DIY tutorial: No pattern, simple summer skirt with pockets

Want to make your own cute and comfy summer skirt without dealing with fussy patterns or zippers? You’re in the right place! This DIY summer skirt with an elastic waistband and in-seam pockets is a breeze to sew, beginner-friendly, and perfect for warm weather. It’s light, breezy, and has pockets – what more could you want?

This easy summer skirt pattern for beginners doesn’t actually use a real pattern – you just take a couple of measurements (your waist and desired skirt length), cut two fabric pieces, and start sewing.

The skirt has a relaxed, flared shape that looks great on everyone and feels super comfy. Plus, those in-seam pockets? Game changers. You’ll want to add them to all your skirts from now on.

I made mine in under an hour – including the time I stopped to take photos for the step-by-step tutorial. So if you’re short on time but want something cute to wear, this project is a winner. It’s a great quick sew for lazy summer afternoons.

DIY flared skirt with elastic waistband and pockets

This skirt is made from just two main fabric pieces – one for the front and one for the back.

The waistband is built right in, so there’s no need to cut or attach extra pieces. There’s a simple fold-over trick that turns the top edge into a casing for the elastic, making the whole thing quicker and easier to put together.

The shape is kind of a trapezoid, but with a straight top edge (like a rectangle) so you can fold it over neatly to make the waistband. The skirt flares gently, giving it a nice drape and movement without being too full or frilly. It’s flattering and totally wearable – perfect for everyday summer outfits.

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What kind of fabric should I use for my summer skirt?

For this handmade skirt with elastic waistband, I used a lightweight cotton fabric – it’s breathable, easy to work with, and comes in endless fun prints.

You can also use linen, viscose, rayon, double gauze, or any other lightweight fabric that has a nice drape. Just make sure it’s not too thick, or the waistband might get bulky.

For the waistband, I used 1/8″ wide elastic, but you can easily size that up if you want a bit more hold or comfort.

So, if you’re looking for an easy sewing project for summer, grab your favorite fabric and get started on this DIY flared skirt with pockets. No pattern, no fuss, just a super cute skirt you’ll want to wear every sunny day!

Sewing supplies – flared skirt with an elastic waistband and pockets 

• free PDF pattern for the in-seam pockets – download below
• cotton/linen/viscose fabric of your choice
• sewing machine
• sewing machine needle 
• matching thread
• sewing pins
• fabric scissors
• 1/4” wide (or 1/8” wide) elastic 

How to sew an easy summer skirt (step-by-step instructions)

Step 1 – Draft your skirt pieces (no pattern needed!)

Let’s start by drafting the pieces for your summer skirt. Don’t worry – there’s no need to print or trace a pattern. We’re just using some simple measurements and a bit of fabric-folding magic. You’ll need two identical skirt pieces: one for the front and one for the back.

First, fold your fabric in half. Now, from the folded edge, measure out half of your waist measurement, minus about 2 inches. This will be the top edge of your skirt piece. Since you’re cutting on the fold, this gives you half of the total width – do this twice and you’ll have the full width for the skirt.

This method creates a nicely flared skirt without too much bulk at the waist. In the end, your skirt will be about 1.7 times your waist measurement, which gives you a flowy, flattering shape without feeling too gathered.

DIY trapezoid skirt – shaping and measurements

Here’s how I shaped my simple elastic waist skirt with pockets. Both the front and back are cut from the same pattern, which makes things super easy.

At the top of the skirt, I measured 12 inches (my waist is about 27.5 inches).

At the bottom of the skirt, I went wider – 19 inches. That’s half my hip measurement plus a couple of inches for extra ease and twirl factor. That makes the bottom about 7 inches wider than the top.

This flare means that when the two pieces are sewn together, the top of the skirt will measure around (2 × waist – 8 inches), and the hem will end up about (2 × hip + 8 inches). That’s just enough fullness to feel comfy and flowy, without being too puffy at the waist.

Want your skirt more flared or less flared? Just adjust how far you angle the bottom edge from the top – totally up to you! Use your tape measure to experiment and draw a slightly curved hemline so it hangs nicely when worn.

Decide your skirt length

Now it’s time to decide how long you want your skirt to be. I went with a midi length, so I measured 27 inches from the top edge, including 1 inch for hemming. You can make yours knee-length, maxi, or anywhere in between. That’s the beauty of a made-to-measure skirt!

