Stretch fabrics make wonderful slim or pencil style skirts, while a woven fabric is great for gathering.
For example, if your hips measure 30 inches (76. 2 cm), add two additional inches and divide by 6. 28 (32 / 6. 28). This will give you a radius of about 5. 1 inches (13. 0 cm). Measure the elastic by adding one inch for a seam allowance to your total hip measurement. If your hips measure in at 30 inches (76. 2 cm), your elastic should be measured and cut to 31 inches (78. 7 cm). Measure the length of the skirt by using a soft measuring tape to find the distance from your hips to your desired end point. Add an extra inch of length for seam allowance.
Try to choose fabric that is large enough to be cut in a single piece. This maxi skirt tutorial uses a single length of fabric, rather than two (or more) smaller pieces sewn together.
Measure your elastic for the waistband by taking one inch off your hip measurement. This will make your elastic just tight enough that it won’t slide off or create an awkwardly loose band. Add one inch of extra fabric to both the length and the width for seam allowances.
