It's an uncomfortable summertime moment that many small business owners face: A female staffer shows up for work in the shortest of shorts. Or a male staffer arrives wearing a tank top. And they work in full view of customers or clients.

Dress code problems aren't confined to the summer months. But they do tend to be more frequent than in colder months when everyone is covering up. Employers who don't like a lot of skin showing need to create a dress code, and do it now.

Chances are, most of your staffers do have a sense of how they should dress for work. But having a dress code will help you avoid problems or to resolve them easily.

From the top of the panel (one of the short ends) draw lines from the corners going away from the rectangle.  If you want a lot of flare, draw the lines so that the bottom of the lines end up quite a ways from the bottom corners of the rectangle; if you want the skirt straighter, the lines should end up close to the bottom corners of the rectangle.  Then, slightly curve the lines towards the inside for a more gentle flare.  Connect the two flare lines with a slightly curved line at the bottom.  Cut your panel pattern piece out and fold in half lengthwise to make sure it is symmetrical.  Adjust if necessary.  Does that make sense?  Email me ( sarah@flameinthedarkness.com ) if you have any questions.

Step 3: Sew the Skirt

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