Dirndl Skirt Part 2 - Cutting Your Pieces

So you've done all your math and gathered your supplies, now it's time to cut!

Let's get started! I just use my measuring tape to mark out my pieces directly on the fabric but if you feel more comfortable drawing everything out on large pieces of paper (i.e. newspaper) go right ahead! (Of course, now you've just made a pattern.) Here's a visual of what we're trying to achieve:

Sometimes I lay out my measuring tape and make dots along it then cut. Sometimes I just cut alongside the measuring tape. We're only making rectangles after all, let's not make it harder than it has to be. If you're using a fabric with stripes, cutting just got easier. You've got an instant cutting guide that will help ensure perfectly straight lines!

Here's the skirt BACK being measured/cut:

21" x 16.5"

For the two skirt FRONT pieces I cut one 20" x 16.5" piece then cut it in half:

You've already determined the length of your waistband. To get the width decide how wide you want your waistband to be. Then plug it in: ____ x 2 + 1" s.a. = ____. For instance, a 1" wide waistband would come out to 3 inches.

Then cut out your plackets. 3" by the length of your skirt:

3" x 16.5"

Now for the pockets! Spread your hand out wide and flat near the corner of the fabric. Cut out a piece of fabric at least as wide as your hand and a little bit longer. (Remember? Rectangles. It's all about the rectangles.) Use this as a template to cut out three more pieces just like it.

OR fold your fabric so you have four layers and then do your measuring and cutting et voila: one cut, four rectangles. (Mine came out more like squares because I was trying to make use of scraps.)

Now take 2 of those rectangles and make your pocket opening. I like to just make a fist, put it near the corner (on the narrow end of the rectangle) and trace around it. You can make your pocket opening any shape you want. Just make sure it's going to be large enough to fit your hand through later!

 Cut your pocket opening on only these two pieces:

Lay your two skirt FRONT pieces on top of each other WRONG sides together. This is important. You want to make sure your skirt FRONT pieces are mirror images of each other. Put one of the pocket pieces (that has the pocket opening cut out) on top of your skirt FRONT pieces, in the top left corner.

Cut along the pocket opening: 

Now you've got pocket holes!

You should now have something like this:

Next up, sewing it all together a.k.a. The Fun Part!