Simple Skirt tutorial - How to sew a skirt

Simple Skirt Tutorial

Want to make a simple skirt? Have 20 minutes?

I have a tutorial for you!

You can sew up a few of these skirts during a naptime TODAY and it doesn't even take much fabric!

Happy Sewing!

Every little girl (or Mommy) needs a simple skirt to wear all spring and summer long! Want to learn how to make one? Today I have a tutorial for you that will show you how to make a skirt in any size and length.

How to sew a skirt

TUTORIAL:

1. Measure your child's waist. (This skirt is for a size 2T so the waist is 18...but she's petite)

2. Measure from the waist down to where you want the skirt to end.

(I want my 2T skirt to be 10 inches long when it's finished. )

3. Take the waist measurement and multiply by 2.

(Mine was 18x2 = 36 inches)

4. Add 4 inches to the final length you want.

(This skirt is 10in + 4inches = 14 inches)

Take your answers to #3 and #4 and those are your measurements to make your skirt! Ready to cut!!

 My fabric will be cut into a 14 inch long x 36 in wide rectangle to make this 2T skirt.

Materials:

1/2 yard fabric (for a size 2T)

18 inches of elastic (3/4 inches wide)

scissors

pins

sewing maching

thread

1. Lay out your fabric, iron it and mark out your rectangle.

I folded my fabric in half so I just had to mark out 14 inches long x 18 inches wide.

2. Cut out your rectangle.

3. Lay it right side down. Fold up a 1 inch hem along the bottom, press with an iron, then fold up another 1 inch hem and press with an iron. Pin.

4. Sew along your pinned edge. Remove pins as you sew.

5. Lay your skirt down right side facing up. Then fold it in half widthwise so the right sides are facing. Pin down the short, raw edge.

6. Sew down the pinned edge. Zig-zag your raw edges or serge.

7. Fold down 1 inch along the top, press with an iron, then fold it down another inch. Press with an iron and pin all around.

8. Sew around the top, pinned edge of your skirt, but STOP SEWING 4 inches before your starting point. This leaves room for you to insert your elastic.

9. Insert a safety pin onto the end of your elastic strip for the waist. Feed the pin through the elastic casing you just sewed until the other side of the elastic comes out the open end. Hold both ends together and pin. (Make sure the whole strip of elastic does not end up in the casing. If it does, it's an easy fix...you will just pull it out and start over.)

10. Zig-zag stitch the ends of the elastic strips together.

11. Pull the waist of the skirt until the elastic feeds through evenly.

12. Sew along the opening to close the elastic casing.

You did it!!!

Try it on your sweet little girl and be proud of what you made!

Here's my Catherine trying to make a model pose! Hysterical!

Ta-da!

Make one or ten! Skirts always come in handy and once you start sewing them, you will see how quickly they come together. Ladies, try it for yourself, too!

Happy Sewing!!

Jenny

Linking up here:

 

The Train to Crazy blog and Linky Party

The Chicken Pants! - pattern testing anyone?

 I just finished making my next sewing pattern:

The Ruffles Galore Pants sewing pattern

(sizes 6months - 8 years)

 When it came time to make the pants for the pictures I knew exactly what I was using for fabric!!

 About a month ago I came across this chicken fabric and just about died laughing at its cuteness!! So I grabbed some from the store and took it home. How can you look at it and not smile? :) I knew they would make sweet ruffles on some ruffle pants for my little girl and you should have seen her dance around in her "chicken pants!" Next up is a coordinating pinafore top that I will show in a few days!

Happy Sewing everyone!

If you would like to test this pattern, give me feedback and send some pictures of your precious little girl in her ruffle pants, email me or comment here:

seaminglysmitten@gmail.com

*The sooner you can get it back to me the better...and it may involve getting a free pattern when I get your feedback and photos!!

Anyone in?

Tutorial: Easy Swimsuit

Today I'm guest posting this tutorial over at the blog

Domestic Deadline where Emily posts about her sewing adventures, crafts for kids and practical ways to organize. Go check it out!

Summer is definitely heating up so I thought it was the perfect time to challenge myself. Try something new. Check off another project from the ever-growing list of tutorials I want to try. I came across a few swimsuit tutorials like this one from No Big Dill for toddlers or this WOMAN'S Swimsuit Tutorial from Sew, Mama Sew that I could not wait to try, even though bathing suit material completely intimidated me at first.

But, don't let it!

This got me thinking and got me sewing!

Here's my own version of a toddler swimsuit tutorial.

Materials:

swimsuit material

elastic (I used 3/8 inch elastic)

swimsuit that fits to trace for sizing

jersey ballpoint sewing needle

1. Gather materials.

2. Fold over material right sides together. Place swimsuit on top and pin all around.

3. Cut all around the swimsuit edges adding seam allowance (5/8 inches). Add an inch seam allowance along the top for hemming.

4. Just an example of what the top seam allowance should be.

5. Cut off the top of one of the pieces going from underarm edge (the angle) to the other underarm edge.. This will be the back of the swimsuit.

6. Fold your front swimsuit piece in half. Trim off a curve along the leg opening. This will raise the leg opening in the front of the swimsuit.

7. You will use a stretch stitch or zig-zag stitch when you sew. I used a stretch stitch #3 on my machine.

8. Fold over the top hem of your back swimsuit piece 1/2 an inch. This will be for the elastic casing.

Pin and sew.

9. Insert elastic through this casing. Sew both ends to hold the elastic in place.

10. Place your swimsuit pieces right sides together. Pin along the crotch area and both sides (not the leg opening). 

11. Sew both pinned sides and the crotch of the swimsuit. Turn inside out.Hem the sides and top of the swimsuit by folding over 1/2 inch and sewing.

12. Now we will bind the legs. Cut 2 strips 2 inches wide and as long as each leg opening. Mine were each 12 inches long.

13. Fold each binding piece right sides together, pin and sew the short ends.

14. Turn right side out and fold in half widthwise. Now each piece is 1 inch wide and makes a circle.

15. Pin each piece of binding along the leg opening with raw edges touching.

16. Fold the leg binding down so the right sides are facing up.

17. Cut a piece for your strap. I cut it 6 inches wide x 13 inches long.

18. Fold the strap in half widthwise, pin the long ends and sew along the pinned side.

19. Turn strap rightside out, pin on either side of the swimsuit and sew.

20. Try it on and GO SWIMMING!

Embellish it as you wish! I added a bow to jazz it up.

My niece LOVES it!

Last picture! It's time to swim!

Hope you're enjoying your summer. Happy Sewing!

Ruffled Halter Dress - Pattern Testers Needed - PDF sewing pattern

Pattern Testers Needed

Here's my newest pattern: The Catherine Claire Ruffled Halter Dress

My newest pattern is done! It is the perfect dress for those hot days ahead! It is a ruffled halter dress that ties in a bow in the front. Super sweet and easy to make.

I need 5 pattern testers. If you can whip up this dress, send some pictures to me and give me some feedback by this Friday, please leave a comment with your email address and the size you can make. I'll email you with the pattern and more information if you are chosen.

*Pattern does not have paper pattern pieces to cut out - the dimensions of the pieces are in a chart. The directions are done tutorial-style with step-by-step color photo illustrations to help you along the way.

*Sewing level: beginner to intermediate Sizes available: 6-9months, 9-12months, 1-2 years, 3-4 years, 5-6 years.

*I hope to have this pattern up for sale by next week and then I'm going to make a Woman's version!