Sewing pattern and tutorial - tiered layered skirt

This tutorial was a guest post at Truly Lovely. Posting it here in case you missed it first time around.

This skirt reminds me of upcoming summer in so many ways. I love the beautiful orange and grey combo and the bow at the waistband seems like a flag on a sailboat. I'm calling this Sail Away Skirt.

This skirt is made with 3 coordinating knits and is embellished with a grosgrain bow.

Sail Away skirt in size 2T 


Supplies:

3 coordinating knits

Knit 1 - 24 inches wide X 7.5 inches long
Knit 2 - 36 inches wide X 5.5 inches long

Knit 3 - 36 inches wide X 4.5 inches long

Grosgrain Ribbon (5/8 inch wide) - 10 inches

Elastic (1/2 inch wide) - 19 inches


Construction:

1.

Cut three wide strips from 3 coordinating knits. Strip 1 is 24 inches X 7 inches. Strip 2 is 36 inches X 6 inches and strip 3 is 36 inches X 4.5 inches.

2.

Sew the shorter ends together on all the strips ( right sides together)

3.

Fold the Strip 1  quarter inch inside an sew a seam.
Sew a seam on one side of Strip 2 and Strip 3 each with the longest stitch length, pull the bobbin thread to gather each of them until they both become equal to Strip 1.

4.

Baste the Strip 3 ( the one you plan on becoming the inner layer of second tier) to the raw side of Strip 1 ( Wrong sides together). Yes these will be joined wrong sides together.

5.

This is how it will look from the right side once you're done.

6.

\
Baste Strip 3 to the Strip 1 (Right sides together this time) Try to align the side seams on Strip 1 an Strip 3 while you're at it, though its not that important.

7.

This is how it will look once both layers are attache to Tier 1. Top-stitch along the seam. I used zigzag to do it, but I would just do a straight if I were to do it again.

8.

Fold the top of the skirt 1 inch again. Sew a seam while leaving a gap of 1 inch to insert elastic. Insert the elastic and sew the opening shut.

9.

Make a bow using three ribbon pieces as shown by pics above.

10.

Hand sew it to the waistband of the skirt. Finish the raw edge of top layer with a rolled hem. Finish the inner layer with by folding the raw edge twice.

Now go make some sand castles...or chase some butterflies! Sail away!

Irish Charm ruffled skirt

Supplies:

Two coordinating knit fabrics or Tshirts
Elastic (1/4 inch wide)
Grosgrain ribbon

Construction:

If you're using Tshirts to make this, cut a 6 inch wide strip from the bottom of Tshirt, including its hem. The benefit of using Tshirts is that you could use the hem as an elastic casing. Just unpick a few stitches from both ends of the strip.

Sew a seam at the 6 inch sides ( right sides together)

Cut a 5 inches strip from the coordinating knit.

Set your machine tension on high, stitch length maximum and sew a seam on one of the raw sides of the strip. This will gather the strip.
Sew a seam on the shorter sides ( right sides together).

Cut another 5 inches strip and repeat the above steps.

Draw a line at two and half inches from the bottom of first tier.

Sew the gathered strip to strip 1 along this line.

Sew the other gathered strip at the bottom of strip 1.

Tie a small bow with the grosgrain ribbon, sew it on the skirt.