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I made a DIY knit maxi skirt with a front slit, and absolutely love it. The fabric feels luxurious, and the red color is beautiful.
I feel rather dashing in it! It’s such a versatile piece, and I paired it with my striped top for a nautical vibe. So ahoy!
New Look N6709 Knits Pattern
I picked up New Look N6709 sewing pattern a while ago when a Joann store near me closed.
This is a Just for Knits pattern to make a skirt or pants. Both have a tie belt and are pull-on.
The skirt has a yoke waist, princess seams, and flares at the bottom. Let’s not forget the long slit up the front.
Materials
Here are the fabric and notions I used to make this garment. Plus, I’ll add that I made the top too.
Fabric: I got both of my cotton knit fabrics from Joann, and they have elastane.Â
The deep red fabric pops, and the material feels so buttery soft. The blue striped fabric on the top is soft as well, and more stable than the red one.
Suggested fabrics include jersey, cotton lycra blends, stretch velvet, and ITY (interlock twist yarn).
Notions: I used 1-1/2 inch (1.5-inch) knit elastic for the waist, but the directions will tell you to use 1-1/4 inch (1.25-inch) elastic.Â
Sewing the Knit Skirt
Although making this skirt was pretty straightforward, the waistband was tricky. I had to follow the directions.
The skirt itself wasn’t difficult to sew, but the fabric—it has a lot of stretch, and it moved around a lot.Â
The yoke took up most of my time and effort. There is no casing for the elastic waist, so I had to align the elastic at the top of the fold of the yoke and tack it in place.
The slit required a long straight stitch. And if you’ve worked with knit fabric before, you know this takes extra effort.
I made my skirt with the slit on the wrong side? I thought I had followed the directions exactly.
Oh well, it’s supposed to be on the other side. But that doesn’t matter! Ha!
My tie belt looks longer than what is pictured, but sketches don’t always show the actual finished product. Oh well, it still looks cool.Â
Is it just me, or do you mess that up too? I guess don’t pay attention while cutting and notice it later on.
Simplicity S8993 Knits Pattern
I made my top from Simplicity S8993 knit sewing pattern set. You have everything you need to make separates with this one.
It is labeled easy-to-sew and you can make a shirt, cardigan, skirt, and pants. I use this pattern often to make the shirt and pants.
I’ve also used this pattern to make short-sleeve tops by shortening the sleeves. The neckline cuts deep, and I like it.
The skirt is easier to sew than the New Look one. It has pockets and a side slit as well.
Notes
To sew the slit on the skirt, I had to sew a long straight stitch on knit fabric. This could be challenging without a walking foot attachment.
And if you don’t like the long slit, you could make it shorter by decreasing the length.
What about two short slits in the front? That might look cool, and I might try this next time.
When I walk in my skirt, it just flows. The drape is amazing, and I love the way it feels against my skin!
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