Make a Traitors-inspired tartan skirt

Channel your inner Traitor with a skirt that wouldn’t look out of place in the dramatic halls of the castle. Inspired by the rich tartans, heritage checks and effortlessly polished style seen onThe Traitors, this self-draft skirt by Ruth Brown is made for bringing a little of that moody countryside glamour into your everyday wardrobe. Choose a bold tartan for maximum impact, or keep it subtle with a classic check – either way, you’ll be ready to make a stylish entrance… just try not to look too suspicious.

You will need

• 2-3 metres of 140cm wide fabric
• 5cm wide elastic the length of the waist minus 2.5cm
• Matching thread
• Basic sewing kit

Materials used

• Tartan fabric from Anbo.co.uk

Suggested fabrics

• Light to medium weight woven fabrics, such as cotton, linen or ramie.

Notes

• Seam allowance: 1.5cm.
• Hem allowance: 2.5cm.
• WOF – Width of Fabric.
• For larger sizes, or for more gathering at the waist, cut Skirt Front and Back in two pieces. Ideally a width of somewhere between 1.5 – 2 times the waist measurement.
  

Drafting the skirt

Step 1

To draft the Waistband, select your largest measurement, waist or hip. Add 12cm for seam allowance and ease. Divide by two and mark this across the fabric at right angles to the fold. Measure down 12cm. Cut one.

Step 2

Using the whole WOF, mark desired skirt length on fold. Cut two on fold – one for Skirt Front and one for Skirt Back.

Step 3

To create Pockets, trace side seam and upper edge of skirt. Mark across 5cm and down 5cm, then use hand as a guide to create the rounded pocket shape. Cut four.

Making the skirt

Step 1

Stitch short ends of Waistband right sides (RS) together. Leave a 2.5cm gap on one half of the Waistband (this will be the waistband facing), backstitching either side to secure.

Step 2

Press Waistband wrong sides (WS) together lengthwise. Fold at seam and notch the centre front. Fold again to align centre back and centre front and notch the sides.

Step 3

Aligning side seams and upper edges, stitch pockets RS together to Skirt Front and Back with a 0.5cm seam allowance. Press seam allowances to pockets and understitch.

Step 4

Stitch Skirt Front to Back RS together at side seams, stitching around the pockets.

Step 5

To finish Pockets, stitch 5cm from the top down the side seam and backstitch to secure. Then stitch 2.5cm up from lower edge of pocket opening backstitching to secure.

Step 6

Finish raw edges together.

Step 7

Press pockets to front and baste upper edges to skirt waist. Align side seams and notch centre front and back of skirt waist.

Step 8

Run two rows of gathering stitch along waist edge within seam allowance.

Step 9

Match notches and side seams, pin and stitch Waistband to waist of skirt

Step 10

Press up 1.5cm on inside Waistband. Pin so raw gathered edges of skirt and waistband seam are enclosed within. Stitch in the ditch on the outside of the skirt waistband seam to secure.

Step 11

Attach one end of elastic to a safety pin and thread through the gap in the inside waistband. Ensure the elastic is flat throughout, overlap ends by 1.5cm and stitch together. 

Step 12

Once elastic is inside the channel, topstitch the opening closed.

Step 13

Turn under 1cm at the hem and press. Turn 1.5cm again to enclose raw edges. Topstitch in place.