45" wide fabric - 36" finished skirt, for up to 38" hips

CUT PANELS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE FABRIC-LEAVE FOLDED LIKE IT COMES FROM THE FABRIC STORE-(AFTER YOU WASH AND DRY IT FIRST)

One panel = number of " wide X width of fabric. Example-12"X45"

1st Tier - 90" X 12" = 2 panels 24"

2nd Tier - 180" X 12" = 4 panels 48"

3rd Tier - 360" X 15" = 8 panels 120"

TOTAL FABRIC 192" = 5 1/2 YARDS

60" wide fabric - 36" finished skirt

1st Tier - 90" X 12" = 1.5 panels 24" (with 1/2 panel left over)cut 2nd panel in half

2nd Tier - 180" X 12" = 3 panels 36"

3rd Tier - 360" X 15" = 6 panels 90"

TOTAL FABRIC 150" = 4 1/2 YARDS

  1.. On the first tier, sew two panels together at sides, making one long panel 90" long.

  2.. For second tier, sew panels together at sides, making one long panel 180" long. Just below edge of top of tier, run a basting seam (longest stitch, no backstitching) between each seam. If you run one long continuous seam the whole length, it will be more difficult to gather evenly.

  3.. With right sides together, pin top tier to second pinning the side edges together first (this pinning is just a guide to help you fit tiers evenly. You will remove pins at the sides after pinning tiers together). Then pin evenly using your seams as guides. Gather evenly to fit, pin and sew.

  4.. For third tier, sew panels together at sides, making one long panel 360" long. Repeat steps 2 and 3.

  5.. With right sides together, pin sides and sew down the length of skirt.

  6.. To make waistband, first turn under 1/4" and zigzag.

  7.. Turn under 2" to make casing for elastic and straight stitch on top of zigzagging (this will make a finished edge inside your skirt.

  8.. Measure elastic to fit you, insert. Before you finish elastic, try on skirt to make sure elastic is fairly snug. Your skirt will be heavy and you don't want it to slip down while you're dancing. Pin or finish elastic.

  9.. For hem, turn under 1/4" and zigzag. Turn under again 1/4" and straight stitch on top of zigzag. VOILA! You have a tier skirt!

For a longer skirt, add the inches to the first and second panels evenly. For hips over 38", add another panel to the first tier, two more to the second and 4 more to the third. Depending on the width, just add these inches to your total fabric purchase, i.e. a 36" (length) skirt would add 12", 24", and 60" = 2.67 yards added to your fabric purchase.