Skirt No. 1 by My Favourite Things: The Complete Sewing Guide You’ll Want to Bookmark

There is something quietly thrilling about finding a sewing pattern that just works — one that fits beautifully, sews up without drama, and produces a garment you actually reach for again and again. Skirt No. 1 by My Favourite Things Dressmaking is exactly that kind of pattern. Whether you are a confident beginner who has mastered a few basics or an experienced sewist looking for a reliable everyday make, this skirt pattern has earned its devoted following for very good reasons.

In this guide, we are going to walk through everything you need to know about Skirt No. 1: what makes it special, who it suits, how to choose your fabric, how to prepare and cut your pattern, and how to get the best results when you sew it up. By the end, you will have all the information you need to cut into your fabric with confidence.

What Is the Skirt No. 1 Pattern by My Favourite Things?

My Favourite Things Dressmaking is an independent pattern company with a strong following in the home sewing community. Their patterns are known for a relaxed, contemporary aesthetic — clothes that feel modern and wearable without being overly trendy, the kind of wardrobe staples that you will still love wearing in five years’ time.

Skirt No. 1 fits perfectly into that philosophy. It is a pull-on skirt with an elasticated waistband, a relaxed silhouette, and clean, uncluttered lines. The design is deliberately simple, but that simplicity is its strength. There are no invisible zips to wrestle with, no complicated waistband interfacing, no fiddly fastenings. What you get instead is a skirt that goes together relatively quickly and finishes looking polished and intentional.

The pattern typically comes in a generous size range, and like many independent patterns, it is drafted with ease and comfort in mind rather than the more restrictive sizing conventions of commercial pattern companies. It is the kind of skirt that feels good to wear all day, moves well, and looks equally at home dressed up with a silk blouse and mules or kept casual with a tucked-in linen tee and sandals.

Why Sewists Love This Pattern

Before diving into the practical details, it is worth understanding why Skirt No. 1 has become such a popular make in the home sewing community.

First, there is the versatility. Because the design is so clean, it works in an enormous range of fabrics and prints. Sewists have made versions in broderie anglaise, Liberty lawn, Japanese cotton prints, linen blends, deadstock denim, corduroy, and everything in between. Each fabric completely transforms the look of the finished skirt, which means you can make it multiple times without ever feeling like you are repeating yourself.

Second, there is the fit. Pull-on waistbands with elastic can sometimes feel like a compromise — comfortable, yes, but perhaps not quite as flattering as a tailored waistband. Skirt No. 1 manages to sidestep that problem. The waistband is well designed, sitting at a flattering height and keeping its shape through the day without rolling or twisting. Many sewists report that it fits beautifully straight out of the envelope with minimal adjustment, which is genuinely rare.

Third, there is the construction experience itself. Sewing Skirt No. 1 is enjoyable. The instructions are clear, the steps are logical, and there are no moments where you are staring at the pattern pieces wondering what on earth you are supposed to do next. For sewists who have had frustrating experiences with poorly written instructions, this clarity is a genuine pleasure.

Finally, there is the community. Search the hashtag for this pattern on Instagram or scroll through any of the major home sewing forums and you will find dozens of inspiring makes. Seeing so many different interpretations of the same pattern — different fabrics, different styling, different bodies — is a wonderful reminder of what home sewing can be.

Choosing Your Fabric

Fabric choice will make a significant difference to how your finished Skirt No. 1 looks and feels. The pattern is versatile enough to work with a wide range of materials, but there are some things worth considering before you head to the fabric shop or start browsing online.

Woven fabrics are the natural home of this pattern. Lightweight to medium-weight wovens work particularly well. Think cotton lawn, voile, poplin, chambray, linen, linen-cotton blends, and lightweight denim. These fabrics have enough body to hold the skirt’s shape without being so stiff that they lose the relaxed, easy quality that makes the design so appealing.

Print fabrics are a wonderful choice here. Because the skirt has such a simple silhouette, a bold or beautiful print gets to take centre stage without competing with complicated seaming or design details. Floral prints, abstract patterns, stripes, and checks all work brilliantly. If you are using a directional print or a large-scale repeat, just check that you have accounted for any pattern matching before you cut.

