Take a stroll in this vintage-style skirt! We are going to show you How To Make A Walking Skirt a fun and easy sewing project! I love how this turned out! You guys know I love skirts, and this has become one of my favorite skirts I have made. I love the length and how easy it is to move it. This floor-length skirt will get you lots of compliments wherever you go. This is a classy elegant skirt that will have people asking where you bought it. It is easy to dress up or down depending on the top you pair it with. I had a lot of fun making this one and I hope you will too. I believe you can never have too many skirts. I like the shape and flow of this one. Plus, the included free pattern makes it simple to cut out your fabric and size this for the perfect fit. That is one of the best things about making your own clothing! It is always so nice to wear something that fits perfectly.
I used some soft cotton for this skirt and it works just fine for me. Pick out the fabric that works best for you and gather up your supplies from the list below. MAybe you want to make another skirt as well if so check out our Free skirt patterns for women post. Let’s get started making this fun skirt!
What You’ll Need:
- 2.5 Yards Of 60″ Wide Fabric – cotton, cotton blends , linen, polyester fabric , gingham
- 1 – 1-Inch Button
- Matching Thread
- Free Pattern
- Iron
- Pins
- Scissors
- Optional Rotary Cutter & Mat
- Measuring tape
- Thread nippers
- Sewing machine
- Hand sewing needle
This pattern is drafted for a height of 5’ 4”- 5” 5” so you may need to length or shorten the pattern if required. If you need a different size than the pattern, check out our post about Pattern Grading – How To Scale A Pattern Up or Down.
Size Chart:
| Imperial (inches) | Small | Medium | Large |
| Chest | 34 | 36 | 38 |
| Waist | 28 | 30 | 32 |
| Hip | 38 | 40 | 42 |
Printing Instructions
This walking skirt pattern has layers, so that you can choose to print only the size you need. To achieve this Adobe Reader must be installed on your machine or device. Adobe Reader allows you to click on the layers icon which will show you each size with an eyeball beside it. Click on the eyeball beside the size you do not want to print.
Before printing check that your printer is set to No scaling or Actual size. Set the Page orientation to Auto or Portrait. And then print page 1. Measure the 2” test square to see if it measures exactly 2”. If it does, print the remaining pages.
Trimming Pages
Cut off the right and top margins of each printed page before assembling the pattern. You can use tape or school glue to adhere your paper pattern together.
Pattern Assembly
After the pages have been printed and trimmed as instructed above, use the quarter circles located at the corner of each page for perfect alignment. When done your pattern should look like this:
Pattern Pieces Checklist
Once you have printed and assembled your pattern you will cut:
- Front panel – Cut one on fold
- Side Panel – Cut 2 mirrored
- Back Panel – Cut 2 mirrored
- Waistband – Cut 1
- Placket – Cut 1
Seam Allowance
Use a 3/8” seam allowance unless otherwise instructed.
How To Make A Walking Skirt
The first step in this how to make a walking skirt sewing tutorial is to wash, dry, and iron your fabric. This will help preshrink your fabric so that your stitches won’t get messed up the first time you wash your pajama pants. Once you have done that, you can use the included free pattern to cut out your fabric. Cut out your fabric according to the cut list above.
Pin the side panel skirt pieces to the center front panel pieces and sew.
Pin the back panels to the side panels right sides together and sew.
Fold the skirt’s right sides together aligning the raw edges of the back panel. Measure and mark 8” for the placket. Sew from the mark made for the placket to the hem of the skirt.
Fold the placket in half and find its center. Pin the center to the back skirt seam so that the right side of the placket is touching the wrong side of the skirt. Pin the placket along the opening. Sew in place.
Fold the placket towards the right side of the skirt.
Fold the placket over by ½” wrong sides together then fold again until it touches the seam line. The raw edges of the skirt will now be fully enclosed.
Sew the placket to the skirt ⅛” from the folded edge.
It should look like this when you are done.
Next on this how to make a walking skirt sewing tutorial, head back to the sewing machine & sew a gathering stitch in the back panel of the skirt. Leave long threads to allow you to gather the skirt panel. Repeat for the other side.
