Free Maternity skirt pattern tutorial. The 30 minute skirt!

The 30 Minute Maternity skirt

This tutorial is for personal use only, I share it because Maternity clothing is extremely overpriced and I believe it should be cheaper because of the amount of time you use it.

However, that is definitely not the case, so here is an easy peasy skirt to make for yourself!

What you need:

v  Sewing machine that can zigzag stitch.

v  Stretch fabric. Amount depends on your length. Approx 2 yards made a decently flared skirt for myself. This could be jersey, Lycra or other, as long as it has a stretch to it. I used some fabric I found at a thrift store which is a matte stretch Lycra, similar to swimsuit fabric.

v  Thread in matching or contrasting color.

v  Tape measure, scissors, pins, iron and fabric pen. Depending on how you work, depends on what you will actually use.

Getting started:

Measurements you will need: (write them down)

A.   Under bump/ hip minus 3 inches: ……………. (Mine was 40” which became 37”)

B.   From under bump to desired length of skirt +2” for hems: ……………(Mine was 20” which became 22”)

C.    Half of under bump/hip + 1 inch for seams: ………………(37/ 2 +1= 19.5”)

Note: If you are undecided about length I like to cut longer and shorten later!! Much easier that way.

1.        Cut a rectangle of fabric 17 inches x measurement A. Example:  37 x 17.
2.  Cutting two skirt pieces. Now how flared is up too you!  Measure and pin/mark measurement C onto folded fabric as shown below. From there measure down folded edge measurement B Then measure straight across fabric to desired flare. And back to measurement C.
   Cut another piece the same using the first as your template.
3. 

   Pin and sew the skirt pieces together down both sides. Either use a stretch stitch if you have it or a small zigzag stitch. Remember that the smaller the zigzag, the more stretch you will get. If you end up with the fabric buckling slightly be careful not to pull the fabric while you sew, you still might end up with some, and in that case the wave will go away with a good press from a stream iron to re-shrink the fabric. (If you are still having issues, place plain paper under fabric you can rip out later.)

 4.      Next sew your rectangle waist piece into a tube.Below

5.       Now, the next is hard to explain even with a picture. Turn both skirt and waistband pieces RIGHT side OUT. Put the tube inside the skirt and pin and stitch the pieces together.
Once the pieces  are stitched together it should look like this: 

6.      Iron the tube top down.

Then fold the tube in half so the top lines up with the bottom of the tube. Pin and stitch. Take this step slow to try and get it as close to the top of the skirt, this is the hardest step.

7. With a lot of jersey and Lycra fabrics you don’t need to hem, but if you do, this will be your last step!  You could get “fancy” and slightly pull the fabric as you stitch to give it a scalloped wavy edge! Have fun with it!

YOU’RE DONE!!!!