Hello there Sewing In No Man’s Land friends! I am Kirstin, half of the sister team that blogs over at kojodesigns, and I am thrilled to be here today for Kelly’s Twelve Skirts of Christmas series. I love Christmas, and I love skirts, and I ADORE Kelly, so this series is right up my alley.
This little polka dotted skirt for Piper Jane is a project that turned out even better than I thought it would. That never happens to me. Seriously. Never.
To make one of these little darlings for your darlin, you’ll need:
-fabric (amount depends on the size of skirt you make… I used about half a yard and Piper Jane 15 months old)
-elastic (to match your waist measurement)
-sewing machine and supplies
1. Measure your recipient’s waist. Piper Jane is 16 months old and her waist was 16″. Also measure how long you want the skirt to be (8″ for me). Double the waist measurement to determine your fabric width. Add two inches to determine your fabric height. My final dimensions were 32″ x 10″ for my main fabric rectangle. Your second rectangle will be 40″x8″ (add a little to that width if you’re making a much larger skirt- it’ll be your tie). Cut out your rectangles.
2. Get out your iron! Press the top and bottom edge of the main rectangle (the ‘skirt’ portion, not the tie portion). The bottom edge needs to be rolled 1/4″, pressed in place, and the folded and pressed another 1/2″-1″ (depending on how chunky you like your hem). The top edge needs to be folded down 1″ and pressed in place (I pinking sheared my top edge, but this seam will be covered by the tie, so that’s optional).
3. Press your ‘tie’ rectangle in half. Then, press each side in half again. Also, on each end, press the corners into an angled point. All raw edges should be covered or pressed in and this point.
4. Fold your main rectangle in half, right sides facing in. Sew up the edge (unfold your pressed down top and bottom edge and sew). Finish off edge with a serger, zig zag stitch, or pinking shears.
5. Making an elastic casing on the top edge by sewing the pressed down edge in place, leaving a 1″ opening for the elastic.
6. Pull the elastic through the elastic casing. Sew the two edges together, pull back up into the elastic casing, and finish off the opening.
7. Hem the skirt by sewing the pressed-in-place bottom edge down.
8. To create the waistband, fold your ironed waistband in half. Measure the waistband to match the waist size, starting at the fold (not at the pointy ends). Add an inch to your waist measurement (for me, 16″ + 1″ = 17″). Divide in half (since your waistband is folded), measure, and cut of the remaining excess. You should now have two ‘ties’ with ironed points and one long, ironed piece. Unfold completely (there are several creases because of the iron in half, then iron in half again directions in #3). Match the right sides together, making a tube and pin in place.
9. This is hard to explain, but it isn’t difficult (and hopefully the pictures help). First, sew the open edge of the ‘ties’ closed (including the points). Then, pin the ties facing inward, matching up with the second ‘fold’ of the unfolded waistband (the top and the bottom of the ties should line up with creases). After you pin in place, turn rightside in to make sure that the waist band looks right.
The finished product should look like this:
10. If your pinning is correct, sew up the edge, securing the ties in place and making your waistband tube.
11. Pin the bottom edge of the halved-and-pressed “tie” into the inside of the skirt. Sew in place.
This is what the inside of the skirt looks like at this point.
12. Fold down the front of the waistband, pin in place, and secure the waistband with a line of stitching.
13. DONE! Tie the knot (it looks equally cute in front or on the side), pair with tights and your Smooch is ready to take on the town in her skirt.
ps- In the off chance that this skirt still fits this summer, the chunky hem can easily be let out to add a little length.
ppss- I am looking for a name for this little skirt. Any suggestions???
7 comments