Sew a Stylish Handkerchief Skirt

9 Materials
$15
1 Hour
Easy

Pixie skirts otherwise known as handkerchief or square skirts are timeless! These super-cute and easy to make skirts are fun to wear and always pretty up an outfit. Learn how to make your own handkerchief skirt in a few very simple and easy steps.



Tools and materials:

  • Fabric
  • Measuring tape
  • Chalk
  • Pins
  • Scissors
  • Zipper
  • Invisible zipper foot
  • Zipper foot
  • Sewing machine
Handkerchief hem skirt

Cut a square of fabric 

To kick off this pixie skirt DIY, I measured a 28 inch by 28 inch square from the fabric that was folded over in a double layer. I decided to use a pink cotton satin fabric that has a really great stretch to it and also has a little bit of a shine which I love. 

How to sew a handkerchief hem skirt

Once I had made all the markings to get a perfect square, I grabbed a pair of scissors and cut the fabric. 

Measure your waist

Cut the waistline 

In the next step, I took my waist measurement which came to 32 inches. 

Cut a curve


I took my measuring tape and measured 4.5 inches from the corner all the way around making a curve I marked and connected the markings and then cut along that curve. I got to this measurement by taking my waist measurement and dividing it by 6.28. 

How to make a handkerchief hem skirt

Sew the sides 

Before stitching the skirt, I pinned the skirt right sides together. I then sewed along the sides. I decided to add a zip to this square skirt so I left 5 inches unsewn on one side. If you prefer to make the skirt without a zip, feel free to do so. 

How to sew a handkerchief skirt

Add a waistband 

In order to add a band to the top of the skirt, I cut some extra fabric with a width of 4 inches, long enough to match my waist measurement. 

How to make a handkerchief skirt



Before attaching the zipper to this handkerchief skirt, I sewed the band onto the waist. First I folded the band in half with the right side facing outwards. I then matched the raw edges of the band with the raw edge of the waistline and stitched on the band, right sides together. What’s great about this band is that you can add elastic to it, if you want to, rather than a zipper. 

Sew on the zipper

Sew on the zipper 

To attach the zipper onto the skirt, I clip my invisible zipper foot onto my sewing machine and then I sewed on the zipper. I cut the extra zipper off since it was a little longer than I needed for the skirt. 

Sew a handkerchief hem skirt


I then switched the invisible zipper foot for a normal zipper foot and sewed close to the zipper teeth on the right side of the fabric to ensure no fabric would get caught in the zipper when opening and closing it. 

Sew a handkerchief skirt


I finished off the skirt with a nice, neat hem and I couldn’t wait to try it on! How would you style this stylish pixie skirt? Let me know in the comments below! 

Suggested materials:
  • Fabric
  • Measuring tape
  • Chalk
See all materials

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