Box pleated skirt sewing tutorial
Creating a beautiful pleated skirt has never been easier with this box pleated skirt tutorial! You don’t need a specific pattern, and it’s suitable for sewists of all skill levels. Enjoy a fun and rewarding project that will result in a stunning skirt you’ll love to wear!
Box pleated skirt tutorial
You probably know I love sewing for my little one a lot more than I love sewing for myself! And I felt guilty that lately I’ve focused a little too much on myself. I wanted to make a skirt for her to match my wrapped skirt. But since a wrapped skirt is not quite the proper project for a kid, I thought I should try a box pleated skirt instead and add a little ruffle as a hem to mirror my wrapped skirt.
Other kids projects you might like:
- Easiest pillowcase dress
- Circle skirt with elastic waistband
- Reversible kids apron
- Round crossbody bag
- Reversible skirt tutorial
- Paper bag skirt
- 10 Minutes A line skirt with elastic waist
I think this DIY box pleat skirt was a true success! I love how it turned out, I love how lovely looks on Ellie and most importantly, Ellie loves it too! She feels so comfortable in her box pleated skirt and says she absolutely adores the ruffle addition!
What is a box pleated skirt?
A box pleated skirt is a type of garment that has pleats that are folded in equal widths, creating a structured and full look. The name comes from the way the folds of fabric resemble boxes. This style of skirt is often seen as more formal and sophisticated, making it a popular choice for special occasions or even school uniforms.
What body shape for pleated skirt?
Box pleated skirts are a versatile style that can flatter various body shapes. The structured and full look of the skirt can add volume to a slimmer figure, while the defined waistline created by the pleats can accentuate curves on hourglass figures. For those with broader hips or a pear-shaped body, a box pleated skirt can help balance out proportions.
How much fabric do I need for a box pleated skirt?
The amount of fabric needed for a box pleated skirt can vary depending on the length and fullness of the skirt, as well as your size. Generally, you will need at least 2 yards (1.8 meters) of fabric for an average-sized adult’s skirt. For a child’s skirt, 1 yard (0.9 meters) should be enough.
What is the best fabric for box pleated skirts?
The best fabric for a box pleated skirt is one that has enough weight and structure to hold the pleats, such as cotton, wool, or linen. Lightweight fabrics like chiffon or silk may not work well for this style of skirt as they can create flimsy or limp-looking pleats. However, you can experiment with different fabrics to see which ones work best for the look you want to achieve.
Do pleated skirts lose their pleats?
Pleated skirts can sometimes lose their pleats, depending on the fabric used and how it is cared for. It is important to follow the care instructions on the garment’s label, as some fabrics are more prone to losing their pleats than others. Additionally, avoiding heat and excessive movement while wearing or washing a pleated skirt can help maintain its pleats.
How to wash box pleated skirts?
To properly care for your handmade box pleated skirt and maintain its pleats, it is important to follow some specific care processes. Generally, hand washing or a machine wash using a delicate cycle with lower temperature washes and mild detergent is recommended to keep the structure of the fabric intact.
Be sure to avoid heat when drying, as this can cause the fabric to shrink or lose its pleats.
If ironing is needed, use a low heat setting and avoid pressing directly on the pleats, use a cloth underneath.
How hard is it to sew a pleated skirt?
This adorable box pleated skirt is super easy to make! You may be tempted to suspect box pleats are hard to create and sew but trust me, not much gets easier than these pleats! They are probably the simplest and fastest of the pleats family and because they are so wide, take less time to make.
The only part that you might find a bit tricky about this box pleated skirt is the zipper, you do need a little practice and sewing a couple of zipper projects before is a plus. If you don’t know a thing about zippers, check out these tutorials before working on this project:
- Simple easy way to sew a zipper
- How to sew a zipper on a skirt to look concealed
- How to install an invisible zipper
- Inserting a zipper into a lined skirt
Other than that, this project is so easy peasy! You have just one seam to sew at the back, and you’ll be using a straight stitch for the entire project. There’s also no complicated math, pattern or template involved, you make your skirt based on your own measurements.
This kind of skirts is hard to accommodate a pocket so I wouldn’t recommend adding one, especially if you’re looking for an easy project to make.
You’ll have fun making it and your little one will LOVE wearing this cute skirt! You can even make one for yourself, using the exact same steps but a little more fabric. The easiest fabric to work with is obviously cotton which we used here but knit would look great too.
How to do box pleats skirts?
Materials:
- Cotton fabric for skirt
- Contrast cotton fabric for waistband and ruffled hem
- seam gauge or ruler
- fabric pen
- scissors
- zipper or invisible zipper
- zipper foot
- matching thread
- sewing machine
- pressing iron
- serger
Directions:
Preparing the fabric
- I didn’t manage to make up a formula to calculate how much fabric is needed but noticed that for Ellie’s skirt I used double the measurement for her waist size plus 1″ allowance for the zipper. Each pleat took 6″ (3″ on the inside and 3″ on the outside of the skirt). Her waist is about 24″ and I added 1″ allowance so 25″. I made 8 pleats (8×3″=24″) plus 1″ seam allowance gives us another 25″. Total was 50″. The number of pleats is up to you but keep in mind the width of the pleat will change if you add more pleats. What I did was cut a long strip of fabric with the width matching the desired length. Then I added half the zipper allowance at one end, started to do the box pleats, stopped when I met Ellie’s waist measurement and added the other half of the zipper allowance.
