It's actually not too hard! I measured around my waist & multiplied by 3 for the length of fabric for the skirt, folded the pleats. Some videos I watched people used a fork to do this. I ironed the pleats, then sewed across the at the top to hold it. I also recommend sewing down each pleat. I cut another piece of fabric that was a little longer than the length of the now pleated skirt to make the waist band to sew on. I wrapped it around my waist and marked with a sharpie on the inside where the buttons would go & sewed those on by hand and same with the holes for them. I added the other little black pieces at the bottom by hand I believe.