The Snapdragon Maxi Skirt Redux

Maxi skirts are a warm weather staple, offering coverage, comfort, gorgeous movement, and a cheeky breeze. They will forever be in fashion, and the styles can range from casual Alice + Olivia, to couture Saint Laurent. As maxi skirt season is fast approaching, we realized we had a shocking lack of them on the Sewciety Blog! What better way to remedy the situation than to pick one of our favorite skirts and turn it into a maxi length skirt? We chose our Snapdragon Midi Skirt, which features 4 godets to add volume. Once we turned it into a maxi length, the godets gave the skirt even more volume and movement. If you want a more beginner friendly option, you can omit the godets for a simple button up A-line skirt.

We made the Serissa Top, and omitted the tie feature, opting for a hidden clasp closure instead. Just a heads up though, this top isn’t meant to close at the side seam. If that’s what you’re hoping for, you’ll need to revise the front bust pieces and extend them so they sit at the side seams.

Linen seemed like the obvious choice for this set. It’s got a beautiful drape, it’s breathable, and only gets better with time! I think this would look amazing in a striped linen, for a 1940’s inspired nautical look. Omit the center front opening, add a side zipper, and sew on decorative nautical buttons down the hips!

The following adjustments were made on the Snapdragon Skirt:

• Lengthened the skirt
• Lengthened the godets

The following adjustments were made on the Serissa Top:

• Omitted the tie
• Added pleats to the outer closure
• Added clasps to the inner and outer closures

Take a look at the original instructions for the skirt and the top, before you get started.

How to lengthen the skirt:

1. Determine the length you want your maxi skirt to be, then subtract 2.5” (the finished waistband width and the skirt waist SA).

2. Measure the length of the original skirt, and subtract that from the number in step 1. This is the amount you’ll be adding onto the skirt. I added 11” to the skirt, so that’s the measurement I’ll use in these instructions from here on out.

3. Take a straight ruler and place it at a straight edge of the length of the skirt. Keep the ruler in line with that straight edge. Measure 11” down from the edge of the skirt pattern, and mark it.

4. Move the ruler, keeping its short edge parallel to the edge of the skirt. Make another mark at 11”. Repeat until you get to the other side of the pattern, keeping the short edge of the ruler parallel to the edge of the skirt. The ruler should be fanning out, so to speak. Transfer the fold notches and the godet insertion line. 

5. Repeat with the remaining skirt pieces, and godets. 

6. Sew the skirt as instructed in the original Snapdragon Free Sewing Pattern post.

How to redux the Serissa Top:

1. Cut everything out except for the ties. 

2. Sew front & back and sleeves, and then assemble the two sections as instructed in the original Serissa Top Free Sewing Pattern post.

2. Instead of adding elastic, pleat the ends of the front bodice into 2.5” sections. 

3. Make enough bias binding tape to finish the top and bottom edges.

5. Finish the edges with bias tape.

6. Determine where the ends of the front bodice will sit, and then hand sew on clasps for both the outer and inner front bodice placement.