How to Sew a Victorian Style Skirt

In this technique, we are going to use the gathered skirt pattern which I have simplified and written down. This pattern requires that you have basic knowledge of measurement, creating two-sided, or lined, pieces, and know how to use the buttonhole foot on your sewing machine.

The Basic Skirt. This skirt must necessarily be a very wide skirt, so that when you do the gathering behind you, it does not pull even a little bit tight around your legs. You will make a solid waistband (with a buckle if you need extra room to get it on) and six wedge-shaped panels for the skirt. Make sure that each panel is wide, and widens very quickly. Remember, you will need lots of room to pull most of it back behind you.

The Sash. If you made the waistband double-sided, you will be making the sash the same way. Either way, the sash should, indeed, be double-sided, at least two inches wide and long enough to tie a large bow and have three feet of streamers. Your sash will take up quite a bit of material, so if you happen to not have enough of the original skirt material, consider making the sash out of a different color. After you've sewn it up, iron it flat to the very edges so that it hangs well.

The Gathering. Again, your skirt should be wide enough to accommodate quite a bit of gathering behind you. Put your skirt on, and make sure that if three panels are all pulled behind you, that you still have enough room for movement in your skirt. Add triangular-shaped-wedges in between the panels if there is a problem. Measure where the skirt hits the largest point on your bottom. That will be the top of the buttonholes. Create six, very long buttonholes, two per panel, in three adjoining panels. Cut them out, and thread the sash through. If they are not long enough to allow the sash to thread through them flat, make them longer from the lower end of the buttonholes. Thread the sash through, and pull it even on either end. Now pull the gathers tight and tie the sash in a bow.