- As for the length, that is up to you. I went with a knee length and subtracted the ruffle hem which is 3″ including allowance.
Making the box pleats
- Grab your seam gauge and starting marking every 1 1/2″, leaving 1/2″ allowance at start and finish to accommodate the zipper.
- Grab the first and third mark and meet them, pushing the second mark inside until it meets the third mark on the back of the fabric. Pin.
- Meet the fourth and sixth mark, pushing the fifth mark inside until it meets the third mark on the back of the fabric. Pin.
- Repeat in the same manner for all pleats.
- Sew the top of the pleats with 1/4″ seam allowance.
- Press just the first couple of inches of the pleats with a pressing iron on steam.
Making the ruffle
- Cut a long strip of contrast fabric, double in length than the hem of the skirt and as wide as you like (I used a 3″ wide strip).
- Make a simple hem of about 1″.
- Ruffle the strip along the opposite side.
- Attach the ruffled strip to the hem of the skirt. Place the skirt right side out and the ruffle wrong side out, raw edges together and sew along the raw edges with 1/4″ allowance.
- Finish the seam with a serger or a zig zag stitch.
- Fold the hem down and press with iron on steam.
Attaching the zipper
- If using a regular zipper, fold the skirt in half width-wise, wrong side out and sew the ends with 1/2″ allowance. This will be the back seam of your skirt.
- Attach the zipper to the back seam. My zipper happened to fall right in the middle of a pleat which I think was wonderful.
Making the waistband
- To make the waistband, cut a strip of fabric with the waist measurement plus 1/2″ allowance for folding the ends in. The strip should be about 4 1/2″ wide.
- Fold the strip in half and press.
- Push the ends in 1/4″ and press.
- Fold each half of the strip in and press.
- Attach the waistband to the skirt by simply sandwiching the top between the waistband and sewing 1/8″ away from the open edge of the waistband.
- Give the skirt a last press and you’re done! Enjoy your box pleated skirt!
I hope you’ve enjoyed making this cute box pleated skirt! As always, feel free to adjust the project to your liking and don’t be afraid to experiment with different fabrics or adding little details. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process of creating something beautiful for yourself or your loved ones. Happy sewing!
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Box pleated skirt sewing tutorial
Materials
- Cotton fabric for skirt
- Contrast cotton fabric for waistband and ruffled hem
- zipper or invisible zipper
- matching thread
Tools
- zipper foot
- scissors
- pressing iron
- serger
Instructions
- For my daughter' skirt I used double her waist measurement plus 1" allowance for the zipper. Each pleat took 6" (3" on the inside and 3" on the outside of the skirt). Her waist is about 24" and I added 1" allowance so 25". I made 8 pleats (8x3"=24") plus 1" seam allowance gives us another 25". Total was 50". What I did was cut a long strip of fabric with the width matching the desired length. Then I added half the zipper allowance at one end, started to do the box pleats, stopped when I met Ellie's waist measurement and added the other half of the zipper allowance.
- As for the length, that is up to you. I went with a knee length and subtracted the ruffle hem which is 3" including allowance.
- Grab your seam gauge and starting marking every 1 1/2", leaving 1/2" allowance at start and finish to accommodate the zipper.
- Grab the first and third mark and meet them, pushing the second mark inside until it meets the third mark on the back of the fabric. Pin.
- Meet the fourth and sixth mark, pushing the fifth mark inside until it meets the third mark on the back of the fabric. Pin.
- Repeat in the same manner for all pleats.
- Sew the top of the pleats with 1/4" seam allowance.
- Press just the first couple of inches of the pleats with a pressing iron on steam.
- Cut a long strip of contrast fabric, double in length than the hem of the skirt and as wide as you like (I used a 3" wide strip).
- Make a simple hem of about 1".
- Gather the strip into a ruffle along the opposite side.
- Attach the ruffled strip to the hem of the skirt. Place the skirt right side out and the ruffle wrong side out, raw edges together and sew along the raw edges with 1/4" allowance.
- Finish the seam with a serger or a zig zag stitch.
- Fold the hem down and press with iron on steam.
- If using a regular zipper, fold the skirt in half width-wise, wrong side out and sew the ends with 1/2" allowance. This will be the back seam of your skirt.
- Attach the zipper to the back seam. My zipper happened to fall right in the middle of a pleat which I think was wonderful.
- To make the waistband, cut a strip of fabric with the waist measurement plus 1/2" allowance for folding the ends in. The strip should be about 4 1/2" wide.
- Fold the strip in half and press.
- Push the ends in 1/4" and press.
- Fold each half of the strip in and press.
- Attach the waistband to the skirt by simply sandwiching the top between the waistband and sewing 1/8" away from the open edge of the waistband.
- Give the skirt a last press and you're done! Enjoy your box pleated skirt!
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ABOUT PETRO
Hi, I’m Petro, author and founder of Easy Peasy Creative Ideas. Sewist, crafter, avid DIY-er, foodie, photographer, homemaker and mommy to one. I’m an expert at coming up with quick, clever sewing tips, recycling crafts and simple, easy recipes! You can find my ideas featured in reputable publications such as Country Living, Good House Keeping, Yahoo News, WikiHow, Shutterfly, Parade, Brit & Co and more. Thanks for stopping by and hope you’ll stay for a while, get to know me better and come back another time. Stick around for real fun projects! Read more…