Add the waistband directly onto your pieces

No separate waistband needed! Just extend the top of your skirt pieces upward by 3 inches to create a built-in casing for the elastic. This makes your project faster and easier, and it gives the waistband a clean finish. Just fold it over and stitch it down later when you’re assembling the skirt.

Cut out your fabric

Now that you’ve drafted your skirt shape and added the waistband height, go ahead and cut out two identical trapezoid-shaped pieces from your fabric. These will become the front and back of your flared summer skirt.

Step 2 – Let’s prep and attach the pockets

Now it’s time to add the best part—pockets! Seriously, once you learn how to sew in-seam pockets, you’ll want to add them to every skirt and dress you make.

Start by printing and cutting out your pocket pattern. You’ll need four pieces total – two for each side. Make sure you cut two pairs of mirror images, so the pockets curve in the right direction on both sides of the skirt.

Take one of your skirt panels and measure down about 3 inches from the top edge (not including the waistband part – that’ll be folded later). This is where the top of your pocket will go.

Now grab your pocket pieces and pin them, right sides together, to the skirt edges. Line up the straight edge of the pocket with the side edge of the skirt. Do this on both sides, and double-check that they’re sitting at the same height on each panel.

Sew the pocket pieces to the skirt, using a regular straight stitch. Then finish the raw edges with a zigzag stitch or a serger to keep everything neat and fray-free. That’s it – your pockets are in place!

Step 3 – Sew the skirt side seams (with pockets!)

Next up, we’re putting the whole skirt together. Take your front and back skirt panels, place them right sides together, and pin along both side edges—going around the pocket curves as well.

Now sew along each side, following the shape of the pocket. So you’ll start at the top edge, go down to the pocket, around the curve, and then continue down to the hem. This creates fully enclosed, in-seam pockets that are hidden but super functional!

Once both side seams are done, go ahead and zigzag or serge all the raw edges to stop fraying.

While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to finish the top edge of the skirt (the waistband area) with a quick zigzag or serge too. This will make it easier to fold and sew the elastic casing in the next step.

Step 4 – Create the waistband with rows of elastic

Now let’s make that comfy waistband! This skirt uses a clever trick – a built-in waistband with multiple rows of elastic – which makes it stretchy and cute without needing a separate waistband piece.

Start by folding the top of your skirt down 1.5 inches toward the wrong side (the inside of the skirt). Press it flat with an iron to help keep it in place.

First, stitch close to the folded edge, about 1/8″ from the top, all the way around. This row doesn’t need an opening – it’s just to hold the top nice and flat.

Next, you’re going to sew three more horizontal rows to create the elastic channels. Here’s how:

• Sew the second row about 3/8″ below the first.
• The third row goes just 1/8″ under the second.
• Then the fourth row is 3/8″ below the third.

Leave a small opening in each of the two wider channels (the 3/8″ ones), so you can slide the elastic in later. The tiny middle row in between is just for looks – it creates that cute gathered effect you see on ready-to-wear skirts!

Now cut two pieces of 1/8″ wide elastic, each one about 4 inches shorter than your waist measurement (adjust if you want it tighter or looser). Use a safety pin or bodkin to feed the elastic through each casing, then overlap the ends and sew them securely.

Once both pieces of elastic are in place and adjusted, go back and stitch the openings closed.

Boom! You’ve got a comfy, stretchy, professional-looking waistband – no fuss, no separate pattern pieces.

Step 5 – Hem the skirt

Last step – let’s hem this beauty so you can wear it right away!

I went with a simple double-fold hem, which is great for lightweight fabrics. Here’s what to do:

First, stitch 1/4” from the raw edge all around the bottom of your skirt. This gives you a guide and helps keep the fold even.

Fold the fabric up along that stitching line, press it with an iron, and then fold it up again by about 1/2 inch. Press again for a crisp edge.

Finish by edge-stitching the folded edge in place all the way around.

You can also use other finishing methods if you prefer – like a serged and turned hem or a narrow rolled hem, depending on the fabric you’re working with.

And that’s it – your DIY summer skirt with pockets and a comfy elastic waistband is done! Lightweight, flowy, and totally wearable, this is the kind of skirt you’ll want to make again and again.

I don’t know about you, but I need pockets in every skirt – gotta have somewhere to put my hands when I’m standing around, right? Honestly, all skirts should come with pockets by default!

I hope you found this summer skirt tutorial helpful and easy to follow. I’d love to hear what you think – drop a comment and let me know! And if you make one of these skirts, please share a photo – I’d be thrilled to see your version!

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