There are two waistband options on the Cascade skirt – a tie waistband and a button waistband. Today we’ll go over the tie waistband option!
First, we need to staystitch our waistline. Just stitch along the entire waistline, 5/8″ from the raw edge.
Then clip along the waistline seam allowance – snipping as close to the staystitching as you can without cutting through it. This will allow you to lay your skirt flat to attache the waistband.
P.S – Too many clips will weaken the fabric, but too few won’t allow it to conform to the waistband correctly. Clipping 1/2″ to 1″ apart is best.
This waistband method requires 4 waistband pieces. The button/button hole location markings on the pattern are not relevant for this method, and therefore do not need to be transferred onto your pattern pieces.
Take two of the waistband pieces, and align the short edges of your waistband pieces, sew 5/8″ from the raw edges with right sides together.
Repeat with all the waistband pieces until you have one long strip.
Press all the seams open.
Use your Waistband pattern piece to cut one waistband interfacing. Mark the center point.
Now take your long waistband strip and find the center point – which will be the middle of the three seams. This will be the center back of the waistband.
On the wrong side of the fabric, place your waistband interfacing on top of the waistband, so that the center mark of the interfacing lines up with the center back seam of the waistband. Apply the interfacing to the waistband according to the interfacing instructions.
Now take your skirt and lay it down flat with right side of the fabric facing up. As you can see, the clipping in to the staystitching allows the waistband to lay flat. Mark the center back of your skirt.
With right sides of the fabric together, match up the center back of the waistband with the center back marking on the skirt. Pin in place.
Continue pinning the rest of the waistband to the skirt.
Sew 5/8″ from the raw edge, attaching the skirt to the waistband.
Press the seams upward towards the waistband.
Now turn your skirt over so that the right side is facing up.
Temporarily pull that seam allowance down that your pressed upwards.
Fold the waistband in half width ways with right sides together…
Sew along the short edge of the tie, and then along the long edge until you reach the edge of the skirt. Seam allowance is 5/8″. Do not sew onto the skirt yet.
Repeat on the other tie.
Clip the corners of the ties.
Turn the ties the right way round…
… and press.
Once its turned right side out, you can see that the skirt waistband will cover up and enclose the seam allowance, like shown above. That is why its importand to press the seam alloance upwards, and press under the edge of the aistband by 5/8″.
On the right side, topstitch close to the seam edge on the waistband…
So that it catches the fabric of the waistband on the wrong side and encloses everything.
Alternatively, you can either stitch in the ditch, or handstitch it closed from the wrong side.
Measure 8″ in from the skirt edge on the right hand side of the waistband, and draw a vertical button hole marking roughly 3/4″ long.
Sew a buttonhole at that marking.
This will allow you to thread the left waist tie through and make for easier wrapping around and tying in the front.
LOOKING 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 (this post!)
- Sewalong : button waistband
- Hack : straight hem
- Hack : mini ballet skirt
- Hack: ruffle hem
DON’T HAVE THE PATTERN YET?
