Pinwheel Skirt

Materials Needed:
• 2 yards of favorite fabric
• 1 yard of solid fabric (lining)
• 7-9 inch invisible zipper
• Thread to match
• Straight pins

Pattern:
* Measurements on pattern for size MEDIUM (34)
** ½ in seam allowance
***Rounded edges of patterned pieces were made using a circle with a
radius of 40 in.

SIZE CHART (in inches)

X-SMALL (30) SMALL (32) LARGE (36 ½) X-LARGE (39 ½)
A: 16 x 5 x 18 ½ A: 17 x 5 x 19 ½ A: 19 ¼ x 6 x 21 A: 20 ¾ x 6 x 22 ½
½
B: 18 ½ x 15 x 29 B: 19 ½ x 16 x 30 B: 21 ½ x 18 x 32 B: 22 ½ x 19 x 34
½
C: 18 ½ x 40 C: 19 ½ x 40 C: 21 ½ x 42 C: 22 ½ x 42

20 ½
in
a

17
in
d b
*NOT TO SCALE Cut 2
18 in B
d 5 ½ in
Cuta4 a
b
A c c
20 ½ in

20 ½
31 in
in
Cut 2
d C b

c
41
in
Directions:
1. After material is cut, tuck and pin BOTH “C” pieces along side “a”
(Once folded, “C . a” should measure the same width as “A . c”). To
make pinwheel folds, begin by folding “C . a” in half width wise with
fabric facing inward. Find center point; mark with straight pin (top left).
Measure 3 in. out from center point along open edge (top center). At 3
in. point, fold both sides of fabric back towards center fold with fabric
facing outward on either side (top right). At this point, you will have
two folds pinched between your fingers and a third fold, the center
fold, adjacent to your fingers. Bring the center fold towards the two
folds pinched between your fingers (bottom left). Lay folds flat against
fabric, with two folds meeting at the straight pin, center point (bottom
center). Pin both folds down (bottom right).

2. Working on one side at a time, start at the center point created by

pinned folds and measure 4 in. out. At 4 in. point, fold fabric back (face
out) 1 ½ in. Fold forward (face in) and pin fold down. Create mirror fold
on opposite side of center point.
3. Final fold! Measure 1 ½ in. out from second fold (not center fold). At 1
½ in. point, fold fabric back (face out) 1 ½ in. Fold forward (face in) and
pin fold down. Create mirror fold on opposite side of other second
point. Approximately 6 in. will remain on either side of final fold. Your
skirt will have 6 visible folds, 6 hidden folds. You may need to adjust
amount of fabric in each fold if using X-SMALL or X-LARGE.
4. Easy from here on out, now that tucking and pinning is done! Run a ¼
in. inseam stitch along the top of BOTH “C . a” sides to hold pinned
folds down. Remove pins.
5. Using ½ in. inseam, sew one “A . c” to one “C . a”, fabric face together.
Repeat with second “C” piece.
6. Using ½ in. inseam, sew one “A . c” to one “B . a”, fabric face together.

Repeat with second “B” piece.