Solid fabrics and textures are equally effective. A beautifully textured linen in a soft natural tone feels understated and elegant. Corduroy in an autumnal shade makes a cosy cold-weather version. Deadstock or vintage fabrics with interesting surface texture — a subtle jacquard, a washed silk, a cotton seersucker — all produce something that feels genuinely special.

Fabric weight matters more than fibre content. Very lightweight fabrics like silk charmeuse or fine georgette may need lining to avoid being see-through, and they can be trickier to cut and handle. Very heavy fabrics like thick upholstery-weight canvas or heavy wool coating will make the waistband stiff and difficult to work with. For most sewists, especially those making this pattern for the first time, a medium-weight cotton or linen blend is the sweet spot.

For fabric quantity, always refer to the cutting guide in the pattern itself, as the yardage will vary depending on your size and the width of your chosen fabric. It is generally a good idea to buy a little extra than the minimum recommended, especially if you are working with a print that requires matching or a fabric that you feel uncertain about cutting into. Better to have a small offcut left over than to run out partway through.

Preparing Your Pattern and Fabric

Good preparation is the foundation of a successful sewing project, and Skirt No. 1 is no exception.

Pre-washing your fabric is an important first step that is easy to skip and easy to regret. Most natural fibre fabrics — cotton, linen, and blends thereof — will shrink when they are first washed. If you skip this step and make up your skirt first, you may find that your carefully sewn hem ends up several centimetres shorter than you intended after the first wash. Wash and dry your fabric the way you intend to care for the finished garment, press it well, and then cut.

Printing or tracing your pattern pieces comes next. Most independent patterns are now supplied as PDF files that you print at home and tape together, though some companies also offer A0 print shop files for those who prefer not to spend time with a craft knife and sticky tape. Whichever format you are using, check that your test square prints at the correct size before you print all the pages, and take the time to assemble and cut out the pattern pieces neatly.

Sizing is worth taking time over. My Favourite Things patterns use a size range based on body measurements, so compare your actual measurements to the size chart in the pattern rather than defaulting to whatever size you usually wear in ready-to-wear clothing. For a skirt with an elasticated waist, the hip measurement is usually the most critical. If you are between sizes at the hip, cut the larger size — it is easier to take in a waistband than to let one out.

Cutting your fabric accurately sets the stage for everything that follows. Press your fabric well before cutting, use sharp scissors or a rotary cutter, and take care to align pattern pieces correctly with the grain line. Rushing through the cutting stage is one of the most common ways that sewists introduce small errors that compound as the garment is sewn together.

Sewing Skirt No. 1: A Step-by-Step Overview

The construction sequence for Skirt No. 1 is logical and satisfying to work through. While you should always follow the specific instructions included with your pattern, here is a general overview of what the process typically looks like and some tips for getting the best results at each stage.

Sewing the skirt panels together is usually the first step. Pin the seams carefully, checking that any pattern elements in your fabric align the way you want them to. Sew with a consistent seam allowance, press your seams open or to one side as instructed, and finish the raw edges with a serger or a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying. Pressing as you go makes an enormous difference to the final result — it is the step that separates handmade-looking results from genuinely polished ones.

Constructing and attaching the waistband is often the step that new sewists approach with the most trepidation, but the elasticated waistband on Skirt No. 1 is designed to be manageable. The key to a waistband that lies flat and looks neat is, again, careful pressing. Press the waistband at each stage of its construction, and take your time when attaching it to the skirt body. Rushing this step is the most common cause of a waistband that twists or sits unevenly.

Choosing the right elastic is also worth a moment’s thought. The pattern will specify a width, and it is worth following that recommendation rather than substituting whatever elastic you happen to have in your stash. Different widths behave differently in a waistband, and using the specified width will give you the best chance of achieving the look shown in the pattern photos. A quality elastic that holds its stretch over time is worth the extra few pence per metre.

