No-pattern Sewing Tutorial: DIY a Gorgeous Ruffle Hem Skirt

Tools and materials:

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Tailor's chalk
• Sewing machine
• Pins
• Iron
• Safety pin
• Elastic

1. Mark and cut the fabric

Start by cutting two rectangles.

The width is ½ of your hip measurement x 1.5 (for me, this was 69cm [27 inches]), and the length is the measurement from your belly button to above your knee (for me, this was 55cm [21.6 inches]).

Place one rectangle on top of the other. Mark 10cm (4 inches) from either side at the top of the fabric. 

2. Adjust the size

Draw straight lines from the two marks to the bottom of the rectangle. Proceed to cut along these lines.

3. Sew the two sides

Pin down the two layers of material on either side to join them and then sew them all the way down the sides, overlocking them with a zigzag stitch.

4. Cut out the ruffle fabric

Cut 4 more rectangles that have a width of your hip measurement (for me, this was 92cm [36 inches]) and a length of 25cm (10 inches). Connect the two rectangles together with a zigzag stitch to have a long, circular piece of fabric. 

5. Sew the sides of the ruffle piece

Fold the top over twice and pin it. Then sew down.

6. Gather the fabric

Make a loose seam along the side that you just sewed.

Pull the thread until the length of the ruffle is ½ the hip size x 1.5 - 4cm (1.6 inches).

For me, this is 65cm (25.6 inches). This will be the same length as the bottom of the skirt.

7. Attach the ruffle to the skirt

Connect the ruffle to the main body of the skirt by pinning the two together. Then sew them.

8. Make the casing for the ruching

Cut a piece of fabric that is 55cm (21.6 inches) in length and 6cm (2.4 inches) in width.

Fold in both of the long sides by 1cm (0.4 inches) and iron them down.

9. Sew the casing to the skirt

Find the ¼ point along the width of the skirt and mark it.

Place the strip of material vertically below this mark and pin it all the way down the skirt. Then sew it down on either side.

10. Make the ties for the ruching

Cut two strips that measure 65cm (25.6 inches) in length and 3cm (1.2 inches) in width.

Fold them over on each long side and then fold them in half. Pin them down and sew them.

11. Pull the ties through the casing

Place a safety pin at one end of each strip and bring them all the way through the fabric strip on the skirt.

Once they’re through to the other end, sew them at the top of the skirt.

12. Make the waistband

Cut a piece of fabric where the length is the hip measurement + 4cm (1.6 inches) in length (for me, this is 96cm [37.8 inches]). It should be 12cm (4.7 inches) in width.

Sew the open width sides together to create a circular piece of fabric. Then fold each side in by a few centimeters and iron the folds down, and then fold the waistband in half lengthways.

Make sure the total length of the waistband is the same as the top of the skirt.

13. Attach waistband to skirt

Place the skirt inside the waistband up until the folded point.

Join the waistband to the top of the skirt all the way around.

Proceed to sew down but keep a small gap open where you will insert the elastic.

14. Insert elastic

Insert a safety pin into one end of the elastic and pull the elastic all the way around the waistband.

When done, sew the two ends of the elastic together and then close up the open gap. If you want, you can sew the elastic in place on opposite sides to prevent it from moving around when you’re wearing the skirt.

15. Pull the ties

The last step is pulling the ties to create the ruched part of the skirt. 

Ruffle hem skirt

And we finished this DIY. Here's the final ruffle skirt with ruching.

You can wear this skirt in the fall with a sweater and some boots or in the summer with a vest top and sandals. It has year-round appeal!

For more sewing content, check out my posts on How to Make a Jacket From Old Clothes and This Glitzy DIY Christmas Party Dress is Perfect for the Holidays.