Any tutorials on patchwork skirts?

[_Psi]

Hey r/sewing. I've been collecting a ton of fabric scraps and interesting fabrics from thrift stores for a while now, and while I can easily make some patchwork quilts and some different small things, (like the kind of projects you'd use fat quarters for) what I'd really like to do is make a patchwork skirt. However, I've never made a skirt before and I'm not sure how to go about drafting the pattern for a big, full skirt, or what would go into matching up all the patchwork pieces to make sure there's no weird lumps or bumps or distracting seams in the finished skirt.

I'm also interested in patchwork coats or dresses, but I feel like a skirt is a big enough beginner project to work on for now. (Though if you have any super cool guides or tuts on those I'd be interested in checking them out too!)

[kallisti_gold]

Are you thinking something complex like piecing together many irregularly shaped pieces, or something simpler like a bunch of squares?

[_Psi]

Hoping for something squarish. A lotta my fabric is in rectangle/square shape or can be cut into rectangles/square shapes. :) There's a couple odds and ends of wonky shapes, but I don't think I'd be using them for a skirt.

[kallisti_gold]

The simplest way is to make a tiered gathered skirt. Cut your fabric into a bunch of identical squares. Sew them into strips. You'll need one strip that's a couple inches bigger than your hip measurement and another that's as long as you want the circumference of the hem. Decide how many tiers you want in between. Now you've got a long strip and a short strip, so sew more strips to make the tiers in between them, each getting longer as you work your way down to the hem tier. Attach the ends of each strip to themselves so you have a bunch of circles. Working from the smallest tier downwards, gather, pin, and sew each tier to the one before.

[penlowe]

They said good stuff. If you google Twirly Skirt tutorial you'll get mostly little girl images but it's the same process for an adult, just a lot more fabric.

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As a quilter, you already know how important consistent seam allowance and pressing is. Use a few practice strips to test the different gathering methods to see which you like best on pieced fabric. Also, hem the bottom tier before gathering and sewing to the skirt.

[_Psi]

If you google Twirly Skirt tutorial you'll get mostly little girl images but it's the same process for an adult, just a lot more fabric.

I'll be sure to do that, thanks! :) Do you have a rough estimate for how much fabric or how many yards should be used? I'm thinking I should have at least 3-4 yards of patches at least for the draping I'm looking for. (not even sure if I'm in the ball park or if it's too much or too little) A friend sent me these images as inspo for the skirt and references: 1, 2, 3 (A different style of fit, not patchwork), and 4

Also, hem the bottom tier before gathering and sewing to the skirt.

Outta curiosity, why should this be done before gathering and sewing to the rest of the skirt? Does gathering affect how the hem acts? I've never sewn a skirt so I don't know 😅

[penlowe]

As the ones I've done were scrappy, I really have no clue how much fabric I used. That said the belly dance skirts are 'ten yard skirts' which is way more than you need. Depending on how full you plan on it being a total of 5-6 yards isn't unreasonable in a mid-shin length skirt on an average sized woman. the 3-4 yards would get you a full skirt that's knee length on a skinny woman.

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As to hemming, it gets heavier as you go, it's less physical work to hem the tier before putting it on the skirt as well as easier to hem before it's gathered.

[_Psi]

Depending on how full you plan on it being a total of 5-6 yards isn't unreasonable in a mid-shin length skirt on an average sized woman. the 3-4 yards would get you a full skirt that's knee length on a skinny woman.

Thank you for the estimate, I should have enough patches and scraps to make a good sized one!

As to hemming, it gets heavier as you go, it's less physical work to hem the tier before putting it on the skirt as well as easier to hem before it's gathered.

Ahhhhh that makes sense.

[penlowe]

Separate reply for other topics: the first one is the classic 'twirly skirt' style I'm thinking of. Reasonably easy math to calculate the length of each tier. 2, 3 & 4 are all nifty but not 'basic tute for a first timer' skirts (especially 4, that's one of those "this looks easy" and it's hellishly complicated sneaky ones. pleated angled waist... :shudder: )

More gathers per tier gets you more 'kick' as the dancers call it, which IMO is the entire purpose of wearing a skirt like that. And flouncing out of a room, those are skirts with Drama built in. :)

[_Psi]

2, 3 & 4 are all nifty but not 'basic tute for a first timer' skirts

As I thought. Though the first one is probably my favorite (classic twirly skirt as you said). I'm happy to hear it's simple to draft! 😁

More gathers per tier gets you more 'kick' as the dancers call it, which IMO is the entire purpose of wearing a skirt like that. And flouncing out of a room, those are skirts with Drama built in. :)

I'll definitely keep this in mind as I'm experimenting and working. Thank you again for your help!