Gathered Bubble Skirt
A women's denim mini skirt in a bubble shape: the front and back are gathered at both the upper and lower edges, set into a shaped hip band at the top and a hem band at the bottom. Fly-front zip at the centre front.
When To Wear
- In spring and summer with T-shirts, shirts and fitted knit tops.
- In autumn with tights and boots.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Bubble shape, full through the hips and drawn in at the hem.
Length: Mini, well above the knee.
Waist: Sits below the natural waist. Instead of a waistband, the top edge is a shaped band made of interfaced outer facings and inner facings, stitched together along the upper edge; the skirt gathers are set into it.
Closure: Zip in a centre front fly with a fly shield, finished with a curved line of topstitching on the right front.
Front: Two front pieces with a centre front seam, gathered at the top and bottom.
Back: One piece, gathered at the top and bottom.
Skirt: The lower edge is gathered evenly into a double hem band, which is topstitched on the right side.
Finishing: Decorative topstitching along the side seams, the facings, the centre front seam and the hem.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. A fly-front zip with a fly shield, gathering into a faced hip band and into a hem band, and denim-style topstitching.
Fabric Recommendations
Denim and other jeans fabrics.
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing (front and back facings)
- Zip
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Front – 2 pieces
- Back – 1 piece
- Bottom trim strip – 2 pieces
- Back facing – 2 pieces
- Front facing – 4 pieces
- Fly shield – 1 piece
- Fly – 1 piece
- From fusible interfacing:
- Back facing – 1 piece
- Front facing – 2 pieces
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse the back and front facings with fusible interfacing.
- Along the upper and lower edges of the back, stitch with loosened upper thread to create gathers. Attach the facing to the upper edge of the back.
- Along the upper and lower edges of the front, stitch with loosened upper thread to create gathers. Attach the facing to the upper edge of the front.
- Stitch the side seams of the skirt. Overlock and press towards the back. Stitch the side seams of the inner facings. Overlock the lower edge.
- Attach the fly to the right side of the front. Overlock the center edge of the front and the fly. Stitch the center seam of the front up to the notch for the zipper.
- Press the attached fly to the wrong side. Attach the zipper under the edge of the seam allowance for the closure, close to the edge. Attach the free zipper tape to the right half, to the fly, without catching the fabric of the front half. Fold the fly shield in half lengthwise and stitch the short lower and upper edges. Turn the fly shield right side out, press, and overlock the straight vertical edges together. Topstitch the closure allowance onto the zipper and fly shield on the left half of the skirt.
- Trim the right front of the facing to the width of the fly. Overlock the outer edge of the fused front and back facing. Stitch the upper edge of the front and back skirt facing with the fused facing. Fold under the center edge of the facing and topstitch a rounded decorative stitch on the right side of the front, catching the fly and the folded center edge (right side) of the facing, and fold under the center edge (left side) of the waistband and topstitch it into the fly shield attachment seam.
- Stitch decorative topstitches along the side seams, facings, and the center edge of the front panels.
- Stitch the edge of the bottom trim strip. Fold the trim strip pieces right sides together and stitch. Turn right side out and press. Overlock the inner edge of the trim strip. Attach the trim strip to the bottom of the skirt, distributing the gathers evenly. Secure the inner trim strip with a decorative topstitch on the right side. Topstitch along the bottom of the skirt.
