Sew a gathered skirt with pockets and elastic waistband (Tutorial)

This is a sewing tutorial to make a simple gathered skirt with pockets

Sewing tutorial for a gathered skirt with side pockets and elastic waistband

Step 1 Cut fabric

To make this skirt, cut two fabric pieces for the skirt.  Each fabric should measure – The width of each fabric piece should be hip round measurement multiplied by 1.4 and then divided by 2

Height should be what you want as the length of the skirt. 

Cut 4 pieces of fabric of dimension 10 inches long and 8 1/2 inches wide. These are for sewing the pockets. You can use the same cloth as the skirt. I am  using black for a contrast effect.

You also need a fabric strip of 2 1/2 inches wide and length equaling the top edge of your skirt- for sewing the waistband. You can cut this later.

Step 2 Mark pockets

On two fabric pieces you have to mark as in the picture below.

The markings should be made as a mirror image as in the picture below.

Step 3 Sew the pocket front facing

Keep these fabrics on top of the front skirt piece. Pin in place so that they do not shift. 

Sew along the marks. Cut the extra out.

You have to clip along the seam allowance every half inch or so. 

Turn the fabric aside and then Under stitch the fabric and the seam allowance together. See the red line in the picture below.

Press in place. It will look like this.

Step 4 Sew the pocket bag

Keep one of the other rectangular pocket fabric pieces (out of the 2 left) under this and stitch in place. The red lines are the stitching lines.

It will look like the picture below from the back of the fabric.

Now you have to sew the rest of the pocket edges together – you just have to sew the pocket fabric edges together – it should not be stitched to the front fabric at this point. Just the pocket edges are sewn together. Otherwise you will get stitching lines on the front of your skirt.

Finish the fabric edges of your pocket bags with a zig zag stitch.

The front piece will look like the picture below. 

Step 5. Sew the skirt pieces together

Keep the other skirt fabric piece right side down on top of the front piece. Sew the side seams. Finish the edges with a zig zag stitch. 

Turn the skirt right side out.

Step 6. Prepare and sew waistband

You have to cut a fabric strip of width 2 1/2 inches and length that will go around the top edge of the skirt plus 1 inch seam allowance. 

Press the long edge of the fabric strip 1/4 inch to the inside. 

Join the edges of the fabric pieces together as in the picture below. 

Press the seam allowance open. 

Sew the waistband to the top edge. For this keep the fabric tube you have just made right side down on the skirt edge. Stitch along the 1/4 inch pressing mark you have made. Turn the waistband other edge to the back. You can top stitch or stitch in the ditch.

You have to leave some 2 inches open when sewing the other side – for inserting the elastic through this gap.

Step 7. Insert elastic

Measure around your waist snugly with elastic stretching it a little. You can use the waist round measurement minus 3 inches to 5 inches.

Insert elastic . Sew the edges together – use zig zag stitches.

Step 8 Hem your gathered skirt

Do the hem of the skirt. I just turned the bottom edge 1/2 inches twice to the inside and stitched in place. 

If you like a gathered skirt but do not want the bulk in the front, checkout the tutorial to sew this straight skirt with yoke

ou can sew other skirts following the tutorials in here : How to sew skirts – free patterns ; How to sew an A-line skirt ; How to sew a pencil skirt ; How to sew a skirt waistband; How to sew zipper to a skirt waistband; How to sew a basic straight skirt.