Finish Your Skirt or Pant with a Waist Facing

Facings are used in many garments, mostly as a means to neatly finish an edge and/or support a closure (it's where your interfacing is used - hence the word "interfacing"!). Necklines, armholes, and even hems may be faced.

It's not much to look at - and that's the point! - but a waist facing does a bit more than the others. 

Drafting a facing couldn't be easier. 

Trace the waist area (about the top 4 - 6") of the skirt or pant pattern. Use your FINISHED skirt or pant pattern, AFTER you have altered/adjusted/added all styling details. 

Then draw a line about 2" below the waist, following the curve of the waistline. I like a 2" facing, but you can make it a bit more or less. Trace the darts, too. 

Tape the darts closed (don't worry if the lower part of the paper doesn't lay flat, you'll cut that away). 

Then cut along the dashed line and separate the facing - the top 2" is your facing, and it should fit the stitched top edge of your skirt or pant. 

You don't need to put darts in the facing itself - the shape you get with the darts closed ensures that the facing will fit the stitched waistline of your garment. 

Smooth the top and bottom edges as needed, and you have a finished facing!

This will both finish the raw edge at the top of your skirt or pant, and support the weight of the garment to prevent it from pulling down or sagging. 

Be sure to use a good, strong-but-not-stiff interfacing before stitching the facing to the waist!

• Waistbands

• Waist Yokes

• Paperbag Waist

• High or Low Waist

• Waist Facing