sweet stitches. (notes from my sewing machine): Tutorial: Quick and Easy Skirt

I don't normally make clothes, they've never turn out well for me and most of the time it's just cheaper to buy anyway. But I really wanted to try and make a simple skirt for Lily for Halloween. I found the fabric and whipped one up in about 30 minutes! It turned out really cute. My first article of clothing that I would actually be ok with her wearing.

I made Lily a cute Halloween skirt, then made her this lavender chevron print one below for her birthday party. Sadly, she spilled coffee all over it about 5 minutes into the party. (Not her coffee, her Daddy's.) Arg. I got the stain out, but she didn't get to wear her pretty skirt.

I thought I would share with you how I made these easy skirts! I know it's not rocket science, and I'm sure there are better and more efficient ways to sew a skirt, but this is how I did it, so I hope you enjoy!

Gather supplies:

Main fabric and coordinating fabric for trim

3/4" Elastic

Iron

Scissors/marking pen/ruler/cutting mat

Sewing machine/matching thread

Large safety pin/straight pins

Step One: Cut main panels

(These are the measurements I used for my 2 year old daughter, who is very petite, you may alter them to fit your little one's needs)

Cut two main panels to 10"x18"

I cut both my pieces at the same time so I could cut down on cutting. (No pun intended. :) )

Step Two: Cut the A-line

To make the skirt a little more A-line, I made a mark at the top of the fabric about 1 1/2" from the right side, then drew a line from the mark down to the bottom right corner. I just used my ruler to give me a straight line.

I then folded the fabric in half (remember, there are two pieces there) and cut along that line.

See? I now have two pieces of main panel ready to go.

This step isn't shown, but cut two trim pieces, 3"x18".

Step Three: Attach the trim

Take each main panel and lay it face down with the wrong side showing. Lay the trim piece along the bottom (wrong side showing) matching up the two long raw edges. Pin in place and sew along the edge using a 1/4" allowance. (You will notice that the trim pieces are not cut at an angle like the main piece. I forgot to do that step, so I jus trimmed them to match after attaching them. No biggie.)

After you sew the trim on, open it up and lay it flat, with the right side of your main panel facing up. Iron the seam toward the main panel. Fold and press the remaining long raw edge of the trim piece a 1/2".

Then fold the entire trim piece up towards the main panel and press. Pin in place. Sew along both of the long edges of the trim piece. I used about a 1/4" seam allowance for both edges. Sewing along the bottom edge will give it a nice polished look and will keep the trim looking nice even after going through the wash.

Repeat with the other main panel and trim.

Step Four: Attaching main panels together

Lay both main panels (with attached trim, which you notice, I trimmed to match the A-line angle) right sides together and pin along one angled edge. Sew a 1/2"seam allowance along this edge.

Open and press the seams open. (I forgot to do this step with this skirt, but you may want to cut the excess seam allowance with some pinking shears or serge the seam first.)

Step Five: Make the casing for the elastic and finish!

Fold the top raw edge over towards the wrong side 1/4" and press. Fold again 1" and press again. Pin in place. This will be the casing for your elastic.

Sew along the bottom edge of the casing as close to the edge as you can. You don't want to make the casing too small or your elastic won't fit.

Once the casing is finished, attach the safety pin to one end of the elastic and thread it through. Be careful not to pull it all the way through.

**My daughter's waist measured 19", so I cut the elastic to 17".

Once your elastic is threaded, pull and adjust the casing/skirt so that the fabric isn't all bunched up at one end. Fold your skirt in half (right sides together) and pin along the raw edge. Make sure you catch both ends of elastic at this step.