How to Make Midi Skirts With Side Slits in 2 Different Ways
In this tutorial, I will give you step-by-step instructions to sew two super-easy midi skirts with slits for extra style. I’ll also show you two different ways to make a waistband.
Bonus – you can use an old bedsheet for this project, so there’s no need to go out and buy fabric, although you certainly can if you prefer!
Tools and materials:
- Old bed sheet
- Sewing elastic
- Scissors
- Tape measure and ruler
- Pencil
- Pattern Paper
- Sewing pins
- Thread
- Sewing machine
DIY A-line midi skirt
1. Make the pattern
Measure the circumference of your waist, the widest part of your hips, and the length you want your midi skirt to be.
Follow the video from 0:46 to 1:10 to see how to calculate the measurements for your pattern pieces.
On your pattern paper, draw the skirt length as the center seam, then draw in the hip measurement. For the bottom hem, use the hip measurement plus another 10 centimeters (3.94 inches) to allow for the A-line. Connect the outer edge of the hip line with the outer edge of the hemline.
On the outside bottom corner, mark 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) along the bottom hem and 2 centimeters (0.79 inches) along the outside edge. Connect those two marks with a curved line.
Now draw in a 10-centimeter (3.94-inch) -wide waistband above the hip line.
Mark the center point of the waistband and mark 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) on either side of the center mark.
Make the same marks along the bottom hem and draw three lines to connect the corresponding marks.
Now cut your pattern along the middle line of those three lines. Those lines represent where the skirt slit will be on the front of the skirt, and you will cut the front pattern piece as two separate pieces.
Cut a notch in the waistband at the position of the two outside lines from the slit marks, and reassemble the two pieces aligning those notches. This will be your back piece
2. Cut your fabric
Cut one back piece on the fold of your fabric.
Redraw the half-back skirt pattern on a single layer of fabric.
Redraw the second part of the skirt front with the slit piece.
Now you have three front sections drawn together on one layer of fabric. Follow the video from 3:10 to 3:30 to see how to cut the three sections as two front pieces.
3. Sew the slit
Overlock the raw edges of the front piece that the slit will attach to using a zigzag stitch.
Place the slit piece on the larger front piece with right sides facing and long seam aligning. Mark the position for the length of the slit you want
Pin and sew the pieces together from the waistband to the top of the slit.
Pin and sew the inside edge on each side of the slit.
4. Sew side seams
With right sides facing, pin and sew the skirt back to the skirt front along both side seams.
5. Add the waistband
Finish the top raw edge of the skirt with zig-zag or overlock stitching.
Cut your sewing elastic to the length needed for your waist size. Fold in the waistband of the skirt to make a casing for the elastic. Sew the casing leaving a gap to insert the elastic.
Feed the elastic through the casing and sew the ends of the elastic together. Then sew up the gap in the casing.
Topstitch across the waistband at both side seams to keep the elastic from twisting inside the casing.
6. Hem your skirt
Double-fold, pin, and sew the skirt hem.
Here’s the final A-line midi skirt!
DIY tube midi skirt
1. Make the pattern
The tube skirt is made the same way as the A-line skirt, but is straighter and the slit will be on the side, not the front. So, you will only need to cut one back piece and one front piece. Watch the video from 6:28 to 6:38 to see how to make the tube skirt pattern.
Overlock the raw edges on the front and back. With right sides together, pin and sew the side where you want your slit from the waist to the point where your slit will start.
Finish the edges of the slit as you did with the other skirt and sew a few stitches across the top of the slit for strength.
2. Add a wide waistband
Sew wide sewing elastic into a circle the size you need for your waist.
Pin and sew the elastic to the inside top edge of the skirt, distributing the fabric evenly.
Fold the waistband in, enclosing the elastic. Pin and sew the casing closed along the open edge.
DIY midi skirt with a side slit
Hem the skirt and you’re all done! That was simple! Leave a comment to let me know which midi skirt you made and how it turned out.
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