Labs Tutorial: How to Make a Yoked Skirt

Here is a simple method for creating a yoked skirt. First, make a pattern for the yoke. This pattern should be based on the measurements of the person who will be wearing the skirt. This yoke has a subtle v shape. Take your waist measurement and divide it in half and then add 5/8" for the seam allowance. For example, if your measurement is 31", divide that in half (15.5") and add 5/8" (16 1/8"). Use this measurement to create your yoke pattern, which should look like this:



Place this pattern piece on the fabric. The fabric should be folded and the center front of the pattern should be placed on the fold. Pin to secure.



Cut carefully around your pattern piece. Take out pins. Place on folded fabric and cut the same piece again. Now you have the two pieces necessary to make your yoke: the yoke and the yoke facing.



Pin the yoke pieces right sides together and sew across the top.



Flip your yoke pieces so they are wrong sides together. Press along seam to ensure they are flat.

Next, cut your skirt piece. Since this is a gathered skirt the measurements don't have to be exact. I used a piece that was 19" x 50". The 50" will be gathered and pinned to the yoke so that the finished skirt will be 19" long and 31" around the waist.



To add gathers, baste the skirt piece across the top 5/8" from the edge. You can either do this by hand or on your machine using a long stitch length. Then, pull the basting thread until the skirt gathers to your liking.



Next, pin the bottom edge of the yoke and the top edge of the skirt right sides together.



Stitch with your machine.



Your skirt should now look like this:



To finish, add a zipper closure and hem around the bottom. I will be doing follow up tutorials on how to do these things, but for now have fun making yokes!