This 20 Minute basic banded skirt tutorial is one of my go to projects for teaching people to sew. For a great unisex option I love the my reversible place mats or handkerchief scarf but 99% I use this and boys happily give them to sisters or friends or wear them with pride for dress up!

I’m super excited about the skirt tutorial I’ve got for you today. These skirts are by far my favorite learn how to sew project. In fact aside from sewing on scraps these skirts are the first thing my nieces made.

Now they have both made multiple skirts for themselves all kinds of bags and have helped their friends to make them too.

This is a great project for beginners and those in a hurry because it’s just a few straight lines.

You can simplify the skirt even more by doing it without a band but in addition to adding an extra about of cuteness I like that it gives the new sew-er an extra long length to practice sewing.

Determining the Size and Fabric You Need

For these skirts I like to use quilting cotton for beginners but if you’re comfortable with sewing it will work with any fabric you want. Whether I make this skirt for an adult or a child I always use the full width of the fabric for quilting cotton usually 44 inches.

If the width of your fabric is longer there is no need to cut it down it will just be a little more gathered.

Next measure from where you want the waistband to sit and where you want the fabric to end on your leg for example the right above the knee.

From that number subtract 2 inches. This will be the length of fabric you want for your main fabric. Your band fabric will be 5 inches by the width of the fabric (usually 44 inches).

For your elastic you want to measure around your waist and make it a so it has to stretch. I usually subtract 4 inches from my waist measurement.

How to Make a Simple Skirt

For an even easier version you can leave the band off but unless you want a short skirt you’ll want to add length to the skirt.

I do like doing the band though since it gives extra sewing practice for those who are learning how to sew.

What You Need to Sew a Skirt

Main Fabric
Band Fabric (5 x width of the fabric)
1/2 inch elastic for waist
Safety Pin

How to Sew a Skirt with a Band

With right sides together (that is the pretty sides) align the main fabric and the band fabric and sew down the long edge using a 1/2 inch seam allowance (that means from the needle to the edge of the fabric it should be 1/2 there is probably a mark on your sewing machine).
Finish the raw edges with a serger or a zig zag stitch (when I teach kids I do this step for them).
Fold back the band. With right sides together match the short ends of the fabric together. Make sure your seam line is lined up. Pin in place or if you’re confident you don’t need to pin, beginners should pin though.
With a 1/2 inch seam allowance sew down the short edges to make one big tube.
Finish both edges with a serger or zig zag stitch (I do this step for the kids).
Iron the edge of the band side under wrong side together 1/2 inch and sew down with a 1/4 seam allowance (usually lining the fold of the fabric with the edge of your presser foot).
Iron the top edge of your skirt under wrong side together 1 inch. Sew down with a 3/4 inch seam allowance making sure to leave about a 1-2 inch hole to insert the elastic.
String your safety pin on to one end of your elastic. Thread it through your waist band. Make sure it did not get twisted along the way. (I usually have to finish this for the kids but they can start it and given enough time they can probably do the whole thing but it’s a lot of work for little fingers)
Over lap the ends of your elastic one on top of each other about 1/2 inch and sew back and forth 3-4 times.
Sew the hole closed in your elastic band by sewing over where your stitches left off over the space of the while and where your stitches start again.

Wear your skirt with pride (or try it on your favorite skirt recipient). These skits above were sewn by my 6 and 8 year old sewing students.

They aren’t perfect, you can see little jags in the stitching but they are all theirs and SO awesome!

Niece L trying on the first skirt she made under her dress when she was still 5 years old!

As a bonus these banded skirts are so quick and easy they make great gifts.

The best part is since you can find so many different basic quilting fabrics including all kinds of character and licensed designs you can make an awesome skirt that you’d never find in a store.

20 Minute Basic Band Skirt Tutorial

Want to teach someone how to sew or learn yourself? This 20 minute basic band skirt tutorial is the perfect easy sewing project. Great for newbies or gifts.

Supplies

Main Fabric
Band Fabric 5 x width of the fabric
1/2 inch elastic for waist
Safety Pin

Instructions

With right sides together (that is the pretty sides) align the main fabric and the band fabric and sew down the long edge using a 1/2 inch seam allowance (that means from the needle to the edge of the fabric it should be 1/2 there is probably a mark on your sewing machine).
Finish the raw edges with a serger or a zig zag stitch (when I teach kids I do this step for them).
Fold back the band. With right sides together match the short ends of the fabric together. Make sure your seam line is lined up. Pin in place or if you're confident you don't need to pin, beginners should pin though.
With a 1/2 inch seam allowance sew down the short edges to make one big tube.
Finish both edges with a serger or zig zag stitch (I do this step for the kids).
Iron the edge of the band side under wrong side together 1/2 inch and sew down with a 1/4 seam allowance (usually lining the fold of the fabric with the edge of your presser foot).
Iron the top edge of your skirt under wrong side together 1 inch. Sew down with a 3/4 inch seam allowance making sure to leave about a 1-2 inch hole to insert the elastic.
String your safety pin on to one end of your elastic. Thread it through your waist band. Make sure it did not get twisted along the way. (I usually have to finish this for the kids but they can start it and given enough time they can probably do the whole thing but it's a lot of work for little fingers)
Over lap the ends of your elastic one on top of each other about 1/2 inch and sew back and forth 3-4 times.
Sew the hole closed in your elastic band by sewing over where your stitches left off over the space of the while and where your stitches start again.

Notes

DETERMINING THE SIZE AND FABRIC YOU NEED
For these skirts I like to use quilting cotton for beginners but if you’re comfortable with sewing it will work with any fabric you want. Whether I make this skirt for an adult or a child I always use the full width of the fabric for quilting cotton usually 44 inches. If the width of your fabric is longer there is no need to cut it down it will just be a little more gathered. Now measure from where you want the waistband to sit and where you want the fabric to end on your leg for example the right above the knee. From that number subtract 2 inches. This will be the length of fabric you want for your main fabric. Your band fabric will be 5 inches by the width of the fabric (usually 44 inches).

Obviously this will have a different look for adults and children but I like how it looks on each and you can definitely do math to adjust your band with (taking a few inches from one fabric and adding it to the other). For your elastic you want to measure around your waist and make it a so it has to stretch. I usually subtract 4 inches from my waist measurement.

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Easy right? I love seeing the new sewers wearing their creations. And for those who are seasoned seamstress these little skirts come together speedy fast!