Belle Pleated Skirt - Free sewing patterns

Stylish, comfortable and perfect for jet-set breaks, meet Amanda Walker’s latest design! This no-pattern make is a fabulous starting project for beginners, and will encourage you to improve on techniques such as inserting pockets, attaching a tie-belt and creating inverted pleats – all of which you can easily incorporate into other garments.

Essentials

Fabric, 2.5m (150cm)
Elastic, 3cm wide

Sizes

8-20

Cutting guide

Front: cut one on the fold
Back: cut one on the fold
Pockets: cut two rectangles, 24cm x 32cm
Belt tie: cut two strips, 12cm x 1.3m
Belt loops: cut four rectangles, 8cm x 12cm

1.5cm seam allowance used throughout, unless otherwsie stated.

Download and print the diagram at sewmag.co.uk sewmag.co.uk, then draft a pattern from the guide provided onto a piece of paper. Neaten the two long edges on the front and back pieces. Fold and press 1cm, then 4cm, along the top of the pocket rectangles. Fold this to the right side of the pockets and sew each side edge with a 1cm seam allowance.
Trim the corner bulk and turn the top part of the pocket to the wrong side. Tease out the corners, press flat, and continue to fold and press the pocket side edges and base. Edgestitch the 1cm fold at the top of the pockets, then position them 5cm in from the side edges and 31cm up from the base. Pin and edgestitch to secure.
Make three inverted pleats at the top of the front and back pieces, one in the centre and two either side. Stitch 9cm through the centre of each pleat and press flat. Lay the front skirt piece over the back one, right sides facing, pin and attach the side seams, then press the seams open.
Carefully fold and press 1cm,then 8cm, at the top of the skirt on the wrong side. Pin and edgestitch in place, leaving a small gap on one side. Make another stitching line 3.5cm above the first to form a distinct channel
Attach the two shorter edges of the belt loop rectangles, turn to the right side, and press flat. Turn in the raw edges of the top and base pieces, then position each loop over the four inverted pleats on the skirt sides. Sew above and below the channel.
Cut a length of elastic that fits comfortably around your waist and add 2cm. Attach a safety pin to one end and thread it through the channel, entering and exiting through the gap. Lap the ends over one another and stitch. Pull the elastic inside the channel, then close the gap.
Fold and press 1cm, then 4cm, around the base of the skirt. Pin and edgestitch the hem. Sew together the two belt tie strips across the short edges, then press the seam open. Fold the strip in half lengthways, right sides facing.
Cut an angle at both ends and stitch with a 1cm seam allowance across the ends and down the length of the tie, leaving a 5cm gap. Turn the belt right sides out through the gap, tease out the points and seams, then press. Slip-stitch the gap closed.