• DIY
  • Videos
  • Articles
  • Round Ups

The Sewing Rabbit

Me Sew Crazy Blog

  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • Media Kit
    • Contact
    • Sponsorship & Disclosure
  • diy
    • accessories
    • baby
    • boy
    • fitness
    • girl
    • home decor
    • men
    • no sew
    • technique
    • toy
    • women
  • features
    • Crafts
    • Videos
    • article
    • make this look
    • round up
    • Travel
    • Recipes
    • quiz
  • STYLO
  • holiday
    • christmas
    • easter
    • halloween
    • thanksgiving
    • valentines
    • New Years Eve
    • fourth of july
  • Travel

Get the Sewing Rabbit VIDEO NEWSLETTER -> -> ->

   

Pleated Mini Skirt DIY

This was the first fabric I saw upon entering B&J Fabrics while shopping in NYC. It was sitting on their inspiration all, and I simply neeeeeeded it in my life. I am talking desperate need here people.  To which my daughter promptly replied, “You don’t need it Momma, you want it.” Dang kids, they listen so well. Ha! I simply knew that this brocade / tweed would make a perfect mini skirt for late Summer / early Fall.  And now that I am home, and have completed the skirt I had envisioned in my head, I am even more in love. I mean – it is just perfect. The fully body, the pleats, the geometric pattern and pops of bright color. Everything about this is fabulous.

I love that it also proves that you do not need neoprene-like fabric to make a nice, full pleated mini skirt that bells out at the sides. It can indeed be accomplished with a tweed, or even a wool like fabric. Something with a heavy weight, that still breaths from the nice, loose weave. The key to sewing this skirt is to use super small stitches. This eliminates the fabric threads pulling loose from constant wear. (A lesson I learned when sewing a wool mini skirt last year, and the threads started to pull loose upon wearing).

Pleated Mini Skirt DIY.


 

how to sew a pleated mini skirt || pleated mini skirt DIY

how to sew a pleated mini skirt || pleated mini skirt DIY

how to make a pleated mini skirt || pleated mini skirt DIY

how to make a pleated mini skirt || pleated mini skirt DIY

 


 

MATERIALS NEEDED:

  • 1 – 1.5 yds tweed fabric
  • Invisible zipper
  • Measuring tape
  • Basic sewing essentials

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

how to make a pleated mini skirt || pleated mini skirt DIY

Step One – Determine the length you would like for your skirt to be, and cut (2) panels of fabric that length from selvage to selvage.  Fold (1) panel of fabric in half, matching up the selvage ends. From the fold, measure out 2″ and mark with a pin on both sides.  Measure 4″ from that mark, and pin both sides. Repeat, continuing to measure 4″ from the previous pin until you reach the selvage end. Repeat for both fabric panels.

Step Two – To make the pleats, bring (2) consecutive pins together, folding and flattening the fabric in between evenly underneath. Pin fabric pleat in place, and repeat for next set of consecutive pins. Baste stitch the top edge of your skirt 1/4″ away from the edge to secure pleats in place. Measure your waist circumference, and add 2″ to that measurement, divide that number by 2. For example, my waist is 32″ = (32 + 2 = 34) / 2 = 17.  Measure the new width of your skirt with the pleats, you want the width to be half your waist measurement (17 as per my example). Cut off excess fabric evenly from either side. Repeat for both fabric skirt panels.

Step Three – Place front and back skirt panel right sides together. Pin and sew ONE side edge. Finish seam.

Step Four – Measure your waist circumference, and add 1″ to that measurement. For example, my waist is 32″ = (32 + 1 = 33). Cut (1) rectangle of fabric your new waist measurement (33 as per my example) x 4″L.  This will be your waistband. Place your waistband right sides together with the top of your skirt. Pin, sew, and finish seams. At this time, finish the raw side seams of the open side of your skirt as well, as well as the top raw edge of your waistband.

Step Five – Sew invisible zipper into the open side seam of your skirt, with the plastic nub of the top of your zipper, starting mid waistband. Once zipper is installed, finish sewing skirt side seam. Hem skirt.

Step Six – Fold waistband down toward the wrong side, enclosing all waistband seams and top of zipper. Pin around and sew or whipstitch.

And you are finished!


how to make a pleated mini skirt || pleated mini skirt DIY

how to make a pleated mini skirt || pleated mini skirt DIY

how to make a pleated mini skirt || pleated mini skirt DIY

 

It may seem tricky at first, especially if you are a beginner seamstress. But please trust me when I say, it gets easier. As an advanced seamstress this skirt took me between 1 – 2 hours to sew, and it is perfection. The tricky part is always the zipper, but once you master zippers – you will be hard pressed to go back to buttons / buttonholes.

As for a link to the fabric at B & J Fabrics. I searched and searched and searched, apparently they do not have this fabric listed on their website as of now. But it was on the trend board as soon as you walked in. I hope you have better luck than I did upon looking for it on-line. 

Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…

Happy Sewing!

