  Cut two mirroring sets for a total of four pocket pieces. Finish the raw edge of the pockets with either pinking shears, zig zag stitch or serger.

Sew The Pockets 

Place one of the skirt pieces right side up.  Then grab one set of the pocket pieces right side down on the 6 ½” mark.  Sew the pocket piece to the skirt.  

Repeat with the other skirt piece and pockets. Finish all four seams and press flat with the pockets facing out.  

Sew Up The Side Seams 

Place the completed skirt pieces right sides together matching the waist line, pockets and hem.  Pin from waist to hem to prevent shifting.  Repeat for the side seam.  

Sew the skirt together with a ½” seam allowance from waist, pivot the needle and sew around the pocket, then all the way to the hem.  Repeat on the other side.  Congratulations, you have a giant rectangular thing with pockets.

Fold the top of the skirt over by ½”, press.  Fold the top down by 2” and press again.  Edge stitch around the top of the skirt leaving a 2” – 3” opening.  

Finish The Skirt

To make the casing, fold the top of the skirt over by ½”, press.  Fold the top down by 2” and press again.  Edge stitch around the top of the skirt leaving a 2” – 3” opening.  

Using the measurements for your waist, subtract 4” and use that measurement to cut your elastic.  Make registration marks on both ends of your elastic.  

Using a large safety pin, thread the elastic through the casing.  Use the registration marks to make sure you did not twist the elastic. Try not to lose the loose end of the elastic.  You can add a pin just to make sure.  

Once you finish threading the elastic, pin both ends together overlapping by ½”.  Try the skirt on  to make sure the elastic fits.  Make adjustments as needed and then sew the elastic with either a zig zag stitch or several lines of straight stitches.

Adjust the elastic to distribute the fullness of the fabric around the waist.  Sew up the waist opening with a straight stitch.  You will need to stretch the elastic just a little for ease of sewing.

You’re almost finished.  Try on your skirt again to make sure that you are happy with the length.  If the hem is too long, now is the time to shorten it.  Sadly, if the length is too short, you are now making a midi skirt. 

Turn up the hem ½”, press.  Turn up another ½”, press then sew ⅛” away from the folded edge.  

Sashay In Your New Maxi Skirt

Now that you’ve finished your maxi skirt, strut your stuff with pride.  You can style it with a t-shirt, flats and a fabulous pair of sunglasses or anyway you like.  You’ve successfully drafted a skirt pattern using your measurements as well as a pocket pattern you can reuse.  What else will you make using your new skill?  Happy sewing!