Desert Rose Skirt

Desert Rose ya lili ah ya leel! Sting lyrics aside, this skirt is perfect for the desert heat! It is very versatile and can be worn in so many ways. Sun coverup by day, dressed up for a dinner on the patio by night. 

Skill Level: Intermediate sewer.

​Made from sustainable bamboo fabric

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Notions:

• Medium to light weight stretch fabric – I used fabric with 40% four-way stretch
• Thread

 
How to Guide:
 
Get out a pad of paper to keep track of your measurements!

• Waist: Measure your natural waist.
• Length: Measure the length between your waist to above your knee (or to whatever length you desire)
• Adjusted Waist: multiply your waist measurement by 2 and add 2 inches
• Adjusted Back Length: Add 2 inches to your length measurements (to make room for the hems)

 
Cut it out

• Lay out your fabric on a hard smooth surface, wrong side up.
• Measure and cut a rectangle using your adjusted waist by adjusted length.
• Find the centre of your rectangle and mark with chalk near the upper edge. 

Make it 2

• Fold in half at the centre mark.
• Mark the length of the fold line on each side.
• Cut down the fold line.
• You should now have 2 pieces of the same size. 

Pin in place

• Starting on one side, pin the top edge, and then measure about 4 inches down and place another pin.
• From the lower pin, leave a gap for the pocket and pin the remainder of the edge closed.
• Repeat on other side.

 
Pocket Template

• Print out the pocket template - make adjustments to the size by placing your hand over the template with your wrist resting along the dotted line and tracing the new outline.

​Left pocket

• Cut out your adjusted pocket template.
• Lay out your access fabric on a hard smooth surface and fold right sides together.
• Place the pocket template on your fabric with the straight edge in line with the salvage edge. Pin in place.  

Right pocket

• Flip your template over to the reverse side and place it on the straight edge in line with the salvage edge. Pin in place.
• Cut out your second pocket.
  
• You should have 2 sets of opposite 

Waist no space
I like a 5 inch thick waist band, but you can go wider or thinner.

• Waistband width: using your desired waistband thickness (say 5 inches) double this (10 inches) and add 1 inch for the seam (total of 11 inches).
• Waistband length: your waist measurement + 1 inch.
• Lay out your fabric on a hard smooth surface, wrong side up.
• Measure and cut a rectangle using your waistband width by waistband length.

Sew up your Pockets

• Leaving a ½ space between the straight edge of your pocket and where your stitch line begins, sew along the edge of your pocket. Repeat for other pocket.

Setting up the sidelines

• Grab your pockets.
• Grab the 2 pieces for your skirt.
• Starting with one side, hold your pockets up to the opening in your skirt and adjust the pins to above and below the straight edge to mark where your pocket will sit.
• Repeat on other side.
• Sew the seam closed above the pins.
• Your 2 pieces should now be one again, but with an opening in each of the seams. 

Placing your pockets

• Lay your skirt flat with the wrong side up.
• Starting with one of your pockets, curl open one side of the straight edge of the pocket and place it along the opening of your skirt so that the right sides are facing.
• Now curl open the other side of the straight edge of the same pocket and place it along the other side of the opening of your skirt so that the right sides are facing.
• The opening of your pocket and the opening of your skirt should be in line.
• Repeat for second pocket. 

Pockets, pockets, pockets

• Starting with one of your pockets, sew along each side of the pocket. Try to get as close to the side seam as possible so that they are no gaps between the pocket and side seam.
• Repeat for second pocket.
• Turn your skirt right side facing, when you look inside the pockets the right side should be face up.
• Finish the pockets with a zig-zag or serge stitch.
• Close up the side seam below the pockets.

​Come together

• Using your ruffle foot, gather foot or the “old school” way, via baste stitch and hand, gather along the top edge of your skirt.
• Make sure your ruffle edge is secure and will not come undone.

Waistband

• Lay your unfolded waistband out on a hard smooth surface right side up.
• Fold the width of the rectangle in half, wrong side out, and pin the end.
• Sew the end shut.
• Fold the waistband back along the press side so that the right side faces out.
• Try the waistband on to make sure it is the right size.
• Make adjustments as needed. 

Come together

• Lay your skirt out on a hard smooth surface right side out.

• With the salvage edge of your waistband facing the same way as the top of your skirt, slide the waistband over the top (right sides together).
• Line the seam of your waistband up with one of your side seams and pin.
• Staring where your seams are aligned, pin your waistband along the edge of the waistline and baste together. Seam should run 1 inch from the edge.
• Finish the edge of the inner waistband with a zig-zag or serge stitch.

Finishing touches

• Try on your skirt and mark or pin where you want the hem length.
• Fold and pin along the edge using your hem marker, and press
• Open the hem line and fold the salvage edge into the hem line. You may need to trim a little off the end to get a clean, ½ inch hem. Pin closed and press.
• Sew your hem closed.