how to make a broom skirt, how to make skirts, learn to sew

How to Make Your Own Clothes..., from Your Very First Stitch to the Runway

How to make a "Broom" Skirt

	First take your HIP measurement. Measure the WIDEST part of your hip, across the butt and the hip bones. (not the waist area, you want the hip measurement) Add 8 inches to that measurement. This total is the width of the top of your skirt.
	Broom skirts can be done in 3 or 4 layers of strips. This skirt is done in four strips. Every layer or strip of your skirt will be 10 inches in depth. However the length will be different for each strip. Each strip needs to be longer in size to form a broom skirt. Your first layer or strip will be 10" X the measurement you calculated in step one. Your second strip will be 10 " X the total length you came up with from layer one PLUS 14". Your third strip will be 10" X the total length of your second strip PLUS 14". Your last strip (if you are doing a 4 layer broom skirt) will be 10" X the total length of your third strip PLUS 14". As shown in the photo to the left, you may have to stitch strips together to get the longer layers.
	Once you have your strips cut and sewn together, you should have either 3 or 4 strips for your broom skirt. Now you need to stitch the layers together. Starting with the 2nd strip, gather the seam. Learn an easy way to gather here. Once your seam is gathered, pin it to the 1st layer or strip PRETTY sides together. As you can see in the photo, 2 layers are sewn together. Continue this process until all 3 or 4 layers are sewn together.
	At this point you should have 3 or 4 layers (depending on what you preferred) of your broom skirt done. This photo shows four layers. Place the side seams of your skirt PRETTY sides together. Pin. Stitch. Now you should have one large circle.

	Fold under the waistline of your broom skirt 1/4 inch. Press. Pin. Stitch.
	Fold under the waistline again. This time fold it under 1 inch. This will form the casing for the waistband. Leave an opening about 2 inches for the elastic to go through. Press. Pin. Stitch. Don't forget to leave an opening for the elastic.
	You can see the opening for the elastic in the photo. Take the elastic and cut it to fit your measurement around your waist. Put a large safety pin on the end of your elastic and push it through the opening to the other side. Once your elastic is through, stitch the two ends of the elastic together. Try on your skirt, if the elastic and waistline feel fine, then stitch up the hole where the elastic went through.
	Fold up the bottom hem 1/2 inch and then fold again 1/2 inch to the ugly side as shown in the photo. Press. Pin. Stitch. Your broom skirt is done!!!

To Learn More About Making Your Own Clothes we suggest Christine Haynes book Chic and Simple Sewing . It's our favorite sewing book to use for beginners in our studio, and patterns are included. We also recommend Project RUNWAY DVDs to view as an excellent guide for fashion design.