Cut or tear a 6½-inch strip from one side of your skirt fabric. Measure in from the selvage edge. Use this for the skirt band and pockets. There will be some left over. Tear off the selvage edge from the large piece. [Illustration: Skirt pattern] 6½″ SELVAGE BAND POCKET POCKET CUT OR TEAR SELVAGE You may have to cut the band from the end of your fabric instead of the side if you are tall and need the extra length. The above method of cutting gives you one seam on the placket side. Sometimes the design in the fabric will be more attractive if the skirt is cut in several lengths. When this is necessary, you will have three or four seams in your skirt. This may make a difference in the amount of fabric you will need, so decide how you will cut your skirt before buying your fabric. Make your skirt Pin the short edges together to make the side seam. Make the seam 1¼ inches wide. It is to be used for the placket. When finished, the placket will be on the left side. Stitch the side seam. Stitch the seam from the bottom up. At a point 5 inches from the top, turn and stitch half way across the seam. Turn both edges of the seam toward the front section and press. [Illustration: Stitched seam] Trim the seams. Start at the bottom of the wide seam and trim it to ⅝ inch wide up to the placket. Do not trim above this point. [Illustration: Trimmed seam] Finish the placket 1. Baste and stitch a ½-inch hem on the back edge of the placket. [Illustration: Hem on placket] 2. Fold the front edge of the placket even with seam line. Press. Now fold again to make a complete hem. Baste. [Illustration: Pinned placket] Pin placket together. Stitch from the top to the bottom of the placket, turn and stitch across the end of first stitching. Pull threads through and tie ends. This is a strong, easy-to-make placket. [Illustration: Stitched placket] Hem the skirt Skirts look best with hand-stitched hems. Make the hem before placing the band on the skirt. Unless you have poor posture, it will hang even. Decide how long you would like your finished skirt to be. Be careful not to make it too short. Measure from the top edge to the length you would like the skirt to be and press in the hem. Turn the top edge of the hem under ½ inch. Your skirt will be prettier if you make a wide hem—3 inches or wider. When the hem has been carefully pressed, stitch ⅛ inch from the fold of the top edge of the hem, to keep the fold in place. Pin hem in place. Ask your leader to show you a hand hemming stitch. Place gathering threads at top of skirt Make a long stitch on your machine. Use size 50 top thread and heavy duty for bobbin thread. Using the guide on your machine, stitch around the top of your skirt ¼ inch from the edge. Make two more rows ¼ inch apart. You are now ready to make your skirt band.