This skirt can be worn two ways; as a maxi ruffle hem skirt, or as a knee-length dress. Here’s my sewing pattern and overview of how to make this cute convertible clothing.
The pattern
Here’s the pattern I drew up to make my two-way convertible skirt/dress. It’ll be a maxi (or midi) length skirt, or a knee-length tube dress.
My fabric was 150cm wide, so naturally I made this skirt pattern at this width. But if I had fabric that was 120cm wide and I wanted to reduce the overall length needed, I’d adjust and make this as a 75→60cm top tier width and 112→90cm bottom tier width. Waistband width would then be reduced to 150→120cm.
How to make it
Cut the fabric
Use a ruler and fabric marker to cut the fabric according to the pattern; they’re all rectangles so no physical pattern needed.
Gather the ruffle tier
Gather the top of the bottom tier so the width matches the top tier of the skirt.
I used my BabyLock overlocker with a differential feed of 2; this setting happened to gather this fabric at x1.5 with no need to adjust by pulling on the needle threads.
Sew the skirt panels
Serge the gathered edge of the bottom tier with the top tier of the skirt, inside out (along the red clips).
Flip the seam upwards and sew along it to neaten and secure it.
Add front pockets
Sew the two pockets on the skirt’s front panel. See how to sew front pockets.
Sew the front and back together
Serge together the two vertical sides of the skirt, inside out.
Add elastic casing
Make and sew the waistband on. See how to sew waistbands with elastic casings. Insert 2 pieces of thin elastic, leaving the middle casing empty.
Finish the hem
Try it on to finalise the length, and hem the bottom of the skirt. I decided to finish the hem with a narrow overlock stitch.
Complete!
It’s an elegant long skirt when worn from the waist, or a cute knee-length dress that can be accessorised with with a belt.
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