Custom Wrap Skirt!

…a Wrap Skirt!

Hello Lovelies!

This week, I’ve been a bit brave (or mad?) and decided to make up my own pattern! I’ve also made a video to go along with today’s blog, so check out our instagram to see that!

To make this skirt, you will need:

• Either, tracing paper, baking parchment or pattern paper
• 5m 100% cotton, denim or any non-stretch fabric of your choice, I used this gorgeous white flower print I've been wanting to use for ages!
• 1x 1cm button

The video is a little different to what I’m writing here as I was making the skirt for the first time whilst making the video! But I’ve learned from my mistakes and can now give you the perfect instructions so you don’t have to fix mistakes like I did!

There’s not much too it, but it definitely took me a hot minute to figure out how to do it! I started off taking a look at a wrap skirt I already own and basing my design off that one. I’ve drawn a diagram and used a super simple formula to work out all the measurements you’ll need! To make this as accurate as you’d like, all you need to do is measure your waist and from waist to just above your knee to get the length (of course you can always make it longer or shorter, but that’s where I had it).

I feel as though the image is pretty self-explanatory, but if you’re struggling, drop us a message via facebook or insta, and I’d be happy to help! So, once you’ve got all the measurements of each piece you need, you’ll want to draw it out onto your paper. I used squared tracing paper, and this was perfect as I didn’t need to draw loads of lines and check it was straight, I only had to count the squares and draw the corners of each piece. You can fold your fabric in half down the centre and place the pieces as I’ve done below.

After you’ve cut those out, plus both an extra waist band and ruffle piece to give you three for each, you’ll want to start with the ruffle pieces. Run long stitches along one side and a small hem on the other, then simply pull at the bobbin stitch to create the ruffle so it’s long enough to fit across both diagonal side pieces and the bottom of the two back pieces put together (i.e. your Y value length).

Pin the ruffles to each piece right sides together and sew all the way along on the raw edge so when it’s turned out the seams are hidden on the inside of the skirt.

Next; we need to create darts in the two back panels, so for each piece; fold it in half right sides together and sew a diagonal line from top edge to centre fold. Backstitch at the top, but leave the bottom as long strands then tie them to create a sharp point. Then hem the opposite edge of each piece and sew them together along one long edge right sides together then old out and press the centre seam flat. You’re then going to attach the left and right sides to the centre panel of your skirt, as shown in the diagram, again with right sides together when attaching the pieces.

Put the main part of your skirt to the side and turn your attention to the ties, now I decided to make mine pointed at one end, but you can always leave them squared off. If you want yours like mine, fold them in half long ways and press, right sides together. Then cut at an angle along one end to form a nice pointed end. You’re then going to sew all the way along and down the point on both pieces, then turn them right sides out and press flat.

Figure out which side of your skirt you want your button to be and your inner tie will be on the opposite side, I just marked mine with a cross of pins temporarily. Take two of your three waist band pieces and press them in half longways for reference. Take the tie piece and place the open end laying along the bottom half of one waistband piece (this was my right-hand end) going away from the edge (see image below). Then get the second waistband piece and place it onto of the other pieces, right sides together, so when you sew along the short edge the end of the tie is captured between the seam of the two waistband pieces.

You then simply add the other waistband piece to the raw edge of either piece to make one long waistband. Pin your waistband piece to the top of your skirt, making sure to place the tie in the opposite side to where you want your button. Sew all the way along to join the pieces together.

To add in the tie at the other end, first press the waistband so it folds in half with a small fold back on itself, right sides touching (see image) place the second tie with the raw edge against the raw waistband edge, and the length of the tie running away from that raw edge so that once you’ve sewn it together, you can turn it right sides out and the seams are all encapsulated inside the waistband.

Do the same at the other end, without a tie to create symmetrical edges.

Press all the way along the waistband so it’s easy to sew along the bottom edge. It was at this point whilst filming I realised that my skirt looked a bit silly with a gap between my ruffles, but you won’t have this issue!

Final step guys! On the end you don’t have a tie, which for me was my left-hand end, you’ll need to make a button hole suitable for your button size. If you don’t have a button hole foot for your machine, you can also add a small loop at this part to connect to your button. This was the first time using my button hole foot for me, so I did a few practice attempts to get the hang of it and once I’d got the order figured out, I went for the real thing, and I think it was pretty good for a first go!

And there you have it! A completely custom wrap skirt! I love how mine turned out, I think the material is perfect for summer and looks really effective with the ruffles!

Let me know what you think in the comments below and tag us in your creations so we can take a look at how you’ve done with your wrap skirts! Hope you’ve enjoyed reading this week’s post, don’t forget to check out the IGTV video of me making mine! Hope you all have a lovely rest of your week and I’ll see you in the blog next time!