https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/diy-pleated-mini-j-crew-factory-dupe • Posted by Alex W.
Why buy the J. Crew Pleated Mini when you can just make your own? With minimal materials, time, and sewing knowledge, make your own skirt that looks just like the original, but perfectly made to your preferences!
Why buy the J. Crew Pleated Mini when you can just make your own? With minimal materials, time, and sewing knowledge, make your own skirt that looks just like the original, but perfectly made to your preferences!
Gather needed materials and make your first fabric cuts. For the length I wanted, I left both pieces at the width they came at and cut the main piece down to 26 inches and the lining piece down to 18 inches.
Pin the lining fabric to the main fabric. I lined them up and pinned those edges together, and then since the main piece is longer than the lining piece, I bunched the main piece up so I could pin the other edges together.
Sew both edges together, essentially creating a long tube of fabric, and then turn it inside-out so the seams are nice and neat on the outside.
Flatten the "tube" and line one seam up so that it comes down 2.5 inches from the edge of the the tube. Place a line of pins along the seam, pinning it to the other side of the tube, and then place another line of pins 1 inch from the edge of the tube. Then, sew along these lines of pins. This creates the waistline of the dress and a casing for the elastic. Don't do anything to the other seam--it will just lay on the inside of the skirt.
Thread the elastic through the casing you just created, and pin it in place so it doesn't slip back inside the casing.
You're in the home stretch! Bring the ends of the tube together, with the elastic at the top. Trim the edges to make your skirt the desired width, and then pin this new edge together. Make sure the skirt is RIGHT SIDE OUT at this point--you'll see why in the next few steps.
With the skirt right-side-out, sew a zigzag seam to keep the fabric from fraying. Make sure you stitch both ends of the elastic to keep it in place!
Finally, turn the skirt inside-out and sew a straight seam, trapping the zigzag stitch inside the seam and just leaving a nice neat straight stitch on the inside of the skirt. Now you're done!
To customize: This is the "pattern" I drew up to make the skirt, basically measuring out where each seam needed to be placed for the skirt to look right. The fabric I bought was wide enough to go around my hips, but if you can't find wide enough fabric, you'll have to get it cut longer and then use the length of the fabric as the width of the skirt, if that makes sense.
Enjoy your new skirt!