Swish into 2024 in this stunning skirt with invisible zip, created by fashion designer Birgit Siani
YOU WILL NEED
■ Outer fabric: 1mx140cm
■ Lining fabric: 1mx140cm
■ 25cm invisible zip
■ Soft iron on interfacing: 30cm
■ Matching sewing thread
■ Basic sewing kit
NOTES
■ Pre-wash your fabric and iron carefully
■ Use a 1cm seam allowance unless otherwise instructed
FABRIC USED
African wax print from Julius Holland
CREATING THE PATTERN
Step one Measure the place on your body where you want the skirt to sit. Keep the tape measure close to the body, but not too tight. One finger is included in the measurement (see photo), for ease. Measure down from this point to your desired skirt length (see white arrow). 01
Step two Fold your outer fabric diagonally once and fix it with a few pins. Place point 1 in the corner. From there, measure one third your waist circumference measured above minus 2cm along the folded edge to point 2. Step three With the centre point at point 1, make an arc towards the edge of the fabric. To do this, take a piece of string as a compass, hold it at point 1 and insert your marking pen into a loop at the other end. Now measure a quarter of your measured circumference on this arc, which will give you point 3. You can now connect this to point 1 and extend it downwards. Step four Measure the finished skirt length on the line from point 2 to 4 and from point 3 to 5. Then draw the hem by again drawing an arc with the centre point at point 1, this time through points 4 and 5. Step five Draw a 1cm seam allowance on all edges except the folded edge. Step six Cut out the marked piece and use it as the pattern for the second skirt part. Make sure that the grainline is the same as on the first piece: the folded edge (= centre front/ centre back) is on the diagonal grainline, the straight cut edges are on the grainline or at right angles to it. 02
Step seven The waistband is a simple rectangle: the length is the measured waist circumference (divided into quarters) plus 1cm seam allowance at each end. The width of the rectangle is twice the finished width of the waistband plus another 2cm seam allowance. The finished waistband width is up to you, but it should not be too wide if you are planning a lower fit. 03
Step eight Cut the waistband in your main fabric and again in iron on interfacing. Step nine Cut the front and back pieces from your lining fabric. The lining should
