How to Make a Tiered Skirt

Pattern : Swing Your Partner (Tiered Skirt) from Sew What! Skirts Book

Materials Used :

Fabric : Rayon - For Tier 1 - 1/2 Yards or 1/2 Metres, For Tier 2 - 3/4 Yards or 3/4 Metres and For Tier 3 -  1.5 Yards or 1.5 Metres

Elastic 1" : 1 Yard or 1 Metre ( You can use 3/4" or 1")

Measurements Required : Length, Hip Size and Waist Size

Swing Your Partner from Sew What! Skirts Book

Swing Your Partner from Sew What! Skirts Book

     

Steps :

1. Cut the Strips of Fabric to make the Tiers
2. Join the Strips of Fabric of Each Tier.
3. Make the Waist Line Casing for Elastic on the First Tier leaving a Gap to Insert the Elastic
4. Start with the Last tier Gather and Join the Tier 3 to Tier 2 .
5. Gather Tier 2 and Join it Tier 1
6. Finish the Hem 
7. Insert the Elastic into the Casing and Sew the opening kept to insert the Elastic. 

Cutting : Length Used 38" (Tier 1 - 11.5", Tier 2 - 10" Tier 3 - 16.5) 

* The Height of the Tier is Your Choice, I chose the above Height as per the fabric available  to me

Tier 1 :- 1 Strip of 45" Wide Fabric 13.5" in Length (11.5" + 1.5" for Waist Line Casing for Elastic and 0.5" SA for Joining Tier 1 and 2)

* The Width of Fabric for Tier 1 Should at least Hip size + 3" (2" Ease and 1 SA) 

Tier 2 :- 2 Strips of 45" Wide Fabric 11" in Length (10" + 1" SA for Joining Tier 2 to Tier 1 and 3)

Tier 2 :- 3 Strips of 45" Wide Fabric 18" in Length (16.5" + 0.5" SA for Joining Tier 3 to Tier 2 and 1" for Hem Fold)

Cut Selvage to Selvage

Sewing :

1. Join the Ends of Tier 1 (Selvage to Selvage)
2. Join the Strips of Fabric to make Tier 2 and Tier 3.
3. Make the Waist Line Casing on Tier 1 - Fold 1/2 inch and then 1" and Sew leaving a gap to insert elastic.
4. Gather Tier 3 by sewing two parallel lines on highest sewing length.
5. Join Tier 3 to Tier 2 and Top Stitch on Tier 2. ( If you are overlocking - First overlock and then top stitch it)
6. Similarly Join Tier 2 to Tier 1.
7. Finish the Hem by Double Folded Hem.
8. Cut Elastic Waist Size Less 3".
9. Insert the Elastic into the Casing.
10. Overlap the Elastic Ends and Sew it.
11. Sew the Gap kept to insert the Elastic.

3 - Sew the Elastic Casing 

3 - Leave Gap to Insert the Elastic

7 - Double Folded Hem

10 - Overlap the Elastic End and Sew it

Notes:

• Take 2 Strips of Fabric for Tier 1, If you want more Flare around the Hip Area.
• Tier 2 Should always be the double of Tier 1. 

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 How to Sew a Skirt

Pattern : Short and Sassy Skirt (Handkerchief Skirt) from Sew What! Skirts Book

Materials Used:

Fabric : 1.8 Yards or 1.8 Metres - For 60" Width Fabric, 1.5 Yards or 1.5 Metres for 45'' Width of  - I used Cotton Twill Fabric 60" Wide 

Elastic (3/4" or 1") : 1Yard or 1 Metre 

Measurements: Waist Size and Hip Size

Short and Sassy Skirt From Sew What! Skirts Book

Short and Sassy Skirt From Sew What! Skirts Book

Steps:

1. Draft and Cut the Pattern on fabric
2. Attach Waistband or Bias tape Casing
3. Insert the Elastic and Finish the Opening kept to insert elastic
4. Finish the Hem

Drafting:

1. Take a 60" x 60 " Fabric, Length and Width of fabric should be same.
2. Fold the Fabric Width wise Half. (Selvage to Selvage) 
3. Again Fold the Fabric Length Wise Half and make a square. Four Layers will be there.
4. Calculate Radius : (Hip size / 6) less 0.5 " SA (Mine 42/6 = 7, 7 - 0.5 SA = 6.5 Radius)
5. Mark the radius on the fabric and Cut it. Circle Shape will be there.

