J. Crew City mini in linen - a Tutorial

This tutorial is for a skirt that is currently in J. Crew stores.  It is a lined linen mini with pockets and elastic waist.  My friend and I saw it, both liked it, and the first thing I noticed was how ridiculously simple this $79.50 skirt was!  So, here is how I reproduced it!

I roughly measured a small size, while in the store, (using my iPhone) and it worked out pretty well.

• You will need 1 yd of outer fabric, 5/8 to 3/4 yd of lining fabric, and one package of 1 1/2" elastic.
• The seam allowance used here is 1/2".
• I made a pattern for the skirt piece, 25.5" tall by 23" wide, with a fold line at 18.5" to cut the lining.
• For the pocket pattern I traced a dress pocket, but if you want to try to draw it it is 8.5" tall and 7" wide with the straight part being 5.5" long.

1.  Cut 2 skirt pieces and 2 pocket pieces out of the outer fabric.  Cut 2 lining pieces and 2 pocket pieces out of lining fabric.

2.  With right sides together, sew lining pieces together, along the edges.

3.  With right sides together, pin outer pockets to one of the outer fabric pieces, laying them inside, 7 3/4" from the top edge, on each side.  Sew along the straight edge.  Do the same with the lining pockets and the other outer skirt piece.

4.  Press pocket pieces away from the skirt pieces.

5.  With right sides together, pin the outer skirt pieces together, pockets out, pinning around the pocket edges.  Sew.  *Leave a 1 1/2" opening 1/4" from the top of one edge.

*You may want to finish your edges with a serger or zigzag.

6.  Slide the lining over the outer skirt, wrong sides together.  Match up the seams and pin the lining 5 3/4" from the top edge of the outer fabric.  When pinning lay the pockets and seams towards the front of the skirt, which would look like the outer fabric is on top.  *Make sure the pin heads are away from the top edge.

7.  Press 1/4" around the top edge of the outer fabric, and 3 1/4".  Press folded edge over.

8.  Sew 1/8" from the edge of the 1/4" hem (bottom fold that is touching the lining.)

9.  Sew 1 1/2" from the last stitching, approximately 1 1/8" to 1 3/8" from the top edge; for the elastic.

10.  Cut elastic to fit.  I cut my exact waist measurement, but ended up taking off about 4".

11.  Insert the elastic in through the 1 1/2" hold that you left when sewing up the sides.  Overlap the edges 1/2" and sew elastic together.

12.  Adjust the gathers on the skirt so that the side seams are even when held up.  Stitch in the ditch on both sides of the skirt over the elastic to keep it in place and prevent rolling. Slip stitch the hole in the skirt closed.

13.  Press hem of outer skirt fabric to desired length.  

14.  Press hem of lining at lease 1" shorter than the outer hem and sew.

15.  Slip stitch the outer hem.

16.  Press the whole skirt, specifically pressing the pockets flat, towards the front so that they are virtually invisible.

17.  This is what the inside will look like and the whole skirt!

Just like this one!

J. Crew