Finishing the hem is the final step, and it is often where the quality of the finished garment is either made or lost. Take the time to measure and press a consistent hem allowance all the way around the skirt before you sew. A hem gauge is a very useful tool here. Whether you are sewing a single-fold hem, a double-fold hem, or using a blind hem stitch, the key is even pressing and careful stitching. For many woven fabrics, a double-fold hem sewn on the machine looks clean and durable. For sheerer or more delicate fabrics, a narrowly rolled hem may be more appropriate.

Styling Your Skirt No. 1

One of the real pleasures of making your own clothes is being able to style them exactly as you like, and Skirt No. 1 gives you enormous scope to do this.

For a relaxed everyday look, pair the skirt with a simple fitted or slightly oversized top tucked in at the front. A striped Breton top, a washed linen shirt with the hem left out, or a fitted ribbed knit all work beautifully. Low-heeled sandals or trainers keep things casual and comfortable.

For a more polished look, the skirt elevates surprisingly easily. A silk or satin camisole tucked in and finished with simple gold jewellery creates something that could easily work for a summer lunch or an evening out. Block-heeled mules or simple leather sandals complete the picture.

In cooler weather, the skirt works well layered over opaque tights with ankle boots and a chunky knit or longline cardigan. A corduroy or heavier cotton version lends itself particularly well to this kind of transitional dressing.

Tips for Making Skirt No. 1 Your Own

The simplicity of Skirt No. 1 makes it an ideal base for personalisation. Here are a few ideas that work particularly well.

Adding a lining is one of the most useful modifications you can make. A simple lining in a lightweight fabric like cotton batiste or a polyester lining fabric will add body to lightweight fabrics, prevent any see-through issues, and make the skirt more comfortable to wear in warm weather by reducing fabric sticking to skin. Attaching the lining at the waistband seam and leaving it to hang freely inside the skirt is the simplest approach.

Lengthening or shortening the skirt is easy on a pattern with this construction. Adding length at the hem is as simple as cutting the pattern piece longer before you cut your fabric, or just leaving a larger seam allowance when you cut and adding it back before hemming.

Using contrast fabrics for the waistband or adding a contrast trim at the hem are both ways to add visual interest without complicating the sewing. A waistband cut in a contrast colour or print can look striking against a plain skirt body.

Common Questions About Skirt No. 1

Is this pattern suitable for beginners? Skirt No. 1 is generally considered suitable for confident beginners — sewists who have a basic understanding of using a sewing machine, following a pattern, and sewing simple seams, but who may not yet have tackled more complex construction techniques like invisible zips or tailored waistbands. The elasticated waistband removes one of the trickiest elements of skirt construction.

How long does it take to sew? Most sewists with moderate experience find that Skirt No. 1 can be completed in a single relaxed afternoon or across two shorter sewing sessions. If you are relatively new to garment sewing, allow a little more time, particularly for the waistband construction.

Can it be made with knit fabrics? Skirt No. 1 is drafted for woven fabrics. While it is technically possible to use a stable knit with this pattern, the fit and drape will behave differently than intended, and you may find that other patterns drafted specifically for knits give you better results.

Where to Buy Skirt No. 1

Skirt No. 1 is available directly from the My Favourite Things Dressmaking website. Purchasing directly from the designer is always the best option for independent pattern companies — it supports the people behind the work and ensures you are getting the most up-to-date version of the pattern files. The pattern is available as an instant PDF download, so you can start printing and tracing as soon as your purchase is complete.

Final Thoughts

Skirt No. 1 by My Favourite Things Dressmaking is one of those patterns that belongs in every sewist’s collection. It is well designed, thoughtfully drafted, and genuinely enjoyable to sew. It produces a garment that feels contemporary and wearable, adapts to an almost limitless range of fabrics, and can be styled in dozens of different ways. Whether this is your first skirt or your fiftieth, it is the kind of make that reminds you why you started sewing in the first place — because making something beautiful and wearing it is one of life’s quiet pleasures.

Cut it in a Liberty print for a summer wedding. Cut it in washed linen for the weekends. Cut it in corduroy for autumn. Make it once and you will almost certainly make it again.