Skirt from sweater

Sometimes it is hard to find the fabric you want in shops catering to private customers. It might be that you need a more durable fabric like a polyester stretch or, like in this example, a finer knit.

To sew this skirt you will need a sweater in fine knit. If you do not already have a sweater you want to use it might be worth a try to look at the ones in menswear. they also have the added benefit of coming in larger sizes, thus providing more fabric.

You will need the SKIRT pattern pieces available under the pattern section of our website. The sweater also need to be large enough to accommodate the pieces (try to buy/find as big as you can). Remember you have to add seam allowance  at the seams between the pieces and top seam, and a slightly longer one for the hem (fig. 1).

Skirt pattern pieces and sweater

 

Begin by removing the neck band, cuffs, waitband and sleeves. Then, cut open the body and sleeves of the sweater at the seams. Try to cut as close to the seams as possible so you spare as much fabric as you can (fig. 2, 3 and 4).

Remove neck band, cuffs and waistband

 

Remove sleeves

 

Cut open body and sleeves as close to the seams as possible

 

Lay out the pattern pieces on the fabric in the best way that fits the pieces. This is just an example but make sure you put the pattern pieces along the grain line Remember seam allowance. Pin and cut out the pieces.(fig. 5 and 6).

Lay out the pattern pieces on the fabric

 

Pieces cut out from the sweater

 

Sew the tucks.

Fold, pin and sew the tucks on the front piece of skirt. Remember to extend the line of stitching beyond the tuck. Overlock or zig-zag the raw edges. Press seams towards the outside (fig. 7a and 7b).

Fold, pin and sew the tucks on the front piece of skirt

 

Remember to extend the line of stitching beyond the tuck

 

Fold, pin and sew the tucks on the side of back parts of the skirt. Remember to extend the line of stitching beyond the tuck. Overlock or zig-zag the raw edges. Press seams down (fig. 8).

Fold, pin and sew the tucks on the side of back parts of the skirt

 

Sew parts together

Pin and sew the back side pieces to the centre back piece. Overlock or zig-zag the raw edges. Press seams towards the outside (fig. 9).

Pin and sew the back side pieces to the centre back piece

 

Lay the skirt front onto the back piece with right sides facing each other. Pin and sew the edges. Overlock or zig-zag the raw edges. Press seams towards the back side (fig. 10 and 11).

Front and back piece of skirt viewed from inside and outside

 

Lay pieces together outside facing each other. Pin and sew the edges

 

Sew the waistband

Measure and cut the elastic according to your waist measurements (add a little extra for sewing together). Overlap the edges a few cm and sew the elastic into a loop. Zig-zag the edges (fig. 12).

Measure, cut and sew the elastic band together into a loop

 

Place the elastic over the outside of skirt at the waist and pin it evenly in place. Sew the elastic to the skirt about 1 cm in from the upper edge. Stretch out the elastic and skirt a little while you are sewing. Use zig-zag stitch as it stretches more easily (fig.13).

Place the elastic over the outside of skirt at the waist and pin it evenly in place. Sew in place 1 cm in from the upper edge using zig-zag stitch

 

Press the elastic up so that it forms the waist band. fold the hem up 0,5 cm and press. Fold again 1,5 to 2 cm and press. Pin and sew the hem line. Skirt is complete (fig. 14 and 15).

Press the waistband up, fold, and sew the hem

 

Ready skirt

One Response to Skirt from sweater

  1. Maggie Herbord says:

    This is grew! Thank you! I have another question, on a sweater I want to keep, but is too small approximately one size, can I cut the side seams open and add fabric by sewing pieces in? I would probably sew the pieces into the underside of the sleeve as well. Does anyone know if this can be done?

Leave a 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.