Skirt Pattern Maker
A simple skirt is a few rectangles and curves. Pick a shape (A-line, gathered, circle or wrap), enter your hip measurement and the length you want, or start from a size from S to XL.
Finish the waist with elastic or a drawstring, and add side-seam or patch pockets.
Make it yours: Lengthen or shorten at the marked line, widen or narrow the top at the side seams, change how full the hem is, adjust the elastic or tie length to your waist. Check every seam you change still matches the one it joins.
Make this pattern in your size →What you can change
Size
- Hip: 60–160 cm (23⅝–63″). Around the fullest part of the hips and seat. Your body measurement; the pattern adds the ease.
- Finished length: 30–120 cm (11¾–47¼″). From the top of the waistband to the hem. Measure down from your waist to where you want it to end.
Sizes are typed in centimetres, millimetres or inches. The starting size is Hip 102 cm (40⅛″), Finished length 58 cm (22⅞″).
Options
- Skirt: A-line, gathered, circle or wrap
- Circle: half, ¾ or full
- Fullness: 1.5 × waist, 2 × or 2.5 ×
- Waist: elastic or drawstring
- Pockets: none, in the side seams or patch
- Corners: square, rounded or angled
- Switches: Flap
- Measurements and counts: Hem flare, Waist, Ease at the hip, Elastic width, Cord thickness, Wrap overlap, Tie ends, Waistband width, How many, Hand width, Pocket width, Pocket depth, Pocket position
Starting points
These are sizes and settings to begin from, and every one stays fully editable. Type your own measurements, or start from the nearest one.
| Starting point | Finished size, cm | Same starting point in round inches |
|---|---|---|
| S | top 102 cm · length 56 cm | top ≈40⅛″ · length 22″ |
| M | top 110 cm · length 58 cm | top ≈43⅛″ · length 23″ |
| L | top 118 cm · length 59 cm | top ≈46⅛″ · length 23″ |
| XL | top 126 cm · length 60 cm | top ≈49⅛″ · length 23½″ |
Cutting list
At the starting size (Hip 102 cm (40⅛″), Finished length 58 cm (22⅞″)) the pattern has these pieces. Fabric sizes include seam allowance, interfacing is cut to the stitching line, and pieces cut on the fold are shown opened out. Each size is the width and height of the piece as cut.
| Piece | Fabric | Cut | Size to cut | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skirt panel | Main fabric | 2 on the fold | up to 78.72 × 59.62 cm (up to 31 × ≈23½″) | Shaped: cut from the printed piece |
| Pocket bag | Main fabric | 4 | up to 19 × 26 cm (up to ≈7½ × ≈10¼″) | Shaped: cut from the printed piece |
| Waistband casing | Main fabric | 2 | 57 × 9 cm (≈22½ × ≈3½″) | Strip: cut by measurement |
You will also need: Thread; Elastic. The cover page and materials list give the amounts for your size.
The maker’s fabric estimate at this size: Main fabric about 1.1 m of 112 cm fabric.
How it goes together
These are the maker’s own instructions at the starting size. They change with the options you pick, and the PDF carries the full set with the cover, cutting list and materials list.
- Sew a quick trial skirt first, in cheap fabric (an old sheet or calico is fine). Sew only the main seams with a long stitch and skip the finishing. Try it on and check that it pulls on, sits comfortably at the waist, and that the length is right. Change the size, ease or lengths here and print again if needed, then cut your good fabric.
- Pocket bags: lay a bag on the side edges of both panels where the notches are, right sides together, straight edges level and notches matching, and sew at 0.7 cm, just inside the seam allowance. Press each bag out, away from the piece, with the allowance toward the bag.
- Put the two panels right sides together and sew both side seams at 1 cm: down to the upper notch, round the pocket bag, and on from the lower notch to the hem. Finish the allowances and press them toward the back, with the pockets toward the front.
- Waistband: put the two band strips right sides together and sew both short ends at 1 cm, making a loop. Press the seams open, then press the loop in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.
- Pin the folded band round the outside of the skirt top, raw edges level and the band seams on the side seams. Sew at 1 cm, leaving 5 cm unsewn at one side seam to thread the elastic. Finish the allowances together and press them down toward the skirt.
- Elastic: fasten a safety pin to one end and feed it through the gap, all the way round the band. Try it on and adjust; overlap the ends 2.5 cm, zigzag them together firmly, then sew the gap closed, stretching the band as you go. Spread the gathers evenly.
- Hem: turn the edge under by 0.6 cm twice, easing the curve as you go, and stitch close to the inner fold.
Fabric suggestions
Outer: Medium fabrics with some body: linen, cotton twill, chambray, poplin, corduroy, light denim; or drapey viscose for a softer look.
Lining: Unlined. Edges are finished with hems, a casing, a facing or binding cut from the same fabric.
Interfacing, padding or other layers: No interfacing. Finish the raw edges inside with a zigzag or overlocker as you sew each seam.
How each fabric family suits it
- Stable woven: great choice. Easiest to sew and press. Prewash: cotton and linen shrink.
- Heavy or stiff: works well. Fine for an A-line or wrap in light denim or canvas; finish seams flat and keep the band soft.
- Stretchy knit: works well. Comfortable and doesn’t fray. The roomy shape doesn’t rely on stretch; use a stretch stitch and don’t pull the fabric as it feeds.
- Slippery or fine: possible, with care. Drapes beautifully but shifts as you cut and sew. Cut single layer, pin within the allowance, and use a fine sharp needle.
The maker’s advice adjusts to the fabric family you pick in the Fabric tab.
Printing it
At the starting size the printed pieces take 8 A4 pages, taped together using the page labels, alignment marks and page map. For a print shop, choose a sheet from A0 to a 36″ roll: the pieces are packed onto as few sheets as they will fit on, and if one is too big for the sheet the maker says so. How printing, tiling and the test square work.
Frequently asked questions
Will it fit me perfectly?
No promise of that. This is a simple pattern with generous ease, not a precisely fitted one. Measure yourself, compare your measurements with the pieces, change the lengths and widths to suit you, and sew a trial version in cheap fabric first.
What size can I make?
The skirt pattern takes hip from 60–160 cm (23⅝–63″); finished length from 30–120 cm (11¾–47¼″). It starts at Hip 102 cm (40⅛″), Finished length 58 cm (22⅞″), and you can work in centimetres, millimetres or inches. There are 4 starting points to begin from (S, M, L, XL). Every starting point stays fully editable.
Which fabric suits the skirt pattern?
Medium fabrics with some body: linen, cotton twill, chambray, poplin, corduroy, light denim; or drapey viscose for a softer look. In the maker’s fabric advice, stable woven is a great choice; heavy or stiff and stretchy knit work well; slippery or fine is possible with care.