New York Minute Maxi

New York City is fast paced and full of style. I wore this skirt while visiting a friend who lives in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, it was perfect for a cloudy day or trip to the Met. It looks great, is easy to wear and pretty quick to make.   

Skill Level: beginner to 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.
  
• Adjusted Waist: your waist measurement plus 2 inches.
  
• Waist to Hip: Measure the length of your waist to your hips.
  
• Hip to Toe Length: Measure the length between your hips to the top of your toes (or to whatever length you desire).
  
• Front Length: multiply your waist to hip measurement by 2, add your hip to toe length plus another 2 inches
  
• Back Length: Measure the length between the back of your waist to the floor (or to whatever length you desire) and add another 2 inches.
  

Fold it up

• Lay out your fabric on a hard smooth surface, right side up.
  
• Fold the salvage edges along the length into the centre.

Cut it out

• Measure and cut an elongated trapezoid, using ½ your adjusted waist as the top measurement, your adjusted waist measurement for the bottom, and your front length for the length of the side.
  
• Measure and cut a second elongated trapezoid, using ½ your adjusted waist as the top measurement, your adjusted waist measurement for the bottom, and your back length for the length of the side.

Waist no space
For this skirt I added a 3 inch thick waist band, but you can go wider or thinner.

• Waistband width: using your desired waistband thickness (say 3 inches) double this (6 inches) and add 1 inch for the seam (total of 7 inches).
  
• Waistband length: your adjusted waist measurement.
  
• Lay out your fabric on a hard smooth surface, wrong side up.
  
• Measure and cut a rectangle using your waistband width by waistband length.
  
• Fold the length of the rectangle in half, right side out, and press!

Ruche it up

• Lay out the longer piece of fabric (the front side) right side down.
  
• Starting at the top of your piece (AKA the smaller end), along both side lengths, mark the length that equals double your waist to hip measurement.
  
• Using your ruffle foot, gather foot or the “old school” way, via baste stich and hand, gather along this measurement on both sides.
  
• Once gathered your piece should be about the same length as your back length measurement.
  
• Make sure your ruffle edge is secure and will not come undone.
  

Sidelines

• On a hard smooth surface, lay out the non-ruched piece of fabric (the back side) right side up.
  
• Lay the ruched piece on top facing right side down, the two pieces should be right sides faced together.
  
• Pin along each side and sew the skirt closed.
  

Check point – try it on!

• The skirt should slip over your hips and fit snugly around your waist, with room at the bottom for the hem.
  
• Make adjustments if needed.
  

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

• Finish the sides with a zig-zag or serge stitch.
  
• 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.

Pull this skirt on, stop in at a local shop for a coffee and a bagel to-go, and make your way to the Met.