 

PIN THIS:

how to sew an easy pleated mini skirt

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

diy// top Post// women7 Comments

About Jess

When I was a young girl, my nickname was Jessica Rabbit. Fast forward 20 years, and I am married to the love of my life who, as fate would have it, has the last name Abbott. That's me! Jessica R. Abbott - aka, Jess Rabbit. Simply living a happy, yet crazy, love-filled life in Virginia Beach with 3 kids and 1 puppy in tow. Read More…

Subscribe

« Sewing Rabbit in New York
12 (Non Maternity) Patterns Great for Early Maternity Wear »

Comments

  1. Katie says

    July 31, 2015 at 8:42 am

    Love it! Do you remember the name of the fabric?

    Reply
  2. Tricia says

    July 31, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    Oh I know what I’ll be making TOMORROW!!! Love it 🙂

    Reply
  3. Sophia says

    August 1, 2015 at 11:14 am

    You made a really stunning skirt:)) Love it!
    http://www.littlesewingmachine.blogspot.de

    Reply
  4. Laura says

    August 4, 2015 at 6:51 am

    I love this! I’m yet to make clothes for myself but when I finally brave it I’ll definitely be trying this it’s so cute. Now to try and find a similar design in the UK! Not that I need much excuse to spend (a lot of) time browsing fabrics.

    Reply
  5. lyann says

    January 27, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    love the fabric!

    Reply
  6. Chloe says

    July 12, 2016 at 7:54 am

    I love this! I was wondering what length zipper you used for it?

    Reply
  7. Vintage Dresses says

    August 21, 2019 at 3:17 am

    Thanks on your marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it,
    you happen to be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and definitely will come back very soon. I want to encourage you to continue
    your great writing, have a nice weekend!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello, it’s me.

When I was a young girl, my nickname was Jessica Rabbit. Fast forward 20 years, and I am married to the love of my life who, as fate would have it, has the last name Abbott. That's me! Jessica R Abbott - aka, Jess Rabbit. Read More…

Stay updated!

Popular Categories

  • DIY
  • Videos
  • Articles
  • Round Ups

Some Popular Posts

Knot Dress – Free Pattern

Knot Dress – Free Pattern

Summer Memory Quilt

Summer Memory Quilt

Women’s Cowl Neck Sweatshirt – Free Pattern

Women’s Cowl Neck Sweatshirt – Free Pattern

How to Take in a Jeans Waist

How to Take in a Jeans Waist

Sequin Cardi DIY

Sequin Cardi DIY

Latest from Instagram

jessrabbott

❤️ reflect love ɹǝɟlǝɔʇ loʌǝ Writing ❤️
reflect love 
ɹǝɟlǝɔʇ loʌǝ

Writing teacher appreciation cards for the Orlando Outreach #loveweek2020 with @elevationchurch ‘s @elevationorlando campus! No matter where you sit on the fence with returning to school / not returning to school...we can all love one another a little bit better and lift each other up. YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!! YOU ARE LOVED!!! You are seen, known, and worthy! So step away from the news and love your neighbor today, whoever that might be!
If it solves a problem for me, it might solve a pr If it solves a problem for me, it might solve a problem for you too 💙💙. All you need is a paper clip to turn your mask into a bracelet, when you don’t need to use it but are still out and about. I wrote a blog post to show how easy it is. And even came up with another idea that is, dare I say it, even EASIER than this 🤪👊🏻. Link in bio - and thank you!
Use a laundry bag to keep your face mask ties from Use a laundry bag to keep your face mask ties from getting tangled!!!
For when you can’t afford a single thing from Gu For when you can’t afford a single thing from Gucci, but know something bougie would make your kids smile Christmas morning. Someone’s old Gucci dust bag turned into 2 scrunchies - yes ma’am!  Upcycle ftw using @mellysews super easy #scrunchiediy - you know they would sell this for like $$$$$$ - but a dust bag went for $10 - I call that winning! And ps - is it sad that this is the first thing I have sewn in like 6 months??? Scrunchies - really?!! 😂😂❤️
Hiking to monasteries, drinking the best beer on t Hiking to monasteries, drinking the best beer on the planet made by monks, morning runs and ferry boats, pretzels as big as our heads, Oktoberfest and apfelsaftshorlee...Munich, oh how we have missed you! 😍😍😍
Pinky out —-> high tea with a little entertainme Pinky out —-> high tea with a little entertainment 😍😍😍
Watch out London...the Abbotts are here!! The adve Watch out London...the Abbotts are here!! The adventure officially begins ✈️✈️✈️ #WillHomeschoolForTravel #abbottfamilylifeadventures
Date night with my boo...I love that we laugh toge Date night with my boo...I love that we laugh together.....and that he will ask me to dance even when no one else is dancing when one of my favorite songs comes on ❤️❤️❤️ #Laughterissexy #datenight
Catfish. It’s what’s for dinner. 😂😂❤️❤️. J/K I was busy eating tuna when he caught this off the dock! Lololol - raising kids right. Go catch us some dinner boy!! Lol - I have honestly never had catfish, I know there are some yummy Cajun dishes with it...🤔 This time he got lucky...catch and release 😁👍🏻
Load More... Follow on Instagram

What we’re pinning

Latest from the blog

Duck Tape® Light Up BowTie and Suspenders

Duck Tape® Light Up BowTie and Suspenders

Ready for the Fight

Ready for the Fight

Lander Pants

Lander Pants

Rushcutter Dress

Rushcutter Dress

Aster Shirt

Aster Shirt

Copyright © 2021 · Savory theme by Restored 316