Fold the skirt in half and mark the center point. Fold the waistband in half and mark the center point. Measure ½” from the edge of the waistband and pin it to the skirt so that that ½”
From the middle of the skirt, keep pinning the waistband towards the end of the skirt. You will find that there is extra fabric on the back panel. Pull the gathering threads in the back panel so that the back panel fits to the waistband of the skirt. Pin to secure. We are about halfway through this how to make a walking skirt sewing tutorial!
One side of the placket needs to be turned under to ensure the placket closes properly. To do this, ensure that the right-hand side of the placket is turned towards the wrong side of the skirt. Sew the waistband to the skirt. For the left-hand side of the skirt, the placket will not be turned.
Before you sew the waistband to the skirt, double-check that you have a 1/2” overhang of the waistband on both ends of the skirt. Sew the waistband to the skirt.
Fold the waistband right sides together. Flip the seam allowance of the waistband up and pin. Sew the short end of the waistband.
Clip the corners. Flip the short end of the waistband so that it is right side out. The finished short end of the waistband should be in line with the edge of the skirt. Fold under the seam allowance of the waistband.
Pin the waistband to the skirt covering the raw edges of the seam. Sew the waistband in place.
I suggest trying on the skirt to ensure the proper position of the button and buttonhole. Also, check that you did the placket properly – it should close without any gaping and the placket should be hidden.
Sew a button on the left-hand side of the placket. Make a vertical buttonhole on the left-hand side of the skirt.
Double fold the hem of the skirt and sew.
And that’s it! Now you know how to make a walking skirt!
If you liked learning how to make a walking skirt, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use! Make sure to check out my post where I share all my sewing hacks to help you sew projects faster.
How To Make A Walking Skirt
Sew this wonderful walking skirt! It is super comfortable and effortless to move in! The free pattern makes it easy to see.
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Use pattern to cut out the fabric.
- Pin the side panel skirt pieces to the center front panel pieces and sew.
- Pin the back panels to the side panels right sides together and sew.
- Fold the skirt right sides together aligning the raw edges of the back panel. Measure and mark 8” for the placket. Sew from the mark made for the placket to the hem of the skirt.
- Fold the placket in half and find its center. Pin the center to the back skirt seam so that the right side of the placket is touching the wrong side of the skirt. Pin the placket along the opening. Sew in place.
- Fold the placket towards the right side of the skirt. Fold the placket over by ½” wrong sides together then fold again until it touches the seam line. The raw edges of the skirt will now be fully enclosed. Sew the placket to the skirt ⅛” from the folded edge.
- Sew a gathering stitch in the back panel of the skirt. Leave long threads to allow you to gather the skirt panel. Repeat for the other side.
- Fold the skirt in half and mark the center point.
- Fold the waistband in half and mark the center point. Measure ½” from the edge of the waistband and pin it to the skirt so that that ½”
- From the middle of the skirt, keep pinning the waistband towards the end of the skirt. You will find that there is extra fabric on the back panel. Pull the gathering threads in the back panel so that the back panel fits to the waistband of the skirt. Pin to secure.
- One side of the placket needs to be turned under to ensure the placket closes properly. To do this, ensure that the right hand side of the placket is turned towards the wrong side of the skirt. Sew the waistband to the skirt .
- For the left hand side of the skirt the placket will not be turned.
- Before you sew the waistband to the skirt, double-check that you have a 1/2” overhang of the waistband on both ends of the skirt.
- Sew the waistband to the skirt.
- Fold the waistband right sides together. Flip the seam allowance of the waistband up and pin.
- Sew the short end of the waistband.
- Clip the corners. Flip the short end of the waistband so that it is right side out. The finished short end of the waistband should be in line with the edge of the skirt. Fold under the seam allowance of the waistband. Pin the waistband to the skirt covering the raw edges of the seam. Sew the waistband in place.
- Sew a button on the left-hand side of the placket.
- Make a vertical buttonhole on the left-hand side of the skirt.
- Double fold the hem of the skirt and sew.
- Enjoy!
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