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How To Sew A Pencil Skirt With Free Pattern

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Do you wish you had something in your closet that was comfy, professional, and perfect for everyday? Today we are going to show you How To Sew A Pencil Skirt With Free Pattern! What’s not to love about a simple project with a big impact! My sewing friend, Debbie, showed me this pattern and I had to make it. This fun pencil skirt is fashionable, yet reserved. simple lines and and elastic waistband means all day comfort for you. Made from knit fabric, the fitted skirt is perfect for everyday wear.  This sewing project is perfect for beginners. The included free pattern makes it easy to size you skirt perfectly. Patterns make it easy to cut out your fabric and we even had a handy tutorial on how to use a sewing pattern here. This pencil skirt is super trendy and really easy to sew. I made a a few of these in different patterns and colors so I would have some variety in my closet.

How To Sew A Pencil Skirt With Free Pattern

It’s comfortable, a quick sew and easy to tailor to your needs and style, so much that you can make several in one day. The encased elastic waistband gives your skirt a professional finish and makes it comfortable to wear. For work or play, you can go through life’s busy days in comfort. Let’s get started!

What You’ll Need:

Pencil Skirt Supplies

Size Chart:

Imperial (inches)SmallMediumLarge
Waist283032
Hip384042

** This pencil skirt pattern is drafted for a height of 5’ 4”- 5” 6”. Is this pencil skirt pattern missing the size you are looking for? Then check out our tutorial on How to Scale a pattern up and down.

Printing Instructions

This 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.

Pattern Assembly

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. 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 pencil skirt pattern should look like this: 

How to sew a pencil skirt printable pattern

Pattern Pieces Checklist

Once you have printed and assembled your pattern. You will cut the following pieces
:

  • Cut 2 skirt pieces on the fold.

Elastic Cutting Chart

Imperial (inches)SmallMediumLarge
1” wide elastic 272931

Seam Allowance

Use a 3/8” seam allowance for all your sewing throughout this how to sew a pencil skirt sewing tutorial unless otherwise instructed.

How To Sew A Pencil Skirt With Free Pattern

pin pencil skirt pieces together

Start off this how to sew a pencil skirt with free pattern sewing tutorial by washing and drying your fabric. This helps preshrink your fabric and prepares it for washing later so that your stitches don’t pull out or fray the first time you wash it. Once you have pressed your skirt fabric pieces, pin the two skirt pieces right sides together at the side seams.

sew pencil skirt pieces together along side seams

Sew the pieces together down the sides using a 3/8″ seam allowance using a zigzag stitch, as this works nicely with fabric that has a little stretch to it.

cut elastic for pencil skirt waistband

Next on this how to sew a pencil skirt tutorial, we will start making the waistband. Cut your elastic for the waistband according the recommended length in the instruction.

sew elastic for pencil skirt waistband

Overlap the elastic by 1/2” and sew the ends together. Make sure to back stitching a few times to secure.

quartering elastic for waistband

Now with this skirt waistband assembled, we need to divide your elastic into quarters. To do this, first place a pin at the sewn seam, find the opposite end of the elastic and mark with a fabric marker or a pin.

marking ends of elastic for waistband

Place the two marks on top of each other and mark the two opposite ends of the elastic. We are about halfway through this how to sew a pencil skirt with free pattern sewing tutorial!

dividing pencil skirt fabric into quarters

Now we will do the same process to the skirt pieces. Place a mark at the side seams, place the side seams on top of each other. Then, mark the two opposite ends of the skirt.

pinning elastic to pencil skirt

With the skirt wrong sides out, slide the elastic over the skirt. Pin the elastic to the wrong side of the skirt at the waist.

sewing elastic to pencil skirt

We are finally at the step in this how to sew a pencil skirt sewing tutorial where we start putting it all together! Set your sewing machine to the longest and widest zigzag stitch and sew the elastic to the skirt. You will need to stretch the elastic slightly as you sew.

pinning waistband to pencil skirt

Fold the waist of the skirt towards the wrong side, enclosing the elastic. This will give your skirt a nice, clean look.

sewing waistband onto pencil skirt
finished pencil skirt elastic waistband

Set your sewing machine to a stretch stitch like a zigzag stitch and sew the elastic to the skirt. With that, the waistband for our pencil skirt is done! Now all that’s left to do is to hem the bottom of the skirt.

pinning hem of pencil skirt
sewn hem of pencil skirt

Turn the hem of the skirt by 1/2” twice and pin it in place. Sew down the edge to finished the hem that that is it! You are done!

finished Pencil Skirt with Free Pattern

Now you have a nice and breezy pencil skirt to wear! Now that you know how to sew a pencil skirt, you can tackle some of our other clothing projects like our cute wrap skirt or our hoodie!

How To Sew A Pencil Skirt With Free Pattern

If you liked learning how to sew a pencil skirt with free pattern, 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!

Yield: 1

How To Sew A Pencil Skirt With Free Pattern

Pencil Skirt Create Card

Learn how to sew a pencil skirt with free pattern! This fun and simple sewing project is great for beginners or anyone wanting to freshen up their wardrobes for spring!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $20.00

Instructions

  1. Pin the two skirt pieces right sides together at the side seam and sew 
  2. Cut your elastic according the recommended length in the instruction.
  3. Overlap the elastic by 1/2” and sew, back stitching a few times to secure. 
  4. Divide your elastic into quarters – first place a pin at the sewn seam, find the opposite end of the elastic and mark / pin
  5. Next place the two marks on top of each other and mark the two opposite ends of the elastic. 
  6. Divide your skirt into quarters by following the same steps.
  7. Place a mark at the side seams,
  8. Place the side seams on top of each other
  9. Mark the two opposite ends of the skirt.
  10. With the skirt wrong sides out, slide the elastic over the skirt.
  11. Pin the elastic to the wrong side of the skirt at the waist.
  12. Set your sewing machine to the longest and widest zigzag stitch and sew the elastic to the skirt. You will need to stretch the elastic slightly as you sew.
  13. Fold the waist of the skirt towards the wrong side, enclosing the elastic.
  14.  Set your sewing machine to a stretch stitch and sew the elastic to the skirt. 
  15. Turn the hem of the skirt by 1/2” twice, pin and sew.
  16. Enjoy!
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