Make a Quick and Easy Skirt Pattern

The Design Diary
by The Design Diary
5 Materials
$5
10 Minutes
Easy

Have you always wanted to sew a skirt that is custom made? The first step is making the perfect pattern! I will show you how to draft a skirt pattern using your own measurements. This pattern is quick and easy to make and is perfect for both long time sewers and beginners!

Tools and materials:

  • Measuring tape
  • Ruler
  • Curved ruler
  • Pencil
  • Pattern paper
DIY skirt pattern

Take measurements 

To start off, you are going to need to take a few measurements. You will need your waist, hip, waist to hip, and skirt length measurements before you can start working on the pattern. 

Draw two lines

Draw the front pattern 

Once you have your measurements, lay down a piece of paper and use a marker to draw a straight line going down. From the top of that line, draw another straight line going across. Mark where the two lines meet as point 0. 

Measure the length


From 0, use a measuring tape to measure the length of your skirt and mark this point as 1. 

Square cross


Then use a ruler to square cross from point 1. 

Skirt sewing pattern


From 0, measure your waist to hip measurement and mark that point as 2. Once again, use your ruler to square cross from point 2. 

Mark point 3


On the square cross line, you just drew, measure a quarter of your hip measurement plus 0.5 cm ( 0.2 inches) and mark this point as 3. 

Easy skirt pattern


Go ahead and square down from 3 and then mark the line intersection as 4. 

Basic skirt pattern


Then measure a quarter of your waist measurement plus 4 cm (1.6 inches) from point 0, marking this as point 5. 

Join two points

From point 5, mark 1.25 cm (0.5 inches) away and call it point 6. Then use a curved ruler to join points 6 and 0. 

Curve the line


While you’re at it, use your straight ruler to connect points 6 and 3. Then use the curved ruler to curve that line by 0.25 cm (0.1 inches). This finishes off the front pattern for the skirt. 

Draw the back pattern

Draw the back pattern

To draft the back pattern you are simply going to continue drawing and marking over the front pattern. First off, measure out 2 cm (0.8 inches) from 3 and mark this point as 7. 

Square down to the hemline


From 7, square down to the hemline and mark this point as 8. 

Mark point 9


Next, measure a quarter of your waist measurement from 0 plus 6.5 cm (2.6 inches) and mark this new point as 9. Square off 1.25cm (0.5 inches) from 9 and mark the point as 10. 

Mini skirt pattern


Use your curved ruler, once again, to join points 0 and 10. Next, use a straight ruler to join points 10 and 7 together. 

Curve the back pattern line


Then, as you did for the front pattern, curve that line out by 0.25 cm (0.1 inches). 

Free skirt pattern


With the pattern complete, go ahead and mark the front and back. I also suggest outlining the front and back in two different colors so that you don’t get confused. Your pattern might look completely different to mine depending on your body shape and that is totally fine! 


All that’s left to do is add your seam allowance and make your skirt! What type of skirt do you plan on making using this pattern? Let me know in the comments below! 

Suggested materials:
  • Measuring tape
  • Ruler
  • Curved ruler
See all materials

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