Make a Rue Skirt
There is no doubt about it, dresses are my favorite thing to wear. They are simultaneously put together and effortless. I mean who doesn’t like an outfit that involves only one article of clothing? The things is, I desperately need separates in my closet.
I have been wanting to make Rue as a skirt for ages, and I am so glad I finally got around to it. This skirt has some serious style, a little bit of drama, and garnered a whole lot of compliments. If Rue is a compliment dress, then it is also a compliment skirt.
Here is the scoop on how I made my Rue into the skirt of my dreams.
You’ll Need:
- The Rue pattern
- Pattern paper
- Fabric
- Interfacing
- 9″ zipper
Prep Skirt
- Determine your size based on the finished measurement cart. Often times you will want a little less ease in the waist of a skirt than in a dress. Aim for somewhere between 1/2″ and 1 1/2″ ease.
- Cut or trace pattern pieces D, E, F, and K. Pattern piece K (pockets) are optional. I chose to make mine with pockets, because pockets!
- Cut fabric, paying attention to the directionality of the fabric. Be sure to reserve a small amount (about 1/4 yard) for your waistband.
- Assemble the front skirt according to the pattern instructions.
- Staystitch the pleats on the back skirt.
- Attach the pockets if pockets are your thing.
Create the Waistband
- Measure the back waist of your Rue skirt. Make a pattern piece that is this width. To determine the height take your desired finished waistband height times two then add 1 1/4″ for seam allowance. For example I wanted a 1″ waist band, so 1 x 2 = 2, 2 + 1 1/4 = 3 1/4″
- Repeat for front skirt.
- Cut 2 back waistbands and one front in both fashion fabric and interfacing.
- Fuse interfacing to the wrong side of the waistband pieces.
- Press the waistband pieces in half long ways.
- With right sides together stitch the waistbands to the corresponding skirt pieces.
- Press seam allowance towards the waistband and grade the seam allowance.
Finishing Your Skirt
- Insert an invisible zipper to the center back of the skirt, butting the top of the zipper coil with pressed crease of the waistband.
- Use a standard zipper foot to sew the center back seam below the invisible zipper.
- With right sides together, sew the skirt front to the skirt back
- Finish the un-stitched portion of the waistband by serging or by pressing the raw edge toward the wrong side of the waistband at 1/2″.
- Stitch in the ditch to secure the finished edge of the waistband to the skirt.
- Hem skirt.
And just like that, you have made a Rue skirt! This number will definitely be popping up in my sewing queue again. It is hard to resist a twirly wardrobe staple like this one.
Comments
Taylor Pruitt
September 27, 2016 #
I can’t wait to make one of these!
Sarah
September 28, 2016 #
This is adorable!
Haley
September 28, 2016 #
Thank you!
Mary Crone
September 28, 2016 #
Did you use a serger when you constructed the Rue Skirt?
Haley
September 28, 2016 #
Hi Mary, I used a serger to finish the seams, but a zigzag stitch would also do the trick!
Cherie
September 28, 2016 #
Amazing! that is really lovely. I love your choice of the fabric with the thin strips.
Ainsley
October 2, 2016 #
Beautiful! I just loves stipes with the Rue Dress and Skirt! Would you mind sharing what fabric you used?
Haley
October 3, 2016 #
Hi Ainsley, It was purchased locally from the bargain bin section of the fabric store. The fabric is a slightly spongey cotton canvas, pretty similar to this Robert Kaufman fabric.