The Daylily Skirt free sewing pattern is a gorgeous way to push your summer wardrobe to the max-i. With three gathered tiers, it easily fits into your favorite trend. Play around with color blocking and try some bold solids, or go in the opposite direction with an intricately printed panel. Personally, I opted for one of Mood’s large-scale floral sateens paired with our Apricot Ensemble crop top, but the Daylily Skirt would look equally jawdropping in a crepe or velour as we head toward fall.
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 5 yards Mood Exclusive Paintbrush Lily Stretch Cotton Sateen
- 9″ Invisible Zipper
- 1 pkg Skirt Hook & Eyes
- 2 pkg Wrights White 1/2″ Extra Wide Double Fold Bias Tape
- MDF155 – The Daylily Skirt Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise stated. See chart below for sizing specifications. Note, this specific pattern is available up to a size 30.
First, sew your darts into the front and back upper skirt tiers, like you see below. Press them toward your side seams.
Sew the front and back panels together at one of the sides with a French seam. On the opposite side, insert your invisible zipper and finish the remainder of that side seam with a French seam as well.
If you’re using a fabric that’s more lightweight, you may want to interface your waistband panels here.
Once that’s done, sew two of your panels together at one of the short sides, like you see below. Repeat with the other two waistband panels to created your waistband facing. Attach one layer to the top of your skirt before attaching the facing along the top three edges of the waistband, fabric faces together. Clip your seam allowance, turn right side out, and press. Fold your raw edges inward and slip-stitch the bottom edge closed. Add a skirt hook & eye to complete your waistband.
Sew your middle tier skirt layers together at the shorter side seams using a french seam. Faces together, evenly gather the top edge of your middle tier onto the bottom edge of your upper tier, like you see below. Stay-stitch into place.
Finish the raw edges inside your skirt with a length of bias tape. Repeat the above steps with your lower skirt tier, hem the bottom edge, and your skirt is ready to wear!
Will you be giving the Daylily Skirt a try? Be sure to let me know what fabric types you’re considering in the comments below!
32 comments
I sure love this look
No need for the hook and eye if you wait to put the invisible zipper on after the waist band is attached and place the zipper all the way up. i figured i would put that tidbit here 🙂
But be wary if you have broad hips! I sometimes have to do the opposite — lower the zipper and add a button at the top — because otherwise the zipper opening doesn’t go down far enough to go over my hips and bum.
Love the matching top would love to see it as a free pattern
Hi Janekke – the top is part of our free Apricot pattern! 🙂
Could you use a 100% cotton fabric with this pattern?
Hi Pamela! Yes, that would work well. 🙂
Courtney, This is a really cute summer outfit.
Thanks so much, Cennetta! 🙂
Seus moldes são muito bons.
I am going to make this with the Dark Heathered Gray Cotton-Polyester Velour from Mood. I love velour and can’t wait to make and wear this!
I would be love this pattern.
Hi thanks for this awesome pattern. There are some errors I believe. The bottom tier is labelled the middle tier and the bottom tier should be larger in width than the middle to enable gathering of the bottom tier.
Thank you, Thirushka! We’ve updated the pattern with the correction. 🙂
How tall of a person is this pattern drafted for? I’m 5ft and trying to figure out where and how much length I want to remove
Hi Alana! The fully skirt length is about 44″ from natural waist to floor after seam allowances- 2″ waistband, 9″ top tier, 14″ middle tier, and 19″ lower tier. Since the bottom has so much extra length, I usually hem it up from there when sewing for someone shorter, but you can just as easily take equally from each tier. I hope that helps!:)
I love this skirt!!! any way to get just the measurements for the rectangle layers instead of having to print and tape the pattern?
Love the skirt, however I am 5 2″ and it is way long on me!! I would suggest planning ahead and measuring how long you want the skirt to be and take off the appropriate amount from each layer as I did not and have to take the whole lot from the last layer making it shorter than the middle one! Still love it though!
Hey Courtney, Awesome dress and pattern. Will it be possible to use this pattern and simply add an elastic waistband? Or will I need to make the garment a little bigger so it can be worn with an elastic waistband?
Hi James! You can definitely make this pattern with an elastic waistband. Double your waistband pieces to make a casing, and then cut the elastic 1-2 inches shorter than your waist measurement. If you choose to make it with an elastic waist, the zipper is not necessary. 🙂
Camille, I cannot thank you enough. Cheers to you and Mood!
Can someone explain attaching the waistband? I just can’t understand it!
I’ve been looking for a tiered skirt pattern and I love this one. Would double cotton gauze work with this pattern or does the fabric need stretch?
Hi Amy! Double cotton gauze should work great. 😀
Hi, I’m making this now- but why do I need to cut out three of the bottom tier? Is this an error? Thanks!
Hi Amelia, the bottom tier has 3 panels! I totally understand your hesitation though, as I had the same thought when I made it. The size of the bottom tier panels are made to save fabric so you don’t have to buy more yardage. So with that in mind: You wouldn’t get a nicely gathered tier with 2 panels, and 4 would require a lot more fabric, so 3 is the magic number! It might seem a bit odd that you can’t match the seams when you’re attaching the bottom tier to the middle, but the gathers hide the seams well! Take a look at the Daylily Skirt I made a few months ago and you’ll find the seams aren’t visible! You can totally add an extra panel if you want. That’s the beauty of these free sewing patterns…you can experiment!
I am trying to make this skirt for my best friend although im finding the instructions above very sparse and not detailed enough.
Is there more of a walkthrough tutorial anywhere or more detailed instructions ?
Hi Jennifer, we don’t have any further tutorials for this skirt. But if you have any specific questions I’m happy to help!
Hello Elizabeth! Im having an impossible time attaching the bottom tier. My middle tier seems too big no matter what i do ! Ive tried pleats and gathering and cannot make it work for the life of me
Hi Jennifer! The middle tier is very full. Typically, for a beautiful full gather, you want it to be 2.5x – 3x as long as the piece you are gathering onto. I actually do not recommend the gathering method in this tutorial, as it’s time consuming especially if you’re having to redo it multiple times.
My favorite way to gather is this: Sew one line of basting stitches 1/4″ from the raw edge. Sew another, 1/2″ from the edge. With these two parallel rows of basting stitches, start gathering. We’ve got a great infographic on this method. This helps keep the gathers from looking messy when you’re sewing, plus it’s easier to redistribute the gathers or readjust the length.
If you haven’t tried this method, I think it might solve the problem! Let me know 🙂
The waistband instructions do not work for this curved waistband style. Unlike a straight waistband, it really matters which edges are sewn to the skirt. The inward smaller curve should be the top of the waistband. It would be better to construct the entire waistband except the bottom edge leaving it unsewn until ready to sew to the skirt. If using elastic in the waistband also leave a small opening in one of the side seams.
Hello!
Thank you for your feedback. Most of the instructions on our 350+ patterns, especially these older ones, do reflect their no-cost nature. But we understand your frustration!
Unfortunately we can’t update the instructions on every pattern in our archive, especially if they are over 2 years old, however, if there are errors we will correct them! We encourage you to take a look at the improved in newer patterns, offering more thorough guidance! We appreciate your engagement and invite you to explore these updated options for a better sewing experience!