Elsie Skirt - No Frills Instructions

Below are no-frills. easy instructions for Elsie skirt pattern. These are great for those who do not need detailed instructions with illustrations. When working with these on your phone or tablet, we highly recommend to disable screen timeout on your device so that it does not lock while you are in-between steps. Here is how to do it for apple devices and for android devices. Just make sure to turn it back on once you are done sewing! 

 

 

SEAM ALLOWANCES ARE ½" (1.3 CM) UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

 

1. Prep - All Views 

Optional: Interface the slanted edge of the pocket openings on the side front pieces.

View B: Interface the button plackets of the center front pieces and front waistband pieces. On both center fronts turn the button placket 1¼" (3.2 cm) to the wrong side. Turn another 1¼" (3.2 cm) and press.

All Views: Attach front waistband(s) to the back waistband at the sides. Press seams open.

 

2. Front Pockets - All Views

Right sides together, attach pocket facings to the side fronts. Understitch and press the pocket facing to the wrong side.

Right sides together, attach pocket bags to the pocket facings at the bottom of the pocket. Baste the pockets to the side fronts.

 

3. Front Panel Seams - All Views

 View A: Finish seam allowances of the front panel seams separately. You do not need to finish the seam allowances past the bottom notch.

Attach side fronts to the center front. View A - stop sewing when you get to the bottom notch.

View A: Press seam allowances above the notch to the skirt front and below open.

View B: press the seam allowances onto the center fronts.

 

4. Front Slits - View A

Turn the seam allowances around the slit opening ¼" (0.6 cm) to the wrong side twice. Press. Topstitch.

Place a bartack at the top of the slit opening to reinforce it.

 

5. Back Panels & Side Seams  - All Views

Attach the side back pieces to the center back piece. Press seam allowances onto the sides.

Attach the skirt front to the skirt back at the side seams. Press the seam allowances onto the back.

 

6. Button Placket - View B

At the hem of the skirt fold the button placket at the second pre-pressed line onto the center fronts, right sides together. Make sure to keep the first fold pressed to the wrong side. Sew across the hem using a ½" (1.3 cm) seam allowance. Trim, turn right side out, press and repeat for the other side. Pin the plackets in place.

 

7. Hem - All Views

Fold the hem of the skirt ¼" (0.6 cm) to the wrong side, and again another ¼" (0.6 cm).

View A: Press and topstitch in place. View B: Make sure the hem lies nicely around the button plackets. Press and topstitch button plackets and the hem at the same time.

 

8. Waistband - View A

Attach the waistband to the skirt. Press the waistband and seam allowances up.

Cut the elastic to the desired length. Alternatively, use the elastic requirements chart below:

	0	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16
inches	23.5	24.5	25.5	26.5	27.5	29	30.5	32.5	34.5
centimeters	60	62	65	67	70	74	77	83	88

 

	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34
inches	36.5	38.5	40.5	42.5	44.5	46.5	48.5	50.5	52.5
centimeters	93	98	103	108	113	118	123	128.5	133.5

 

Join the elastic together. Divide the elastic waistband into quarters. Pin the elastic to the right side of the waistband matching quarter marks to center fronts and side seams. Sew in place.

Pull the waistband over an ironing board and press the elastic away from the waistband. Fold the elastic to the wrong side. Fold it to the wrong side again and pin in place.

Stitch-in-the-ditch of the waistband attachment seam to secure the elastic. Sew two lines of topstitching, one ½" (1.3 cm) away from the waistband attachment seam and one ½" (1.3 cm) away from the top of the waistband.

 

9. Waistband - View B

Pre-press one long side of the waistband ½" (1.3 cm) to the wrong side. Attach the other side of the waistband to the skirt. Press.

At one center front, fold the waistband onto itself, right sides together. Slide the folded edge of the waistband slightly past the waistband attachment seam. Sew across the short side of the waistband. Repeat for the other side. Clip corners and turn right side out. Press.

Working from the right side, place pins at the waistband attachment seam catching the folded edge of the waistband underneath. Sew from one of the elastic stitching notches to the other. There will be an opening in the waistband on both sides.

Cut the elastic to the desired length. Alternatively, use the elastic requirements chart below:

	0	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16
inches	14.5	15	15.5	16	16.5	17.3	18	19	20
centimeters	37	38	39	41	42	44	46	48	51

 

	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34
inches	21	22	23	24	25	26	28	28	29
centimeters	53	56	58.5	61	63.5	66	68.5	71	73.5

 

Feed the elastic through one of the openings to the other. Once one end of the elastic is almost fully in, sew a vertical line of stitches at the elastic-attachment-notch to secure the elastic in place

Continue pushing the elastic through until it comes out on the other side. Try the skirt on to determine the suitable length of the elastic. Secure the other end of the elastic with a vertical line of stitches at the other side. Stitch-in-the ditch of the waistband to close the openings used to insert the elastic. Sew two lines of topstitching along the elastic part of the waistband, one ½" (1.3 cm) away from the waistband attachment seam and one ½" (1.3 cm) away from the top.

Work buttonholes onto the right side and sew buttons onto the left side of the skirt button plackets.