LulaLouise - Easy Pleated Skirt Tutorial

Easy Pleated Skirt Tutorial
About Pleats I used to think that pleats were difficult to do but in fact they're not hard and there are lots of different kinds. Pleats are really just a fold in the fabric. Pleats can be made by pinching the fabric wrong sides together or right sides together. They can be very thin (like pintucks) or very wide. The pleats can all face the same direction or change direction. A skirt could have just one or two carefully located pleats or be completely covered with them. All of the skirts shown are basically made from two pieces of the fabric: the waistband and the skirt. Scroll down to see directions on how to make an easy pleated skirt.

Easy Pleated Skirt Tutorial

About Pleats

I used to think that pleats were difficult to do but in fact they're not hard and there are lots of different kinds. Pleats are really just a fold in the fabric. Pleats can be made by pinching the fabric wrong sides together or right sides together. They can be very thin (like pintucks) or very wide. The pleats can all face the same direction or change direction. A skirt could have just one or two carefully located pleats or be completely covered with them.

All of the skirts shown are basically made from two pieces of the fabric: the waistband and the skirt. Scroll down to see directions on how to make an easy pleated skirt.

The skirt shown at right was made from a vintage Thai silk dress. There are two box pleats each in the front and back. The plaid tie at the waist came with the original dress and is held in place with carriers.

The skirt shown at right is made from a silky vintage fabric that has pleats of equal width that all face the same direction.

The skirt shown to the right is made from a medium weight embroidered fabric with a coordinating fabric sewn on as a border. The pleats vary in size and direction.

Directions to make this skirt are given below.

Pleated Skirt Worksheet

L= length of skirt from bottom of waistband to hemmed edge =____
W = finished measurement of waistband = ____ (Determine finished length of waistband by measuring a skirt that fits you comfortably.)

Cut one (W+1") x 4"= ___" x 4" for waistband.
Cut one (3W +1") x (L + 1.5") = ____ x ____ for skirt. (Piece together multiple pieces if necessary for skirt.)

Making the skirt

1. Stitch together sides of skirt and attach 7" zipper at the top.

2. Pin skirt to waistband at sides using the zippered side seam and halfway around the waistband from that seam.

3. Pin pleats of various widths and direction to waistband all the way around the skirt. Stitch in place.

4. Fold down waistband to inside of skirt and turn raw edge under. Stitch in place by hand or machine. Attach two hooks and eyes to waistband above zipper.

5. Hem skirt 1.5" by machine or hand.

Example Skirt Measurements and Cutting:

L=24", W=30"
Waistband: (W + 1") x 4" = 31" x 4"
Skirt: (3W +1") x (L + 1.5") = 91" x 25.5"

To make skirt, piece together three pieces.

Using 42" wide fabric, cut 3 strips 24" wide. Cut off selvages. Then cut three pieces 31" x 24" or two pieces 40" x 24" and one piece 13" x 24".

Seam the three pieces together to make a piece 91" x 25.5".