To create a Betsy Johnson inspired skirt- you’ll need some black lace and fabric of a dark bold color. First you have to make a pattern, a step by step explanation is already on one of Corinne’s earlier blogs. You’re also going to need a zipper, Corinne uses one that is 36 inches long and comes apart at the bottom, the length of the zipper should determine how long the length of your pattern should be.

 

 

Next select your main material, Corinne uses a wine colored organic bamboo from Mood fabrics. ModGreenPod Fabric and NearSea Naturals are great places to find organic fabrics online. Your fabric will probably have more stretch one way than the other and it’s important for how to lay your pattern. Lay your pattern on the fabric with the stretchy part going side to side and not going up and down.

Pin your pattern down and trace around it with tailor’s chalk. Cut around your pattern leaving an inch for seam allowance and about five inches at the bottom- you’ll see later. Cut out another piece, place and pin right sides together.

 Sew down each side, but be sure not to pull the fabric as you sew. Now chalk a straight line down the middle and cut open.

Take out your material again, fold it over, and place the waist pieces pattern along the fold on the fabric- with the stretchier part, again running side to side. Pin the pattern down, chalk a line along the bottom, and cut, allowing an inch for seam allowance.

 Pin the two layers together right sides out and sew along the chalk line.

 

 

Now take out your lace, place your waist pattern piece on top, pin, and cut out. Pint the lace on top of the other waist piece and sew them together usinf a special lace stitch, if your machine does not have a lace stitch then a zigzag stitch will do. Again, do not stetch the fabric of lace while sewing or the fabric will buckle and warp.

Next pin the waist piece to the body of the skirt, right sides together. With a regular straight stitch, sew them together. Cut off any excess, fold up the waist and sew that flap down.

 

 

 Now you want to sew hems down both sides and along the bottom.

Do a line of ruching down both sides, that’s where the extra inches you left down at the bottom come into play. Now pin one side of the zipper to one side of the opening, attach your zipper foot and sew it one.

 Do the same to the other side and you are done!