Featured fabric: Studio E Fabrics Noble Menagerie by Timna Tarr

Pattern design by: Lindsay Conner

Sewn by: Lindsay Conner

Use this simple sewing tutorial to sew a ruffly boho skirt! This simple peasant skirt is sized to fit you. Pair your wildest prints for a bold and stunning skirt, or choose subtle fabric prints for an everyday staple. We will be sewing this skirt on a sewing machine, but you are welcome to also use a serger if you prefer!

Before you get started, make sure your read all the project instructions. You’ll learn how to take your own measurements for this peasant skirt. We do not recommend prewashing the fabrics, but you may want to press your yardage before cutting out the pieces.

Skills Learned: Machine sewing, fitting, hemming, elastic waist

Skill Level: Beginner

Finished Size: Varies

Fabric Requirements

• ¾” (1.91cm) or 1” (2.54cm) wide non-roll elastic in your waist size minus 1” (2.54cm)
• 1 yard (.91m) of three different quilting cottons*

I used:

Large Floral

Blue/Citrus – 5612-76

Large Floral

Magenta/Orange – 5612-85

Medium Floral

Blue/Magenta – 5618-75

*Note: You may need more yardage if sewing for larger than a size women’s XL, or hip width of 45”. This pattern works for girls’ sizes as well!

Measuring

Use a tape measure to measure your waist near the navel (W), hips at the widest part (H), and desired skirt length (L). This skirt is designed so it can fall anywhere from the knee to the ankle. Write your measurements here. (Sample measurements are provided for the project sample.)

My measurements: W ______”  x  H ______”  x  L ______”

Sample measurements: W ___40___”  x  H __45”___”  x  L ___36___”

Cutting

¾” or 1” wide elastic: W -1”

Fabric A: 2 pieces (⅓ L + 1.5”) x (¾ H) (Skirt Top)*

Fabric B: 2 pieces (⅓ L + 1.5”) x (⅞ H) (Skirt Middle)*

Fabric C: 2 pieces (⅓ L + 1.5”) x (H) (Skirt Bottom)*

*Note: To get ⅓ L measurement needed for Fabrics A, B, and C, divide the desired length by 3. Then add 1.5” as noted.

To get ¾ H measurement needed for Fabric A, multiply the hip measurement by .75.

To get ⅞ H measurement needed for Fabric B, multiply the hip measurement by .875.

This is how it works out for the sample skirt:

¾” or 1” wide elastic: 40” - 1” = 39”

Fabric A: 2 pieces (13.5”) x (33.75”) (Skirt Top)*

Fabric B: 2 pieces (13.5”) x (39”) (Skirt Middle)*

Fabric C: 2 pieces (13.5”) x (45”) (Skirt Bottom)*

Prepare the Fabric

1. Sew a zig-zag stitch along the top and bottom raw edges (the long edges) of all fabric pieces. You may also use a serger.

2. Stack the two Skirt Top pieces with right sides together. Use an overlock stitch on your sewing machine (which looks like a straight stitch with a zigzag stitch beside it) to sew together both short sides with a ¼” seam allowance. (You can also use a straight stitch and then finish the seam with a zigzag stitch if your sewing machine doesn’t have speciality stitches.) Repeat this step with the Skirt Middle and Skirt Bottom pieces.

Sew the Skirt Top

1. Fold the top edge of the Skirt Top ¼” toward the wrong side and press. Fold the top edge down again by 1 1/4” if using 1” elastic (or 1” if using ¾” elastic) and press to make a casing. Pin the casing in place.

2. Starting about halfway between the Skirt Top’s side seams (this will be the back of the skirt), sew ⅛” from the bottom folded edge around the entire casing, leaving a 2” gap toward the back of the skirt. (Note: the seams should be on the sides.)

3. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and feed it through the casing until it comes out the other end.

4. Remove the safety pin and overlap the ends by 1". Zigzag stitch several times through both layers to secure.

5. Pull the waistline flat and sew the opening in the casing seam closed with a straight stitch.

Sew the Skirt Middle and Bottom

1. Sew two lines of basting stitches (the widest straight stitch your sewing machine will sew) very close together near the top edge of your Skirt Middle, ending about ½” from where you began stitching. Repeat with the Skirt Bottom.

2. Gently pull the bobbin thread for the bottom row of basting stitches to ruffle the fabric of the Skirt Middle. Be careful not to pull too hard or the thread will break. Continue gathering the fabric until the circumference is about the same size around as the bottom of the Skirt Top.

3. Lining up the side seams, place the raw edge of the Skirt Top and gathered edge of the Skirt Middle right sides together. Pin in place and sew through the pinned layers with a straight stitch or an overlock stitch using a 1/4” seam allowance.

4. Gently pull the bobbin thread for the bottom row of basting stitches to ruffle the fabric of the Skirt Bottom. Be careful not to pull too hard or the thread will break. Continue gathering the fabric until the Skirt Bottom is the same size around as the bottom of the Skirt Middle.

5. Lining up the side seams, place the raw edge of the Skirt Middle and gathered edge of the Skirt Bottom right sides together. Pin in place and sew through the pinned layers with a straight stitch or an overlock stitch using a 1/4” seam allowance.

6. At this point, try on the skirt to see how it fits. We will hem this skirt by a total of 1”, but you can decide how much you would like to hem the bottom to get the correct fit. Fold the raw edge toward the inside of the skirt by 1/2”, then press. Fold up again by 1/2” (or more to get the desired length). Press. Stitch ⅛” from the edge along the entire fold to finish the bottom hem.

7. Turn the skirt inside out and press the seams down toward the skirt bottom.

8. Turn the skirt right side out and topstitch ⅛” across the pressed seam.

That’s a wrap! We hope you enjoyed sewing this peasant skirt pattern for beginners! This easy sewing pattern will become one of your favorites to make.

Fabric Details:

To view the complete Studio E Fabrics Noble Menagerie by Timna Tarr click here.

 To find a retailer near you click here.

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Learn more about Lindsay here.