Pencil skirts are quickly becoming one of my summer staples. I used to never wear them anywhere but to work or church, but lately I’ve realized that with a simple t-shirt, they’re perfect for lounging around the house, running errands, or transitioning easily to date night all while being super put together and comfortable.
So with some fabric that I’ve had laying around for a few years (from Hancock Fabrics), I threw together a super simple pencil skirt, and I plan to make a few more with all that new fabric I recently ordered.
Materials:
1/2 or 3/4 yard of jersey knit fabric (more or less depending on your size)
matching thread
Step 1. Using a pencil skirt that fits you, cut out the front and the back of the skirt. Add half an inch to each side of the skirt for your seam allowance.
Make sure the stretch of your fabric is going horizontally across your skirt, not vertically.
Step 2. With the right sides of the fabric together, sew up the sides of the skirt with a 1/2″ seam allowance, as seen below. Trim and zigzag or serge the raw edges, if desired (knits won’t fray, so it’s not necessary at all).
Step 3. Fold the waistband over twice and sew a straight stitch around the entire waistband along the lower edge, as seen below.
Turn right side out and press. It should look like this:
Step 4. Measure the hemline to your desired length, then fold over twice and sew along the lower edge with a straight stitch, just like the waistband.
It should look like this:
Press the hemline, and you’re done!
As always, comment or email me with any questions! Happy sewing!
I love this! I would 100% have bought this if it was in a store!
Maria
http://www.daintyanddecadent.com
that looks like something i could actually do!
i reckon I'm going to be making this with my new machine! Can't wait to make my first item of clothing, just need some fabric. 🙂 Hannah
Those edges look surged…did you get a new toy??
PS – I just saw you are a stay at home Mom! LOVE IT! I wish that I lived closer to you so I could come over and sew with you! Love this skirt! DEF pinning! xoxo A-
So cute! I might get brave and try to do this!
Creamy
I can't wait to do this! I just found some great white jersey knit at a thrift store and I'm just going to double it so its not see-through and do this.
Love your tutorials!
http://domesticatedworkingwoman.blogspot.com
Whenever I make pencil/maxi skirts from this type of fabric my waist line always tends to get stretched out way to big and just slides right off. I measure it to my exact waist but it always stretches. What am I doing wrong?
Maybe you need to make a couple of little darts in the back if your waist is very small, other wise sometimes just adding a length of elastic to the back half of the skirt works.
I love this! Not only is your tutorial easy-peasy, but the print and color of the fabric are awesome.
I love this! Not only is your tutorial easy-peasy, but the print and color of the fabric are awesome.
Wow this looks awesome, you make it look so easy, and I feel like if tried it would end up horrible! Like the one legged skirt or something like that… Is that even possible? probably not, but count on me to do that!
Sara
http://seventwentysomethings.blogspot.com/
Your pencil skirt is so cute!!!
http://www.daisyraeboutique.com
http://www.kacieskloset.blogspot.com
Love this and you make it sound so simple! Thats why I love your tutorials!
I don't have a pencil skirt, but I really want to make this. Any suggestions on how to make this without an existing skirt?
Thanks!!
This is great! I just got an internship in Washington DC starting next winter, and am trying to find some ways to get the type of work clothes I'll need without breaking the bank. It would be great if I could make some nice, professional looking pencil skirts to wear with blazers. I've got some sewing experience but not a lot of fabric experience. Do you think this would be much different with a more "professional" type of fabric? I'm thinking I'd need to put a zipper in the back or side…
This is so cute!!!!!!
@The Palmers- i've had this problem too. My solution is to make a separate waist band (like Merrick's other tutorial for knit pencil skirts) only cut the waist band about 5 to 7 inches shorter than the waist measurement. Then when I put it on the skirt, I match side seams and match up some other points and then stretch it as I sew. Hopefully that made some sense….
Good luck!
Thanks so much Emmalee! I'll have to try your idea!
With this blistering heat that has been sweeping the nation I have been dawning a skirt everyday for weeks now! I feel so bad for the men I work with, in jeans or slack and button downs or cotton tees. I love that I can wear a light, sheer top with a skirt and nice sandals. Speaking of sandals, yours in this pic have got to be from Target– I'm wearing the same pair right now (also with orange toes)! This tutorial is a great way to get more lightweight pieces in my rotation! Can't wait to make a few!
This skirt is SO cute. And your tutorial is so simple. Honestly, now I want to start sewing more! Your blog is such great inspiration!!
Marisa
Broke with Designer Taste
I need to try this! Where do you buy most of your fabric at?
Ooooo, very cute! I'm definitely going to have to try this! Now I just need to find a pencil skirt that fits me!
This looks easy enough! Going try it with a new shevron material I found. Thanks
Happymedley.blogspot.com
I am too, just finding the benefits of wearing skirts… I also dislike spending £'s over what an item is worth…. I will definitely be creating me and my eldest daughter one of these! Thanks Jane x
Very nice! I've got to make some of these soon. Thanks!
There is no elastic in this skirt? It looks great!
No, as long as you taper the skirt so the waistline is fitted, it doesn't need elastic!
I just had an idea. I'm going to make my first try out of a large dark t-shirt. If it works, that's great. If not, I'll be able to figure out how to make the fit better without using my hoarded fabric stash. Thanks for the explanation. This could be my most comfie summer yet!
This only works if your waistline is about the same as your hips. Really, do we want this or have this?
Almost unlawful how easy and perfect looking this is!!! (and I've been sewing for 50 years) I have to make me a couple this way too.!!!
OrahLee
What kind of fabric can you use because I have to make an easy outfit but my teacher said no stretchy material so I have no idea what to make!!!!
What kind of needle do you use for Jersey Knit?
Hey there! Awesome post! Thanks so much. I am trying to make this skirt using your tutorial this week. Can you please let me know if I need a zipper or buttons or stretch band for this skirt?
Please let me know.
Thanks!
Great idea! I love it!
[…] The good thing about the pencil skirts is that they can carry off to the office spaces too so here is this lovely and elegant styled pencil skirt that you can easily create yourself at home. The pencil skirts take less time, money and efforts to be sewn up at home and we got you the tutorial here merricksart […]