Sewing:

1. Cut a Waist Band to the Length + 2" of the Circle and Height of 3.25 (For 1" Elastic : 2" + 1.25'' SA) and Sew it to the Circle or Sew a ready Bias Binding to the Circle. Sew it Leaving a gap to insert Elastic.
2. Elastic Length should be Waist Size Less 3".
3. Insert the Elastic into the Waist Band or Bias Tape Casing.
4. Join the Elastic Edges by Overlapping it first and then Sew it.
5. Finish the Opening Kept to insert the Elastic.
6. Finish the Hem with Double Folded Hem.

Notes:

• The Fabric Should be Light in Weight.
• The Width of the Should be at least 55" or the Skirt will be very short.

Eg. This Skirt I made with 44" Wide Fabric - Rayon Fabric Used

The Skirt became Short especially on the backside it was very uncomfortable but the fall of the handkerchief design came nicely because of the light weight.

Made from 44" Wide Fabric

This Skirt I made with 60" Wide Fabric - Cotton Twill Fabric Used

The Length of the fabric is good.

Made from 60" Wide Fabric

You can use 45" Wide fabric if you are making a skirt for a child.

Check the length first : The Shortest part of the skirt length calculation : Fabric Width / 2 Less the Radius (Hip Size/6 Less 0.5 SA) 

Mine Shortest part of the Skirt length  is -

14.5" Length on 44" Wide Fabric : 44"/2 = 22  Less (42/6 - 0.5) = 15.5  (1" for Hem Fold)

22.5" Length on 60" Wide Fabric : 60"/2 = 30 Less (42/6 - 0.5) = 23.5 (1" for Hem Fold)

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Book Review : Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics

 Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics by Francesca DenHartog

Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics is the best book on skirts. It contains Straight, A-line, Wrap, Handkerchief, Circular, Layered and Tiered Skirt Styles with simple and easy drafting and sewing instructions. Good Book for beginners as the instructions are easy to follow.

This Book does not include pattern sheets, it has drafting instructions of Straight Skirt, A-Line Skirt - Fitted Waist, A-Line Skirt - Elastic Waist. These three patterns are used in A-line, Wrap, Straight and Layered Skirts.

The Book includes 17 Skirts:

A-Line Skirts - 3

Wrap Skirts - 3 (One Skirt with Half / Semi Circle Pattern)

Handkerchief Skirt - 1

Circular Skirt - 1

Straight Skirts - 3

Layered Skirts - 3

Ruffled Skirts - 2

Tiered Skirt - 1

Singing the Blues

The Classic A-Line:

Singing the Blues - Drawstring is used in Waistline casing with Pocket Detail

Meandering Vines - Side Zipper and Facing in Waistline

Tourist Trap - Vintage Table cloth is used, Back zipper, Pocket Detail

Wrap It:

Breezy Beach Wrap - A-line Skirt Pattern, Waistband is used for ties

Half-Circle Wrap - Circular Skirt Pattern with Waistband

Got No Ties - A-line Skirt Pattern, Snap Tape Closure, Fringed Finish in Hem and Pocket

Short and Sassy

Circles and Squares:

Short and Sassy - Handkerchief Skirt, Elastic is Used in Bias tape Waistline Casing

'Tis the Season - Circular Skirt, Side Zipper and Waistband is used

'Tis the Season 

Play it Straight with Hair:

Polka Dotty - Straight Skirt Pattern, Short Skirt, Side Zipper and Facing is used in Waistline

Wine and Dine - Straight Skirt Pattern, Long Skirt with Overlay piece, Back Zipper

Asian Dream - Straight Skirt Pattern with Pleats, Waistline Facing and Back Zipper

Layer It:

Barbie's Dream Skirt - A-line Skirt Pattern on both layers of skirt with wrap style in top layer

Country Charm - A-line Skirt Pattern with long and short layers with elastic in Waistline casing

Chinese Takeout - Straight Skirt Pattern on both layers and zipper is used

Nature's Child

How Many Tiers? :

East Meets West - A-line Skirt Pattern, Bottom Strip with Different Fabric or Ruffled Fabric, Zipper 

Nature's Child - A-line Skirt Pattern with Bottom Ruffle, Zipper is used

Swing Your Partner - Tiered Skirt with Elastic Waistline Casing

Half-Circle Wrap, East Meets West, Country Charm, Meandering Vines
Swing Your Partner, Got No Ties, Polka Dotty, Asian Dream

Overall the book is great, it covers all the details of adding Side Zipper, Back Zipper, Facing on Waistline, Bias tape Waistband, Waistband with buttons. The instructions on making Ruffles, Pockets and many more are in detail. The circular skirt fabric layout is explained nicely.

The Preview of this Book is in the Link Below:

Book Preview : Sew What! Skirts

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Book Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