Burda Style For people who sew

This is how to make pick-ups on a skirt. It's a technique used often on wedding dresses and I couldn't find a good how-to. I did some research and I somewhat figured it out. I've taught myself how to sew, so if I used improper terminology or techniques that is why.

Technique Materials

skirt material (I used poly/cotton broadcloth), safety pins, elastic cord, elastic waistband.

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30 Comments

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  Mar 29, 2011, 03.44 AMby Simone Bain

  hey I was wondering how you made the bubble hem on the bottom. Did you just put the elastic in and then sewed it to the lining? Also did you ses the lining to the outer skirt on the top? Finally I saw windering how you finished it.
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  Mar 19, 2011, 02.52 PMby FEDRA

  Very useful! Thanks, greetings!
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  Nov 19, 2010, 03.38 AMby iheartkristin

  this looks perfect for prom! im new to sewing but how much fabric is needed for this? is 3 yards enough?
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  Sep 1, 2010, 03.57 PMby marninthebarn

  Great job!! Thankyou.
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  Aug 16, 2010, 12.56 AMby greenstarz180

  What type of skirt should you start with? A-line, gathered, pencil, etc.?
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  Jul 15, 2010, 10.38 PMby tirvani

  I’m just curious….is the picture posted in the intro and in the 19th step your creation? If so, I’m definitely trying this. Thanks for the tutorial!
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  Jun 7, 2010, 05.33 AMby caliluv87

  Wow. So this is definitely not as easy as you make it look, but I’ll get it eventually. It’s worth trying…I’ve been looking for this style for a while now.
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  May 7, 2010, 07.07 PMby id2bylmj

  This is exactly what I have been looking for,, for the longest time!! Big thanks this is way easier than the attempted ideas i had in mind!!
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  Mar 17, 2010, 03.42 AMby lisar10

  I was wondering is there a printable PDF for this?
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  Dec 22, 2009, 06.31 PMby ritta

  Thank you so much for sharing this! it is beautiful!
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  Nov 14, 2009, 09.59 PMby Isabel Alexander

  Thanks alot for this! I’ve been trying to figure it out…by looking at pictures as there are no places to find a skirt like this around where I currently live. :P Thanks again.
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  Nov 11, 2009, 04.34 AMby sarah1209

  Hi.. I know lots of other people have asked the same question but I can’t find the answer anywhere and I’m new to this website so I dont really know where to look but can you please explain how to do the bottom of the skirt… thanks..
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  Aug 13, 2009, 04.00 AMby stormclyde

  amazing post thanks
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  Aug 13, 2009, 03.59 AMby stormclyde

  amazing post thanks
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  Aug 10, 2009, 09.26 PMby spiderlily

  Awesome! I love that you figured out how to do it yourself.
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  Aug 10, 2009, 08.13 PMby nutmeg1

  I used this how-to a while ago to transform my prom dress into something chic and wearable and it came out great! Thank you
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  Aug 9, 2009, 10.48 PMby sarahbeara

  This how-to is great! This is definatley going on my to-do list. But I was wondering how you did the waist band. You did a wonderful job!
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  Jul 18, 2009, 09.20 PMby lemondrop

  this is great! i really love it, i think i’m going to try it for my homecoming dress! but a quick question. The bottom of the skirt. Not the lining, but the black part. Are you simply hemming it? Or are you making it a bubble skirt? because I can’t see the bottom of the black part in any pictures but the last, and i’m not to sure as to how this works.

  is it just simply hemmed at the bottom? like half a cm or 1cm wide hem? also, i was a bit confused. can you make a how-to for just the lining? or is that just a plain skirt you hemmed on the sides, and then hemmed at the top and bottom, leaving space at the top to stick an elastic in it? cuz when I tried to make it, the lining fit over my waist, but it didn’t close around my butt. it was’t wide enough. how do I make the lining more of an a-line? do i have to cut the cloth in a circle?
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  Mar 21, 2009, 12.42 PMby anwar90

  Great How-To! But how do you make the waistband? :)
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  Mar 21, 2009, 09.57 AMby anwar90

  How did you make the waistband? The how-to is really good, and it looks fabolous!
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  Feb 7, 2009, 05.23 PMby jassica

  So im a little confused lol. Before you start are you making a hem or something? Cause i thought it was more like a bubble skirt at the bottom
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  Jan 27, 2009, 12.39 PMby nycb

  this may be a stupid question but do u have to lined the skirt or dress in order for the pick up techquie to work properly?
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  Nov 25, 2008, 10.07 PMby heidimw

  oh my gosh you are a gem! thank you!!!

  I wanted this style for old years night :-) hee hee wish me luck!
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  Nov 18, 2008, 06.05 PMby linstella

  I made a dress about a month ago but the bottom is so plain, this will help make it beautiful, it’s white satin, so it’ll look fantastique!
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  Nov 10, 2008, 06.51 AMby fabulouslyred

  can you help with picking the dimensions please the first set of numbers is that the actual length of the skirt when ur done? and is the second part the lining?
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  Nov 2, 2008, 01.25 PMby vickihalliday

  Wow, thanks for this toot. I have just dismantled a granny pleated plaid skirt to turn it into something contemporary, and then got stuck. Now I know what to do with it, and it’ll be perfect for this treatment. Thanks again.
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  Oct 26, 2008, 09.35 AMby nehmah

  You have done a great job. I have this technique covered in a formalwear book. But the author took a very long chapter to discuss the technique, and still wasn’t completely clear. I got more from yours. Cordially, nehmah
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  Oct 24, 2008, 05.34 PMby dkocsis45

  excellent directions. Great job on finding the material and thank you so much for sharing.
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  Oct 24, 2008, 01.53 PMby tonierenee

  Thanks! I can’t wait to try this! My daughter wants something like this for her prom (IN TWO YEARS!) so I have time to practice.
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  Oct 23, 2008, 07.33 AMby fiftiestwistdiy

  Thanks for the how to! I have been looking all over on how to do this.