This skirt is a great beginner sewing project and an easy way to create a beautiful, custom made skirt for the little girl in your life. The skirt appears as three-tiered if three layers of trim are used. Otherwise it is two-tiered, but the basic principles can be adapted to make additional layers once you have the hang of it. Once you have made one, you will want to make another!
The skirt can be adapted to suit any size and is a great way to use up leftover fabric and trim you may have from other projects. Be creative and bold with the colours, particularly with the underskirt, as only two inches shows at the bottom and there is trim overlapping some of this.
Materials
All you need to create the skirt is two lengths of fabric in contrasting colours (the baby skirt shown below only used two fat quarters, but more fabric will be needed for older girls), lace or trim of your choice, waistband elastic and basic sewing supplies.
Instructions
- Measure around your little ones bottom (including nappy) and add at least half again to make sure the finished skirt has plenty of wiggle room. Cut two rectangular lengths of one fabric sized to sit just above the knee. Cut another two of the same length on the second fabric, but make this one about two inches longer (this one is the underskirt).
- Match up the two pieces of the same fabric and sew down the short sides to make a circle. Repeat with the second set of rectangles. Hem and add the trim to the bottom of both circles.
- Put the shorter circle into the longer circle so they sit as the skirt will appear when finished, right side to wrong side. Fold under an inch at the top to make the elastic casing. Stitch, leaving an opening to insert the elastic.
- Sew on another layer of trim on the outside of the skirt along the casing line (don’t forget to leave the opening). This is optional, but gives extra volume and the fancy three-tiered effect.
- Cut elastic length using your girl as a model, or copy the length from another garment. Insert elastic using a safety pin to guide it through the casing and sew the ends together. Stitch up the opening in the casing, neatly catching in the top lace trim.
- Try it on your little one and take her out to show it off!
