Zara Skirt

Quickly look polished in our throw-on-and-go Zara Skirt This classic button skirt from Posner and Posner certainly has the X factor – who can resist a refreshingly simple garment that is just as quick to sew? Perfect for having a natter with friends at the coffee shop or smartening up for days back at the office, this skirt is sure to pull together any ensemble. What’s more, with this pattern you’ll learn how to master panels and nail the process of inserting a concealed zip!

Essentials

Fabric, 1.5m
Fusible interfacing, 0.25m
Matching thread
Buttons, 25mm, four
Concealed zip, 20cm

Suggested fabrics

Tightly woven fabrics, such as twill, satin, duck or tweed

Sizes

8-24

Cutting guide

Centre panel front and back: Cut two on the fold of fabric and two on the fold of lining
Side panel front and back: Cut four on the fold of fabric and four on the fold of lining
Waist facing: Cut two on the fold of fabric and two on the fold of fusible interfacing
1.5cm seam allowance used throughout unless otherwise stated.

Download the pattern from sewmag.co.uk. With right sides together and matching notches, pin a side panel to each side of each centre panel. Overlock the seam or trim and zig zag the edge. Do the same for the lining pieces and press the seam towards the side edge. Topstitch close to the seam edge on the skirt panels.
Position the concealed zip in place on the left side of the skirt, then pin and stitch. Sew the rest of the side seam from the end of the zip to the hem edge. Press this seam open. With right sides together, pin and stitch the other side seam. Press the seam open.
With right sides together, pin and sew the side seams of the skirt lining. On the left side, stitch to the marker for the end of the zip, leaving this section open. Press the seams open. Fold the seam allowance of the left side above the marker for the end of the zip, and press. Pin the lining to the skirt at the waist edge, matching the centre front, back and all of the seams.
Slip-stitch the folded edge of the left side seam of the lining around the edge of the zip. Sew the lining to the skirt at the waist, close to the edge to hold. Apply fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the waist facings. With right sides together, pin and stitch the right hand side of the facing, leaving the left side open. Trim the seam and press open. Overlock or zig zag the bottom edge of the facing.
With right sides together, pin the facing to the skirt at the waist edge. Match the centre front, centre back and the right hand side seam. Sew to the skirt and lining. Clip the curve and trim the seam allowance, then understitch around the top of the facing. Fold the facing to the inside of the skirt and press along the edge. Fold under the edges of the facing at the top of the zip and slip-stitch in place. Slip-stitch the bottom of the facing to the lining.
Try on the skirt and mark the position of the hem. Turn up the hem of the skirt and press. The hem can be finished by hand or by using a machine stitch. Cut off the same amount of fabric from the lining as the hem allowance of the skirt, plus 1.5cm. If it is possible to turn up a hem measuring 4cm, cut off 5.5 cm from the bottom of the lining.
Turn up a hem on the lining of 2cm and press, then fold the raw edges into the fold to make a double hem and stitch. Attach the four buttons to the front of the skirt where marked on the template. Sew the buttons to the skirt, avoiding stitching through to the lining.