Burda Style For people who sew

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Step 1 Measure Yourself

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The first step is to measure your waist, where you would like the waistband to hit. To find your waist, bend to one side and feel for the deepest indent. Measure the width of your front waist from side seam to side seam. Measure the width of your back waist from side seam to side seam.
Next you’ll measure the same widths about 2-3 inches lower (or however wide you would like your waistband to be) from that spot. Our bodies are round and curved, which is why this second circumference will be a couple of inches wider.

Record these measurements, adding seam allowance to each one. I add 1/4" seam allowance to my measurements but you can add up to 5/8" if you wish.

Front Waist: 14" (divide by 2 and add 1/4") = 7 1/4"
Back Waist: 13" (divide by 2 and add 1/4") = 13 1/4"

Front Waist Lower: 16" (divide by 2 and add 1/4") = 8 1/4"
Back Waist Lower: 18" (divide by 2 and add 1/4") = 9 1/4"

*If this tutorial seems to complicated to follow without a pattern, I highly recommend using the BurdaStyle “Drafting The Basic Skirt” tutorial listed below.

Related Techniques

• Drafting the Basic Skirt

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6 Comments on Step 1 Sign in to add a post

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  Jul 19, 2011, 06.59 AMby elizabethanne94

  My first time ever making something from scratch and I have to say that it certainly was a miracle that I actually made a decent skirt. I read through your instructions, found it overwhelming, and used the trial and error method to making my skirt. It all started with my more larger figure getting in the way. But, for those slim girls, I guess this could work. Thank-you for the help. Seeing this whole tutorial did inspire to me actually make something from scratch. It certainly has more love in it than the ones I buy from the store! The blood, the sweat, the tears…yup. It paid off.
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  Feb 8, 2011, 11.39 PMby Sewing And Style

  I wonder if this could be a perfect way to dublicate this skirt
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  Jan 21, 2011, 10.06 AMby studiostitches

  I would make this up in a lightweight cotton, then take it appart so I have a perfectly fitting skirt pattern to use again and again. It would be simple enough to add features like pleats, slits, contrast hems or make it wrap around.

  Great tutorial but an ease of wear allowance has not been included in the measurements. Ease is required so that when you sit down you don’t split the seams, you can tuck shirts and teeshirts into the waistband, and as most bodies are not always the same shape each day it stops you looking like an overstuffed pillow.

  I think the standard ease allowance is about 2 inches.
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  Jan 19, 2011, 11.09 AMby sewmodest

  Correct me if I’m wrong but, where it says: Back Waist: 13" (divide by 2 and add 1/4") = 13 1/4" , shouldn’t that 13 1/4 be 6 3/4 since your dividing 13 by 2 and then adding 1/4 inch?
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  Jan 19, 2011, 09.26 AMby e-mary

  WOW I have loved this post, I can’t wait to give it a try…;-D Thank you!
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  Jan 18, 2011, 11.41 PMby cherita37

  This looks so simple! Yeah!