Gathered Summer Skirt – free skirt pattern

gathered skirt

Well, it took me a while, but it's here at last.  Do you remember I wrote a while back about a skirt I wore during the Cayman Islands' first ever sewing meet-up?  Robin suggested I should sew a skirt like the one I was wearing, and immediately I knew it was a great idea and got to work. Introducing the Gathered Summer Skirt.  Sizing given for sizes 34-52 inch hips, all should fit on less than 1.5 yards of fabric.

gathered skirt

Summer is here at last.  For some of us, it lasts longer than others, but whether it’s a trip to the beach, a picnic, shopping with the girls, or a day sailing, you’ll still need to look cute and summery.

The design for this skirt was copied from a Ready To Wear skirt I already owned and loved.  I think it has the perfect ratio of gathers to length and with the elastic waist, is comfy and casual.

I think you’ll love it too.  Pick your fabric and design carefully and it will become your go-to skirt for summer.

gathered skirt

How to sew a Gathered Skirt for summer

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gathered skirt

This skirt has 3 different tiers, a loose comfy fit, and an elastic waist.  Easy and fun to sew and can be made in any size.  Not just for the grown-ups, but good for teens too.

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Download the Gathered Summer Skirt pattern

You can download the pattern and instructions for the Gathered Summer Skirt from my design account at Payhip.  It's a PDF file containing both instructions and pattern sizing all in the same file.  Enjoy!

Don't go gathering mad!

At last! A quick and easy way to gather long pieces of fabric with out breaking the gathering threads, ever. The secret is in the dental floss!

This skirt has a lot of gathering, over long pieces of fabric so do check out the earlier post about how to gather using dental floss – written totally in response to the trouble I was having with this skirt!  Make your life easy and gather with dental floss and this skirt will go quickly and smoothly and soon be ready to wear.

Enjoy your new skirt!  We would all love to see what you make.  Please do take a couple of photos and attach them in the comments section below so we can all see your work.


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Alicia Key
Alicia Key

I did not see (sometimes I’m blind) the explanation of how you ran the floss the LENGTH of the long piece but yet were able to only pull 1/4 of it at a time….

M wright
M wright
Reply to  Alicia Key

You use a zig zag stitch within the seam allowance, as your machine does the stitching you run the foot over the floss, and the stitching goes over it like a tunnel for elastic. When you reach the end of your fabric, you hold one end of the floss and gather the fabric by tugging on the other end.

Pat
Pat

It would be more than perfect — if you could make it into a skort!

Teresa Hoover
Teresa Hoover
Reply to  Pat

Yes! A skort would be great!!

Sheri
Sheri

Looks like a very cute skirt. Need to get busy and make a few.

Kay
Kay

I feel like I’m losing my mind! I cannot find this pattern!!! 😵‍💫

Wendy H
Wendy H

Wow, brilliant tip about the dental floss. This, I’ll have to try. Want to make this skirt for summer, but think I’ll make it a bit longer, sometimes need warm knees in my chilly British summers. !

Anita Nobles-Dew
Anita Nobles-Dew

love it just what I’ve been looking for!

HelenD123

Such a cute skirt, I love making my own clothes and this looks like one to try. Thanks

Ursula
Ursula

And where is the download link?

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Ursula

See that big orange box which says “Download the Gathered Summer Skirt pattern” and the orange button inside which says “Pattern download”. Click there – that’s the download link. It’s near the bottom of the article underneath the video.

Sewing Machine Hub
Sewing Machine Hub

The pictures have that really good quality and the skirt is just awesome.

Thanks for the video, you rock.

Cheers

LoveSewing

This skirt is beautiful! I am a beginner for sewing. Today I am very lucky that i found this site to spend my time in reading this post. I LOVE this skirt very much so that I want to learn to sew it right now. Thank you for sharing!!

Grandma J

I pinned this for safe keeping before my holidays and it was the first project I completed when I came back. I made it for my youngest daughter and she was thrilled. Thanks for sharing!

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Grandma J

So glad to hear that it came out nicely for you.

Louise Eppel
Louise Eppel

I am happy I found this pattern, I want to make an Amish skirt for my grandaughter, who is 9 yrs old. She is involved in a Festival and wants a long skirt Looks pretty easy…

Denise Rich

Not only do I LOVE this pattern but I LOVE the fabric. Wish it were still available!

ROBIN, HUNTSVILLE TX
ROBIN, HUNTSVILLE TX

That’s interesting. I’ll have to look at brands of floss different from what I buy as mine is a tiny little roll and would not work like yours. Thanks!

Bunny
Bunny

Adorable!

Rosalee
Rosalee

Great pattern! Thanks Deby!

ROBIN, HUNTSVILLE TX
ROBIN, HUNTSVILLE TX

Thank you, Deby, for another great pattern! I’m watching the video and love how you are keeping the layers flat to gather. Also, I’ve never thought to re-use the dental floss. I’ve always cut off what I needed and then thrown it away. Will not do that anymore. I’ve never seen dental floss on the type roll you are using. Did you rewind it onto a different roll? I’m glad the “other Robin” asked about the type of fabric you used too! I will definitely make this pattern and send a pic when done, but it will be a little while yet. I love skirts!

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member

My dental floss comes in a little plastic canister, and you usually pull it out and tear it off, but when I pop open the lid there is a spool inside just like a spool of thread and I can simply rewind it back on again. I’m so tight with money!

smartmomfinance Valerie
smartmomfinance Valerie

Your pictures are great!!! I love that you make and try on your own designs! You inspire me to get better at using my sewing machine!!! I LOVE the wrap dress that you did too!! Awesome website!

ROBIN, HUNTSVILLE TX
ROBIN, HUNTSVILLE TX

I love it!!! I will definitely make this and I’m glad the “other Robin” asked about what type of fabric you used. It will take me a while, but when I finish, I will send a pic. Thank you, once again, for all the great patterns you “give” us!!

Wintersewstice
Wintersewstice

Such a nice look. Very summery and comfortable.

Jane
Jane

Another adorable pattern! Thank you Deby. I love that your clothes are for mature women. It is so hard to find RTW or patterns made for ladies of a certain age. I got fabric for my Two Become One dress this week, cut it out yesterday and am planning on making it today.

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Jane

Great Jane, I hope you like it. Will you share a photo when you are done?

Robin
Robin

What types of fabrics do you recommend for this?

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Robin

Something soft and not too stiff, not quilting type cotton for example. Both of mine were a cotton lawn from here, although the ones I used are sold out now. http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/7948432/type/dlg/https://www.fabric.com/SearchResults2.aspx?Source=Header&SearchText=Cotton+Lawn+&CategoryID=1d5f47dc-9991-4088-93f3-26a376046a5e. You could also use a lightweight knit fabric too. Anything light and soft should do.

Robin
Robin

Thank you!

kungphoo

I can see my wife wearing that skirt.. It is a really nice and summery pattern.

Cherie
Cherie

This skirt is super cute! Between this pattern and the nautical bag, you’re going to keep me busy at my sewing machine! Lol. I love it!