In the latest update to the Three pleat skirt pattern, the zipper opening has been moved from the side seam to the centre back, and pockets have been added to both side seams. If you have an earlier version of the pattern, you can easily adapt it by following the instructions below.
Adapt the pattern
To make the updated version of the Three pleat skirt with a centre-back zipper and pockets in both side seams, follow these instructions in addition to the original assembly instructions.
- Mark the notches for the pocket openings on both sides of the FRONT and BACK.
- Mark the end of the zipper at the centre back, approximately 17 cm below the upper edge of the BACK.
- Cut one additional set of POCKET pieces.
- Cut two pieces of fusible interfacing for the pocket openings.
- Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the pocket openings on the FRONT.
- Fuse interfacing along the centre back of both BACK pieces, from the waistline downwards.
Assembly
For the pockets, repeat step 3 in the assembly instructions on both sides.
Skip step 4.
In step 5A, replace the instruction with:
Overlock one long side of the WAISTBAND, and the centre back edge of each BACK piece.
When attaching the long, non-overlocked edge of the WAISTBAND to the waist of the skirt, make sure that the centre of the waistband matches the centre front of the skirt.
Replace step 6 with the following:
A. Unfold the WAISTBAND. Match the start of the zipper with the centre line of the WAISTBAND. Place the zipper edge to edge with the centre back of the left BACK (when wearing the skirt), right sides together. Pin the zipper in place. Sew the zipper down to the end of the marking, using your sewing machine’s special presser foot for concealed zippers. As you sew, unfold the zipper teeth so that the seam is hidden underneath the teeth.
B. Pin the zipper to the other side, matching it with the centre back of the right BACK, and sew it in the same way.
C. Place the right sides of the two BACK pieces together at the centre back. Pin and sew with a 1 cm seam allowance. Start from the bottom and sew as close to the zipper seams as possible. If you cannot sew close enough to the zipper, you can finish the last few stitches by hand.
Continue with step 7 and the remaining assembly instructions.
