I have another fun hack today – a ballet style mini length Cascade skirt! it’s pretty simple, but it does play off the first hack we previously did – the straight hem hack. Since this is a mini skirt, I figured it would be best to have the bottom layer of the wrap to have a little more coverage. So the bottom layer will have the straight hem, but the top layer will have the usual Cascade rounded hem, make sense? So if you haven’t checked out the straight hem hack, make sure you stop there first! Also, I made my version with the tie waistband, but you could make yours with the button waistband if you prefer. I just thought the tie waistband played into the ballet style!
Ok, you ready?
We will be working with the knee length skirt to start. You will need two copies of the skirt front pattern piece, so if you don’t have two copies, go ahead and trace the one to make a second one. One copy you will keep as-is, with the curved hem. The secon copy, you will need to hack into a straight hem using this tutorial.
Next, you need to decide how long you want your mini skirt to be, plus 1/2″ for seam allowance. I went with 15.5″ total (if I’m being honest, I wish i went a little longer. Maybe 16.5″. But for the sake of continuity of this tutorial, we’ll stitck with my 15.5″ measurement).
Starting with the straight hem front pattern piece. Measure your total length (15.5″ for me) along the side seam, starting at the waistline. Mark this length.
I then continued around the skirt, measuring down from the waistline that total length (my 15.5″), until I reached the other side.
Cut off the excess, and set this pattern piece aside.
Now lets move on to the curved front pattern piece. Just like before, measure down your total length (15.5″ for me) along the side seam, starting at the waistline.
Again, continue around the skirt, measuring down the same measurement from the center front. This time, stop part way through, a little before the center front mark.
Here, I measured about 12″ down from the waistline at the curved front. And then connected the curve.
Cut off the excess, and set this pattern piece aside.
Now repeat the same process with the back skirt piece. Measuring down from waistline using the same measurement.
Cut off the excess.
Here are the three pattern pieces you’ll be using (plus the waistband).
When you cut out your fabric, you can cut your front pattern pieces on one layer of fabric. Cut 1 of each. Make sure your fabric is right side up, and cut the curved front with the pattern piece facing up. Cut the straight hem front with the pattern piece facing down. This is important!
That’s it! Sew everything up as instructed. And you have a cute little mini skirt.
OOKING FOR MORE CASCADE POSTS?
- How to Choose Between Cascade and Cascade Curve
- Sewalong : pockets and side seams
- Sewalong : french side seams (optional)
- Sewalong : rolled hem
- Sewalong : bonus hemming method – ban-roll hem
- Sewalong : optional lining
- Sewalong : tie waistband
- Sewalong : button waistband
- Hack : straight hem
- Hack : mini ballet skirt (this post!)
- Hack: ruffle hem
DON’T HAVE THE PATTERN YET?
