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This article will explain how to cut a straight skirt.
Materials/Equipment needed to cut and sew a straight skirt
- Fabric: The fabric you need depends on the measurement of your client. Averagely, you need between a yard to two yards of fabric.
- Scissors: It is needed for cutting the fabric into the desired shape and length before sewing. You can also use scissors to trim excess fabric and thread.
- Tape rule: It is needed for measuring before, during, and after sewing.
- Sewing machine: For sewing the fabric.
- Thread: The colour of the thread depends on the colour of the fabric. The thread should match the fabric.
- Pins/chalk (optional): Pins are used to hold the fabric to keep it in place while cutting and sewing while chalk is used to note the placement of the measurement when cutting.
- Zipper (optional): If you are sewing with a stretchy fabric, you might not need to use a zipper. A zipper is used to make the skirt more fitted and easier to wear.
Body measurements needed to cut a straight skirt
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- Waist circumference (W): Place your tape rule around the waist of your client. When measuring the waist circumference, ask your client where they want the skirt to start from. Some clients prefer their skirts to start above their abdomen while others prefer below their abdomen. Make sure the measurement is accurate: not too tight and not too loose.
- Hip circumference (H): Place your tape rule around the hip of your client. Holding on to the tape rule, try moving it up and down slowly. Make sure it is not too tight or too loose.
- Length of the skirt (L): The length of the skirt starts where the waist begins and ends where the client wants the length to end: above the knee, below the knee, three-quarters, or ankle.
How to cut a straight skirt
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- Fold the fabric into two.
- Divide the hip measurement into four. For instance, if your client’s hip is 40, 40÷4= 10.
- Add sewing allowance to your hip measurement. You can add between 1-2 inches. For instance, 2 inches. Add it to your divided hip measurement, 10+2= 12.
- Measure the vertical measurement, the length of the skirt. For instance, 25 inches. Add 2 inches for sewing allowance. 25+2= 27.
- Divide the waist measurement. For instance, if your W is 30, divide it by 4 and add 2. 30÷4= 7.5, 7.5+2= 9.5.
- From the waist which marks the start of the skirt, add the W measurement, then measure 8 inches vertically. At that point, add your hip measurement horizontally. From the beginning of the skirt add your length measurement vertically.
- Use your chalk to draft the measurement, and cut.
- Use the first panel to cut the second panel but add two inches to all the horizontal measurements, that is W and H if you are using a zipper.
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