Sew Easy part 12: Claire Skirt

You can read the story behind this series and the first part here. Click here to read the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth and eleventh edition of this series.

The tutorial for Claire Skirt is finally here. Wow! it took a really long time to finish.


Supplies ( for the skirt for a two year old)

2 coordinating fabrics - half yards each
Ric rac - 45 inches
Bias tape - 45 inches


Cutting and preparing the layers:

Cut two rectangles

Rectangle 1. length = 11.5 inches and width = 36 inches
Rectangle 2. length = 13 inches and width = 36 inches

from two coordinating fabrics.

Sew both rectangles into a tube by sewing raw ends together along the length ( Right Sides Together).

Assembling the skirt:

Please read the instructions carefully here. This skirt is assembled a little differently than other skirts so make sure you follow the instructions, or you will be cursing me and reaching out to your seam ripper very soon.

Place the inner layer tube inside the outer layer tube such that right side of outer layer touches the wrong side of inner layer. Align one raw edge of both layers. Sew a seam along the raw edge.

Turn out.

This is how mine looked after sewing.

Top-stitch as close to the edge as you can.

Sew another seam 1.5 inch below the top-stitching, so the elastic casing gets prepared. Leave a gap of one inch for inserting the elastic.

Vertical Ruffles on the outer layer:

Rotate the seams in the layer such that it lies in the center of back of skirt.
 Mark both the sides on the outer layer.

 Fold the whole tube into half along the width. Mark the center point on outer layer. ( As shown by the pen)

 Sew two parallel vertical seams along each of these 4 marks, stopping about 2 inch below the top edge. ( Total 8 seams)

 Pull the bobbin thread on these vertical seams to gather the outer layer. Adjust the gathers in a way that you like best. Now sew a zigzag stitch on all four gathers to make them permanent.

Finishing the hems: 

We used bias tape on the inner layer and ric-rac on the outer layer. But you could use any trim or method to finish the edges.
Bias Tape on inner layer
 

Use a 2.5 inches X 40 inches strip to make a bias tape. This is not really a bias tape since these strips are not cut on the bias, but for this project it won't matter because we are using it on a straight fabric.

Now use this bias tape to hem the inner layer of the skirt. The way I sew bias tape is line up the raw end of smaller side of bias tape with the raw end of skirt edge and sewing along the fold in the tape ( right sides together). Once this seam is done, I fold the tape to the other side and sew as close to the ( but not on the) top edge of the tape on the right side. This ensures that I catch the other fold of the tape on the wrong side.


Ric-rac on outer layer

Fold the outer layer about quarter inch inside and sew a seam.

Now sew a ric-rac over it on the outside.

Now fold the ric-rac inside and sew another seam. Voila! Pretty little ric-rac trim.

Inserting elastic in the skirt: 

Remember this space you had left while sewing the waistband. Lets insert the elastic here.

Using a safety pin, insert elastic here and go all the way round and back to the opening. Sew both ends of the elastic by overlapping them about half inch.

I use the stitch 1-14 on my machine which looks like a broken zigzag stitch to sew elastic, but if you don't have it zigzag would work as well. Just go over the elastic 3-4 times.

Claire skirt is ready for a little one!

PS: Spangler wrote in with a helpful comment - "Love this type of skirt... made one similar in finished look to this but using elastic thread to achieve the pull-ups... Check it out if you get a chance... http://thequickunpick.blogspot.com/2010/12/double-layer-twirly-skirt.html "

Elastic are a great way to achieve vertical gathers. Check out her tutorial and the cute skirt. 

Sew Easy - Part 9 - Rosita Layered Skirt

You can read the story behind this series and the first part here. Click here to read the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth edition of this series.
 

Here's a skirt that I made this week. I think its a great fit for Sew Easy series because it takes just 4 straight seams to finish the basic structure of the skirt, and the resulting garment looks really good. These are also a good staple for back to school wardrobe.

Supplies: 
2 Adult size Tshirts of co-ordinating colors
Elastic - 1 inch elastic
Embellishments:
Narrow satin Ribbon - 20 inches
Felt piece of matching color - 2X2 inches


Measurements:
Measure the length you want the skirt to be, add half inch. Lets call it L1
Measure the desired length of the smaller layer, a 3-5 inch smaller layer should work L2.
Measure a comfortable elastic length by tying it around the child's waist.If you can't measure the child,
a good rule of thumb is 3 inches less than waist measurement.


Instructions:


1.

Lay the Tshirt1 flat and cut length L1 from the bottom.
Lay Tshirt2 flat and cut length L2 from the bottom.


You will get two tubes, one of length L2 and another length L2.


Note: In most cases it would be ok to cut through the entire width of TShirt, A good rule of thumb is that
the Tshirt should be at least 7 inch wider and at most twice the waist of child. If it is too narrow, the skirt
would be tight at the butt and even though Tshirt material is stretchy and it will stretch, it wouldn't look good.
If it is too wide, it will gather too much at the waist and look odd. If your Tshirt width doesn't look right, consider cutting off a portion of it and sewing it on one side with right sides together, or piecing it with another Tshirt.

2.

Now place L2 tube inside L1 tube, with L2 right side together with L1 wrong side.


3.

Sew along the raw edge.


4.

Turn L2 out. Top-stitch as close to the edge as possible.


Now sew another seam 1.5 inches below the top-stitching, leave a 1.5 inch opening.


Now insert an elastic through this opening. Join both ends of elastic. Sew the opening shut.


5.

Make a fabric flower with Tshirt1 fabric. I made a rolled fabric rosette with a felt circle underneath. Hand-sew it to the skirt, near the elastic casing. If you need instructions on making flowers, this post has a bunch of pointers to make different kinds of flowers.
Cut  the ribbon into 2 strips of 10 inches. Fold the strips into two and hand-sew near the flower.


7.

While you're making the flowers, make a couple more with both Tshirt1 and Tshirt2. You can make a nifty coordinated hairband with them.

Your skirt is ready.