Tie Wrap Skirt with High-Low Hem | Simplicity S8950

I made a DIY tie wrap skirt in midi length with a high-low hem. I have so much fun wearing it, especially walking around!

Although I’ve made many skirts, this one was a little more complicated. It still has its casual vibe, and I made my usual elastic waistband hack.

And I’ll tell you all about the pattern, materials used, my process, and share photos!

Simplicity S8950 Skirt Pattern

I’ve had Simplicity S8958 for a while, and it sat around on my to-do list before I even made a mockup. 

I mainly chose this pattern because the skirt looked cute on the model, and it was casual. I pictured myself wearing it with sneakers or sandals.

It’s a wrap skirt with yoke variations. You can make it with a tie front, like I did, or with buttons.

There’s a midi and maxi length, with a high-low skirt variation. There are darts in the back yoke, and no pockets.

I wouldn’t call this skirt easy to make, and I’ll touch on that. Someone who’s at least an intermediate level could tackle this pattern.

Materials

Here are the things I used for this project. I have many light to medium-weight fabrics already, so that wasn’t a problem. 

Fabric

You’ll want to choose a woven fabric with structure or drape. I used a pink flower print in cotton from Joann. 

I made a mockup with an old bedsheet, and it was good enough for a draft.

For the yoke lining, I used a premium muslin because I wanted to make the whole skirt cotton. It has a nice feel and is not too stiff.

Suggested fabrics include cotton types, flannel, double gauze, gingham, linen types, poplin, seersucker, silky types, and voile.

Notions

I used four 1/4-inch (0.25-inch) snaps with the tie, but the pattern calls for fewer. For the yoke, you’ll need four 5/8-inch (0.625-inch) buttons. 

I also used 1-1/4 inch (1.25-inch) wide knit elastic for the back waist. This is a notion I added because I did a waistband hack.

Needle

I used a size 80/12 universal needle for this fabric, which was heavier than shirting.

Thread

For my sewing machine, I used matching Gutermann universal thread made of 100% polyester.

For the serging, I used Maxi-Lock spun thread that’s also made of polyester.

Sewing My Tie Wrap Skirt

Making this skirt wasn’t all easy and straightforward as I thought it’d be. I followed the directions, and there were tricky parts.

Prepping

The first thing I did was make a mockup. As I mentioned, it was out of old bedding because I just wanted to use it up.

This would give me an idea about the fit. When I first made the mockup, I didn’t make the tie front correctly.

For some reason, I thought it was an easy closure. But this one loops around the back and around the waist on the inside. I wondered why the tie was so long.

This made it a bit confusing when I tried it on. And then I wasn’t sure I liked the fit of the yoke. The seam line dragged across my butt, which I was unsure if it was flattering.

But I thought that it’d probably look better in the real fabric in the high-low variation. So, I decided to sew that one.

Construction 

Like I mentioned before, the tie front made this skirt more complicated. I’m so used to ties that are basically extensions of the waistband.

And although I could have made the button front version, I preferred the tie. My second time making this went much better.

I think I switched the sides the first time I made it. When I make mockups, sometimes I don’t follow the directions step-by-step. 

And that’s where I went wrong. My final version came out much better, and I made the little belt loops to hold the ties in place.

I lined the yoke, which is part of the design. However, I didn’t slip stitch it into place. 

I started doing this, but it was too much for me to hand-sew, so I machine-sewed it instead. No one really sees the inside of my clothes except for me.

Then I also decided to make a lining for the rest of the skirt. I thought it’d be nicer.

Lining a wrap skirt is tricky because you’ll have to tuck the lining into the front seam allowance of the overlap so it won’t show. So, I did that, and it turned out just fine.

When I finished, I changed my mind and took out the skirt lining. I kept the yoke lining because that’s needed.

The skirt just didn’t have the feel I liked, plus you can’t see through the fabric anyway.

Sewing the high-low version is a little different than making a skirt that’s more straight across. It’s just more rounded in the back, so you’ll want a narrow hem so it’s easy to sew.

Adjustments

I did my elastic waistband adjustment on this skirt. The yoke had darts in the back, which contour the back hips and waist. 

I didn’t like the feel of this waist on me. I’m used to thicker waistbands, as opposed to yokes. 

So, I removed the darts on the skirt and lining and made a casing in the back. This was pretty easy because all I had to do was sew a line between the side seams. 

However, I’d say it was complicated too because there’s that tie belt. It goes through a hole in the skirt waist at the side seam. 

So I had to sew the back elastic waistband just short of the seams so it wouldn’t interfere with the tie belt opening.

I like the width of the casing, but I could have used narrower elastic to match the belt loops. Oh well, maybe next time.

Finishing Details

Instead of using the 1 or 2 snaps in the directions, I added 4 to the front yoke. This felt necessary.

They were placed in the corners where the skirt closes in front. I also put snaps where the skirt overlaps on the inside to keep that fabric in place.

Without them, this skirt just flies open when walking or sitting. I understand it wraps across, but I didn’t want the yoke opening up.

Notes

This project reminded me of an important tip for making clothes. I always read over the pattern before sewing, but I only glossed over this one.

I’ve made so many clothes, I think I already know how they’re constructed. But I still shouldn’t assume they’re all made the same way.

And while I assumed this was an easy tie front, it wasn’t. That’s one thing to be aware of.

I could have hacked it to make it the way I liked, but I wanted to follow through with this design, except for the elasticated back.

It’s not easy to get this tie around the waist on the inside.

Otherwise, I like the fit around the waist. Don’t be afraid to add elastic to make it more comfy.

Overall

I do like how my skirt came out despite all the issues. The midi length with the high-low hem is cute.

Plus, the waistband is nice and comfy to wear when out and about. I don’t know if I’ll make this version again, but I still like the look.

Read More

• The knit top I’m wearing is a basic t-shirt that was easy to make.

• I made a linen wrap skirt by upcycling old pants and hacking the back waistband.

• An easier one to make is my flowy tiered skirt, which is so comfy and perfect for summer. 

Originally published: July 11, 2025