Sewing a Skirt with the Tibetan Waistband
This type of waistband is an alternative to an elastic waistband or drawstring waist. I've called it a Tibetan waistband because of it's similarity to the side pleats or folds on a traditional garment from Tibet called a "chupa".
This waistband can be applied to any skirt with a waist opening at least 8 inches greater than the final waist dimensions.
The required materials are:
- A skirt pattern and fabric (the skirt in the instructions is from Simplicity 2946)
- A package of double fold extra wide bias tape, or you can make your own from self fabric
- Two 1/2" buttons (with holes, not with a shank) OR two skirt/pants hooks and eyes.
- Thread
- Optional: two sets of sew-on snaps
 Step 1: Make up your skirt, sewing all the side seams / vertical seams. Remember that you need at least 8 inches extra around the waistband, if not more. |
 Step 2: Staystitch the waist less than 1/2" from the edge. Gently push the fabric into the foot and feed dogs so it is slightly gathered rather than stretched. |
 Example of staystitching. |
 Step 3: Attach the extra wide double-fold bias tape to the waist edge. One side of the fold is slightly longer than the other; make sure the longer side is underneath. Then slip the fabric in the fold and stitch close to the edge. |
 Example of bias tape attached. |
 Step 4: When you all the way around the waist, cut off the bias tape, leaving enough to fold under itself. Then backstitch to secure your stitches, pivot the needle, and stitch up along the folded edge to secure it. |
 Step 5: Fold the skirt at the side seams, and put in a buttonhole across the fold. You can use a thread handle (the green thread) to manipulate the fabric while you're sewing the buttonhole. |
 Example of the buttonhole (hopeful yours is more straight than this one!) |
 Step 6: Decide how deep you need the side folds/pleats to be, and sew the button at the appropriate place. Repeat the buttonhole and button for the other side seam. Position the buttons so the pleats fold towards the back. |
 Step 7: Put on your skirt, and button the buttons. If the inside part of the fold won't stay put, use the sew-on snaps to keep it in place. |
Copyright 2004-2005. Some rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted, all content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons License. See About SavvySeams for more information or contact info@savvyseams.com.
All of the patterns and information at SavvySeams.com are "use at your own risk". No guarantees are made and SavvySeams assumes no responsibility or liability for use of our patterns.
If you are unsure of a pattern or technique test it first on muslin or scrap fabric.
Remember: never sew over pins!
RSS 2.0 Feed SITEMAP Validate HTML