The Miu Miu Inspired Skirt Tutorial
Let the lesson begin!
Let me start by saying that anything I create I do so off the top of my head - not from books or other tutorials - so there will be techniques and things I do that will probably be technically very wrong. I do hope to attend a dress-making class in the future, but until then this section is entirely written from a complete novice/idiots point of view!
01 The Tools
Measure your waist and cut a piece of elastic that size plus an extra inch to allow the ends to be overlapped and sewn together. Depending on the material you choose and the fullness required, buy the necessary amount of fabric. In this instance I opted for silk taffeta which is very thin. I also bought less than the last skirt since it was expensive - I knew it wouldn't be as full but for the purposes of the tutorial it didn't matter. For the thick material on the last skirt, I bought 2 metres to fit into 25" of elastic. In this case I bought 1.5metres.
02 Decide The Length
Determine the length you want the
finished article to be, and cut the length about 4" longer. You can
always make something shorter but you can't make it longer! Once you have cut
the length, overlock the edges to stop fraying. I also utilise the
selvedge edge for the waistband - it saves time overlocking the other long edge.
Sew both ends of the material together, creating a tube. Iron the fold nice and flat.
04 The Waistband
Firstly measure the thickness of your
elastic and iron a hem wide enough to allow you to thread it through. I
advise getting as close to the width of the elastic as you can since a
too wide hem means the elastic gets twisted easier. Sew the waistband
but leave a gap in the stitching about an inch so that you can thread the elastic into
the waistband. You can stitch up the gap afterwards.
05 The Bottom Hem
Since you now have the amount worked out
for the waistband, you are free to take up the bottom hem which will be
the remainder of the material in excess of your finished length.
06 Completing The Waistband
Now thread the elastic through the gap in the stitching. Attach a safety pin to the end of the elastic to give you something to pull. You
will be pushing all the material into the waist-sized length of
elastic. If you are using the thick material, this can be quite hard!
Keep pushing until the elastic ends meet and sew them. Sew up the gap
where you threaded the elastic through.
07 The Finished Skirt
The skirt is now complete! Just make sure all your hems and seams are
pressed as that will give a more professional looking finish.
I picked the fabric because I loved the colours most of all. I also decided to make it a few inches longer this time, so I could wear it on it's own. It also works with the skirt I made previously as the colour and fabrics match beautifully.
Good Luck!
Queen Michelle
That's really cool! I like it a lot, thank you :-)
Posted by: alicepleasance | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 10:58
this is crazY!!! amazing patterns you chose. but above all being a novice and still making miracles!
*jealous :P
Posted by: Héloïse J. | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 11:04
I only found out about this site the other week but have been hooked ever since, even checking for updates on a Sunday, the day of rest :o)!!
I love the content and especially love the design tutorials you post. I too am a novice but get too scared to try anything as I fear they'd turn out wrong and it would be a waste of fabric of which I do not have much but your stuff is really inspirational and I am definitely going to try some of the things you've done - ultimately, what do I have to lose?!
Thanks very much x a new citizen of the Kingdom!
Posted by: Hannah | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 11:23
I love the mix of patterns you've put together.... autumnal shades worn anytime of the year are always great!
Posted by: susie_bubble | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 11:37
What a lovely skirt! The print is really lovely.
Posted by: buttonsandstars | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 11:38
aaahh...you're such a genius....love your skirts!!!! :)
Posted by: Diana Rikasari | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 12:45
Do you have a special overlock machine or does your sewing machine do that?
Luv
Poochie
Posted by: Princess Poochie | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 13:16
I'm going to do some DIY today as a matter of fact.
1. call tailor
2. bring stuff
You are very talented and non-lazy!
Posted by: WendyB | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 14:55
It turned out fabulous! That fabric is beautiful, I love how one of the stripes has a grosgrain look to it.
Posted by: Angie Montreal | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 15:42
realy nice skirt hope you injoy it
but can i give u a tip the bottom hem appear a but large think it be batter if you make it smallre
but agine your the boss
love every thing u do
Posted by: ray | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 15:52
fabfabfab tutorial, the pictures are v helpful! it's definitely made me a bit braver as i always try to over complicate things because they look hard
Posted by: selina | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 16:51
queen michelle i hardly ever comment but i am so inspired by you i have to say something!
you have actually convinced me to attempt to sew something on my barely used sewing machine... i am not one to pay a lot of attention and i am hopeless with patterns, so this is just wonderful. you make it look so simple! i am going to sew my version of this tomorrow if it kills me! thankyou :)
your advice please! do you think it would only work with heavy curtain fabric? would there be enough weight in a lighter cotton fabric with this design to keep it looking similar?
thanks again! you are my style inspiration at the moment
Posted by: liberty | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 16:53
Glad some of you found this helpful. I shall make sure I share some more whenever I make anything of interest! Liberty, glad you took the time to comment. I am exactly the same as you - I am actually too scared to even look at a pattern for fear of not being able to understand it. I have tried reading manuals but never get beyond a few pages before I get stuck. So I find it best to muddle along in my own way and learn by my mistakes.
Regarding the fabric - this will work on any material, but on lighter material you will need lots more to get the fullness. For the silk taffetta I used, I should have used twice as much as I did, but that would have been one VERY expensive skirt!
Posted by: Queen Michelle | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 17:05
Queen Michelle you're amazing. You even included pictures! I'm totally saving this tutorial for reference.
Posted by: miss woo | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 18:02
Oh thank you for this tutorial, it was great!!!
The fabric is just amazing!!!
Posted by: Mer | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 19:34
The fabric is just gorgeous and it looks like top quality stuff too! Did u spend a lot on it? Also it reminds me of christmas wrapping paper! x
Posted by: cordelia | Monday, 14 January 2008 at 19:52
Now that's what I call "fashion on brains." In middle school, I cut the fold on my "shift" project and I knew that I wasn't destined for designing clothing. Kudos to you!
Posted by: Girl-Woman | Tuesday, 15 January 2008 at 00:31
Superb!
Posted by: iopine | Tuesday, 15 January 2008 at 05:27
Jesus that skirt looks amazing!! I am so inspired. Thanks so much x
Posted by: Gem | Sunday, 20 January 2008 at 21:59
am actually trying my hand at this right now :)
think i might need to get a sewing machine though... considering how much my stitching sucks...
Posted by: marlene | Monday, 21 January 2008 at 19:48