Last week you saw how I made a lace halter top for dance practice. This week, continuing the practice wear theme, I’ll be making this cute ruched skirt that is built into my flare pants!
The built-in skirt is comfy and doesn’t shift or fall, and these yoga pants with a skirt are perfect for dance lessons or even daily wear. Let’s get started!
Click here to learn how to make the lace pants I’m wearing!
To make these DIY yoga pants with a skirt, you need:
About 1/2m (1/2yd) of stretch fabric – Make sure it’s nice and stretchy.
The pants you want to attach your skirt to
Matching color thread
How to Make Built-in Ruched Skirt (Yaga Pants with Skirt)
Pattern Making & Cutting Fabric
First, take these 2 measurements on your body:
- Belt line – this is where the waistband of your pants would sit. Measure the circumference.
- Hip line – this is the largest part of your hips. Again, measure the circumference.
Then take your fabric, and check to see which direction it stretches. If your fabric is 4-way stretch, meaning it stretches in all 4 directions, that’s great, but there should be a direction that’s stretchier. Make a mental note of that.
Next, fold the fabric in half right sides together, and make sure the direction of stretch is perpendicular to the fold.
And fold in half again, and make sure it’s nice and smooth.
At the top of the fabric, draw a horizontal line. And from the fold, measure your belt line divided by 1.2 and by 4 plus 2cm (3/4in) and mark it on the line.
Back on the fold, measure 1cm (3/8in) from the first line, and draw another horizontal line. Measure the same distance as above and mark it on the line.
Next, from this line, measure 10cm (4in) and draw a horizontal line. Mark your hip measurement divided by 4 plus 2cm (3/4in) and mark it on the line.
From this line, measure 30cm (12in) and mark the same measurement as above.
Now connect all the marks on the lines. And smooth out this top area so there’s no sharp corner.
Cut along the outline, and you have 2 identical panels.
From the leftover fabric, cut 2 long strips that are 4cm (1 1/2in) wide and about 1m (39in) long.
And that’s it! Let’s start sewing.
Sew your Built-in Ruched Skirt
Take each of your skirt panels, and fold 1cm (3/8in) from the bottom edge towards the wrong side. Do a zigzag stitch to keep the folds in place.
Then place the panel’s right sides together. Do a narrow zigzag stitch with a 2cm (3/4in) seam allowance alongside seams
Then at each seam, fold the seam allowance flat like this, and do a narrow zigzag stitch right next to the raw edges. This creates channels for the ties.
Next, take your long strips, and fold each one in half right sides together. And do a narrow zigzag stitch with a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance.
Trim the seam allowance down to about half, and turn each one right side out. I’m using a small safety pin here to do this. Simply attach the safety pin to one end, and guide it through the tube.
Place the safety pin at the end of the tie, and from the bottom end at the side seam, thread it through one of the channels. And take it through the other channel.
And tie the ends into knots.
Repeat on the other side, and even out the ties.
And the ruched skirt is ready! You can just finish up the top edge and wear it as it is, but here I’m going to attach this skirt to my flare pants.
Attach the Skirt to Pants
So remove the waistband of your flare pants or if you’re making a pair from scratch, don’t attach the waistband.
On your skirt, at the top edge, find the center points in the front and back. Mark them with pins.
And place it inside the pants, so the right side of the skirt is facing the wrong side of the pants.
Match up the center front and back, and side seams, and the rest.
And do a regular zigzag stitch with a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance all around the waistband area. If the lengths of the layers don’t match exactly, gently pull the layers as you sew to align the edges.
Bring the skirt out, scrunch the sides of the skirt, and your flare pants with built-in skirt are complete!
I love this ruched skirt, and the ties are cute. And it’s really liberating when I don’t have to worry about my skirt shifting or falling as I move around. Now I have a great pair of pants for dance lessons, yoga, or festivals!
And if you’re curious about the flare pants I used here, you can now make them for yourself too!
Next Friday, I’m launching a brand new course where you can learn to make these fun flare pants! You can custom make these pants to YOUR unique measurements, so they’ll fit perfectly around the waist and hips, and you’ll never trip over the pants.
You get lots of design variations too, so if you’re curious, go over to SparklyBelly.com/pants and check out the design options and sign up to be invited to the course launch sale next week!
Click here to see all the pants design options!
Hope you liked this yoga pants with skirt tutorial, and if you did, please share this tutorial with your dancer friends!
Thanks for reading, and keep sparkling!
P.S. Pin this image on your practice outfit board! 🙂
Like what you read? Want to make more costuming bits yourself?
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