Pretty DIY Skirts for Summer
Updated on July 21, 2017
The moment the summer sun comes out and the temperature rises just enough, we’re the kind of summertime worshippers who ditch long pants for the foreseeable future and live the next three months of our lives in skirts and shorts exclusively. There’s just something so freeing about finally being able to show our legs and enjoy a fresh breeze on our skin after so many months of chilly winter weather! We certainly own some store bought summer clothing that we enjoy digging out each year but, as usual, making our own warm weather garments is always out preference, especially when it comes to skirts! There are just so many awesome designs and fabrics you can use to make yourself interesting summer skirt styles, even if you’re only just learning how to sew. The more skirts you make yourself or your friends and family, the more skills you’ll learn and the more options you’ll have for each of those warm, breezy summer days.
Check out these fantastic DIY summer skirt ideas that will keep you cool and stylish all summer long and, for the most part, are a lot easier to make than you think!
1. Murphy’s layered skirt
No matter how old we get, we will always be in love with layered ruffle skirts. We wore them when we were little and now we dressed our kids in them, but we still love making them for ourselves too. Besides being a completely adorable look, they’re also a great way to play with colours and patterns and to break into your scrap fabric stash to use up pieces that you love the look of but that are too small to be used for other projects. Find out how this adorable skirt was made on Ruffles & Stuff.
2. Favourite Frills skirt
Maybe you have a few formal events or special occasions planned this summer that you’re hoping to create your very own outfit for? That’s always an exciting feeling! When we make ourselves summer outfits for events that we know we want to look a little more dressy during, we often lean towards ruffles and waving trims because we like how they move in a summer breeze. Clearly you’ll need a ruffle that’s a little bit different in nature than the ones we showed you above, so take a look at this DIY skirt design from Your Style Rocks! We love the look of a vertical ruffle rather than a horizontal one, and using a lighter fabric just adds to the appeal.
3. DIY pinwheel skirt
If you’ve never worn or made a pinwheel skirt before, you are in for a treat! The way the fabric down the front puckers and layers is not only fun to create and also fun to look at, but it’s enjoyable to wear because it moves so prettily as you move around and go about your day. Elle Apparel shows you a style that’s trimmed in a lovely, delicate white and hangs in a way that’s nearly old fashioned but in a modern enough style to look vintage chic.
4. Lace for Days skirt
Perhaps you really like the layered look of the first skirt we showed you but you’d rather something a little more feminine and classic than bright colours and patterns gathered in huge ruffles because you have some fancy places to be this summer? In that case, try layering delicate tiers of cream or white lace instead! We adore the way this lace skirt, which is constructed to be quite fitted rather than big and poofy, flatters the physique and creates a lot of visual texture. See the whole idea in more detail on Leanne Barlow.
5. XOX skirt
Is your personal style a little bit more Bohemian chic inspired and you’re looking for simple designs that will let you wear your favourite pieces with ease? Then this slip on skirt that’s sewn in pieces and easy to wear will be your best friend this summer! WK Designer shows you how to make another styled of tiered skirt with a light ruffle at the seam, which is a useful and fun technique to learn and one that you’ll find surprisingly useful. We love the way this skirt gets wider towards the bottom for maximum comfort and swing.
6. Bright lined lace mini skirt
Were you quite fond of the lace mini skirt idea we showed you above but you can’t but wish that it had just a little bit of colour for added personality? As people with bright, fun sense of style, we totally understand that! That’s why we were so happy when we found this similar but alternative skirt tutorial from A Pair and A Spare. It walks you through the process of making a lovely lace skirt that has a beautiful coral underlay, allowing the bright colour to peek through the whole in the lace for stunning contrast. You could create this look in any colour you please and it will be equally gorgeous, so pick your favourite!
7. The Gilded Skirt
Have you ever seen those fabrics that are embroidered with pretty metallic thread for a sort of shimmery finish that’s just a little bit eye catching without being distracting? They’re a lot of fun to work with and we find them very useful for skirts that are more on the business casual side of fashion. Many of these fabrics are a bit thicker, however, so the challenge is finding a style that sits well enough to really show off the details. We absolutely love this smoothly pleated skirt from Elle Apparel, right down to the stylish place it sits on the waist.
8. Hemless A-line skirt
Have you been browsing this list and thinking about how you’d prefer a little bit more length to what most of these tutorials are showing you? We can’t blame you; we feel so pretty and whimsical when we wear a longer skirt! If you’re looking for something with a lot of movement, here’s an awesome hem-less design from One Avian Daemon that sits at an A-line angle, giving you a bit of cute extra style along with your increased length.
9. Fancy circle skirt
Whether you’re making a casual circle skirt out of cotton or knitted stretch fabric or a more formal one from high quality material with lots of structure, you’re in for some fun both creating it and wearing it! The beauty of a circle skirt is that the material gathers in at the top and widens towards the bottom, giving you natural waving pleats that look great whether you’re dress the overall look up or down. Get this look (or adapt it easily to a more casual style) on Bust!
10. High-waisted sash skirt
Have you quite enjoyed some of the higher waisted skirt styles we’ve shown you so far, but you just wish they had some kind of embellishment or detail at the waist to really tie the look together? Well, you could always add a belt, but sometimes that draws too much focus away from the skirt itself or interrupts your colour scheme. Instead, try making this skirt from This Big Oak Tree! They guide you through the process of adding a sash shaped like a bow, which is both pretty in detail and flattering in the way it fits.
11. DIY long tulle skirt
When you were younger, did you love wearing fun tutu skirts to dance class so much that you kept them on for as long as possible and played dress up in them at home as well? In that case, you’re going to love this beautifully long tutu skirt design from Cotton and Curls! It’s whimsical looking such that it can be styled in several different ways depending on how you accessorize it and it’s also a lot easier to make than you might think. That’s always a bonus detail, if you ask us!
12. Stretchy pencil skirt
Pencil skirts that hug your curves from mid-waist to knees are a classic design. They’re flattering for all kinds of body types and can be dressed up or down depending on how casual or formal you need them to be for any given look. Sometimes, however, store bought pencil skirts are made from materials that don’t give you a lot of room for movement, so they’re not the most comfortable option to wear for long periods of time. that’s why we love this tutorial from Cotton and Curls! They teach you how to make a version from comfortable stretch fabric so the skirt is easier to get on and off, but it’s still the same timeless style you love.
Do you know someone who loves to make their own clothing and tries to make a few new pieces each season but has been having trouble finding DIY skirts they really like this year? Share this post with them to help them out!