Get Instant Red-Carpet Style With This DIY Velvet Pencil Skirt
It’s finally awards show season, and this year we’re not only seeing stunning looks from the stars, but also a few powerful protests using fashion. Thank you, Hollywood. <3 One style trend that we’ve seen over and over — and honestly can’t ever get enough of — is velvet. That oh-so soft, luxe material adds just the right amount of elegance to any piece. I headed over to our local fabric store, Britex, and picked up this stretch velvet for $20. With a few measurements, a few stitches and some elastic, I had a custom velvet pencil skirt in no time. Follow along below to create a velvet skirt that you can instantly make your OOTD, ready for the red carpet.
Materials and Tools:
- 1 1/2 yards of stretch velvet
- 1 yard 2-inch elastic
- measure tape
- fabric scissors
- sewing pins
- sewing machine
- marker
Instructions:
- Measure the circumference of your waist, hips and desired length of your skirt. Draw into a skirt diagram for reference.
- Fold your fabric in half and then in half again. Pin the fabric in place so you can cut it without it sliding. Measure out the length of your skirt, plus seven inches for the waist band, along the fold of the fabric. Measure 1/4 the measurement of your waist and hips in a perpendicular line from the fold of the fabric. Draw a fluid curved line to connect all measurements.
- Cut out your skirt pattern, grab one piece of the skirt and measure and cut a seven-inch slit from the bottom.
- Pin the outer edges of the skirt and sew.
- Hem the slit and the bottom edge of the skirt.
- Cut a piece of elastic that measures one inch less than the circumference of your waist. Sew together to create a band and then slip onto the top of your skirt. Fold the fabric over, pin in place and sew.
Grab a measuring tape and jot down the measurements of your waist, hips and length of your skirt. Draw out a picture of the skirt for reference. Divide your waist and hip measurement by four to obtain the measurement you will use in the following step.
Fold your fabric in half and then in half again — pin in place. Measure out the length of your skirt, adding in an extra seven inches for the waist band. Draw a perpendicular line (from the fold of the fabric) seven inches from the top of your skirt — this will be your waist measurement. About nine inches from your waist measurement, draw another perpendicular line for your hip measurement. At the end of your skirt, draw out another perpendicular line that is the same measurement of your waist. Connect all of these lines with one fluid curve.
Once you’ve cut out your skirt, measure and cut a seven-inch slit on one piece of the velvet.
Cut out your skirt and pin the long edges together. Sew down both sides with a basic stitch.
Hem and sew the slit and bottom edge of the skirt.
Cut a piece of elastic that is your waist measurement minus one inch. Sew together in a band and then slide onto the top of the skirt. Fold the fabric over, pin in place and then sew.
On the backside of the skirt, sew a perpendicular line through the elastic to help it from moving around within the waist band.
And just like that we are ready to hit the town! Pair this velvet skirt with a loose blouse and heels for a fancy look or flannel and white Adidas for a more casual vibe.
FYI — the slit is mucho importante. Without it, you will have trouble walking.
Show us your project by tagging us on Instagram + using hashtag #iamcreative!
DIY Production and Styling: Kelly Bryden
Photography: Kurt Andre
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