- 1). Purchase or use an existing tank top. Choose a tank top that is a plain color. Pick a fabric that is a contrasting color. A good combination would be a plain colored tank top with a floral skirt fabric. Choose a fabric that is the same fabric content as the tank top. If your tank top is cotton and lycra you want to choose a cotton-lycra blend for the skirt fabric.
- 2). Unfold the newspaper so that it's in single unfolded sheets. Lay out enough paper to completely trace around the skirt. If one sheet is not enough you can set an additional sheet directly next to the first sheet. If you still need additional space lay out two more sheets below the previous sheets.You may want to tape the sheets together for easier handling using painter's tape, which is paper-based and can be written on. Take the A-line skirt and lay it on top of the newspaper. Straighten the skirt out and trace both lengths of the skirt and the width of the waist with a felt tip pen.
- 3). Stop at the knee, and then begin to gradually extend the knee line out to make the skirt wider at the knee area. This creates the flared out look. You can create a lot of flare by widening the knee width by two inches on each side or create a little flare by extending the width one inch on each side. If you make a mistake, retrace with a different color of pen.
- 4). Make a second pattern that will serve as the back. Do this exactly like you did in the previous steps. Cut out both pattern pieces, and do a quick tissue fitting. A tissue fitting is done by pinning the pattern pieces to your clothing to determine fitting. If you have created enough flare, you are ready to cut the fabric. Repeat the pattern making directions for additional flare by increasing the width one inch at a time until the desired width is established.
- 5). Unfold the fabric so that it's a single continuous piece. Lay the fabric right side down, so that the wrong side of the fabric is facing up towards you. The wrong side is typically the side that has no design on it. If you are making a long dress, you will need additional fabric. You should not need more than two yards of 45 inch wide fabric regardless of your dress length. If you are making a dress shorter than knee length one yard will do it. If you are making a dress longer than knee length you should purchase two yards of fabric.
- 6). Place the pattern pieces on top of the fabric. Pin the pattern pieces onto the fabric. Cut the fabric out, and unpin the fabric. You should have two fabric pieces. A front skirt piece, and a back skirt piece.The skirt pieces will look the same since it's an A-line skirt pattern, and it does not matter how it is sewn. Match the skirt pieces together, and pin the wrong side of the fabric down the sides.
- 7). Thread the sewing machine. Sew down each side of the skirt using a 5/8-inch seam allowance. Your sewing machine has a seam allowance guide located on the sewing plate. If you do not have a 5/8-inch mark, choose the smallest seam allowance your machine offers. Place the edge of the fabric onto the seam allowance guide and begin sewing. Lock stitch the beginning and end stitches. Fold over the skirt's waist one inch to make a pocket for an elastic waistband. Sew the pocket with a straight stitch leaving a space to insert the elastic.
- 8). Cut enough waistband elastic to fit your waist. Fit the elastic to your waist and cut off where the elastic overlaps. Attach a large safety pin onto one end of the elastic, close the safety pin and insert it through the waistband. Hold onto the other end of the elastic or pin it to the waistband. Guide the safety pin through the waist band until it reaches the other side of the waist band opening. Take the pin off and grasp both ends of the elastic. Sew the ends of the elastic together before sewing closed the waistband.
- 9). Turn the tank top inside out. Pin the shirt's hemline to the skirt's waistband. Sew the waistband and shirt hemline by stretching the waistband while sewing with a zigzag stitch. This will create an elasticized waist. Hem the skirt's hemline 1/2 inch with a straight stitch.
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