7. At this point, you will have 4 panels; 2 pinwheel skirt panels, 2 lining
panels (lining panels will have a small section of patterned fabric, but
this small section will be on the INSIDE of your skirt).
8. Using ½ in. inseam, sew one “A . B” (lining panel) combination to one
“A . C” (pinwheel skirt panel), fabric face together. Repeat with
remaining pinwheel panel and lining panel.
9. Before sewing the skirt together, insert the zipper. Grab one of your
two panels with fabric panels face together. Have the back of the
pinwheel skirt towards you, with the back of the lining away from you.
Using a seam ripper or sewing scissors, pull out ½ in. of stitches from
right side of the seam you just stitched (the seam holding the lining
and pinwheel panels together).
10. Place the (open) zipper face UP with the teeth facing INWARD and the
edge facing outward along the edge of the lining panel. Adjust so that
the top corner of zipper is aligned with the top corner of lining panel
(start at corner of your patterned fabric that is attached to lining
material). With zipper foot in place, stitch to lining (JUST lining at this
point) using ¼ in. inseam. Sew 7 ½ in. down.
11. Place pinwheel panel on top of zippered lining panel, aligning with the
top right corner of lining panel (from step 9). Put the needle as close to
the zipper teeth as possible (do so by feel; zipper teeth should be
UNDERNEATH pinwheel panel). Sew a stitch as close to the zipper
teeth as possible; this should be about a ½ in. inseam. Sew 7 ½ in.
down.
12. Make a stitch using ½ in. inseam to cover stitches you ripped out with
seam ripper or sewing scissors. This should stitch over top corner of
zipper to close the pinwheel panel and lining panel.
13. Flip right side out so that zippered edge is showing.
14. To sew second panel to second side of zipper, we are going to
somewhat copy steps , 9, 10, 11, & 12 with a couple of changes (read
on):
15. Grab your last panel with fabric panels face together. Have the back of
the lining towards you, with the back of the pinwheel skirt away from
you. Using a seam ripper or sewing scissors, pull out ½ in. of stitches
from right side of the seam you stitched in step 8 (the seam holding
the lining and pinwheel panels together).
16. Place the (open) zipper face DOWN with the teeth facing INWARD and
the edge facing outward along the edge of the pinwheel panel. Adjust
so that the top corner of zipper is aligned with the top corner of
pinwheel panel. With zipper foot in place, stitch to pinwheel (JUST
pinwheel at this point) using ¼ in. inseam. Sew 7 ½ in. down.
17. Place lining panel on top of zippered pinwheel panel, aligning with the
top right corner of pinwheel panel (from step 16). Put the needle as
close to the zipper teeth as possible (do so by feel; zipper teeth should
be UNDERNEATH lining panel). Sew a stitch as close to the zipper teeth
as possible; this should be about a ½ in. inseam. Sew 7 ½ in. down.
18. Make a stitch using ½ in. inseam to cover stitches you ripped out with
seam ripper or sewing scissors. This should stitch over top corner of
zipper to close the lining panel and pinwheel panel.
19. Flip right side out so that both zippered edges are showing.
20. Next, flip fabric inside out and, under the zipper, align the edges of the
lining panels face together. Run a ½ in. inseam IMMEDIATELY under
the zipper down the edges of the lining panels.
21. Repeat step 20 with the pinwheel panels, stitching the pinwheel
panels together face down IMMEDIATELY under the zipper.
22. Almost there! Now, with zipper zipped all the way, face the pinwheel
side of you skirt towards you. Grab the bottom left corner of your
patterned fabric and meet it up to bottom right corner of your
patterned fabric (fabric will be face together). Align the edges of your
fabric for the “final” stitch (not quite final, but once this stitch is laid,
you will be able to try on your skirt!). Match the sides of one side of the
patterned fabric to the opposite side of the pattern fabric. While doing
this, you may notice the lining following in a similar fashion. GOOD.
You want to match the sides of the lining together as well. Before
running that “final” stitch, you will want the sides of the patterned
fabric (which is attached further down to the lining) to match up AS
WELL AS the adjacent lining. Using a ½ in. inseam, run a stitch from
the corner edge of the patterned (pinwheel) fabric down through to the
bottom of the corner edge of the lining.
23. Flip so that lining is on the inside and pinwheel skirt is on the
outside.
24. Try on your skirt! If you measured correctly, it should fit perfectly. If
there is a little extra room, flip back to how skirt was positioned for last
stitch and run another stitch ¼ in. to ½ in. IN from the stitch in step 22
(1/4 in. will take the skirt in ½ in.; ½ in. will take the skirt in 1 in.).
25. Once skirt fits well, press top section with an iron, making sure
outer top section and inner top section match up.
26. To ensure that skirt doesn’t pull inward or outward, run a stitch ON TOP
OF seam separating top section from body of skirt.

27. Press once more.

28. Fold bottom raw edge of pinwheel, patterned part INWARD ¾ in.
around entire skirt. Press with iron to achieve hard, crisp edge.
29. Fold INWARD again, 1 in. around entire skirt. Press with iron to achieve
hard, crisp edge.
30. Using a ¾ in. inseam, stitch down folded edge around entire
skirt.
31. Repeat steps similar to steps 28, 29, & 30 for bottom raw edge of
lining:
32. Fold bottom raw edge of lining OUTWARD (away from center of
skirt, towards pinwheel part) ¼ in. around entire skirt. Press with iron
to achieve hard, crisp edge.
33. Fold OUTWARD again, 3/8 in. around entire skirt. Press with iron
to achieve hard, crisp edge.
34. Using a ¼ in. inseam, stitch down folded edge around entire
skirt.

35. Marvel that you just made a ridiculously adorable Pinwheel Skirt!
You did it!