How to make a drawstring skirt?

[Selkie]

I'm wanting to try making a skirt to go with my garb for next year and I'd prefer it to have drawstring waistband with no pleats or anything else. I take it that would make it a gathered skirt? Anyway, I'd like to know how to make one without a pattern. What measurements to take, how to do the waistband, the whole shebang. Is it fairly simple to do this type of skirt?

[Mairghread]

The easiest way to make a drawstring skirt is to measure the following:
waist to where you want the skirt to stop + 5 inches
widest part of your hips + 5 inches

The smallest circumference you want around the bottom is 100 inches, otherwise it will be hard to walk in if it is ankle length or longer.   Once you have decided on a circumference, then divide it by 4.  Divide the measurement around the widest part of your hips + 5 inches by 4 too, this is the top of your skirt.  Cut 4 wedge shaped panels that are the length+5 inches long, 1/4 the measurement of you hips +5 at the top and 1/4 the desired diameter at the bottom.  Sew the panels together to make a circle.  Fold the top of the skirt over 1 inch and iron the fold.  Fold the skirt top an additional 1 and 1/2 inch down, iron the fold.  Then use the button hole function on your sewing machine to make a hole for the drawstring to go in (either on what will be the inside or the outside of the waistband as desired).  Sew down the skirt along the bottom of the folded edge at the top.  Insert ribbon or cord as a drawstring using a big safety pin or something else to help with threading the string through.  Put on the skirt and have someone help you pin up the hem.   Take it off and iron the fold.  Fold in 1/2 inch of the remaining fabric under and iron the fold (you may need to trim some fabric off to make the hem neat and not too wide).  Sew around the hem at the upper folded edge.  Finish the ends of the drawstrings with knots or aiglets to keep them from unraveling.

[Selkie]

I don't have a sewing machine. I will most likely be doing this by hand. Would an awl work to make the holes for the drawstring work?

[Pascal]

You could punch a hole in the casing for your drawstring with an awl -- the significant thing about the buttonhole is that it finishes the edges of the hole so it won't tear or unravel.  If you punch a hole with an awl (or just cut a hole with a sharp knife or razor), you'll have to hand-stitch around the edges of the hole to finish it.

[Selkie]

Thank you! Wish me luck!

[gem]

I don't know why you'd need to make a hole... I just finish off the edges of the casing and leave a gap unsewn at the seam.

[Dayna]

I agree!  since I'm short, I take 45" wide fabric, cut it as wide as I want the bottom to be, serge and sew it into a tube.  Fold the selvedge over to make the casing, sew it almost all the way around making sure that the seam of the tube is centered in the back.  Fold up the bottom selvedge for the him.  Run the drawstring or elastic through the casing and you're done.  Admittedly, this can make for a very bulky waist area, however since I have a natural bumroll anyway, it actually makes my butt look more proportional.

Dayna