Ruffle Skirt Tutorial

 

Want to make your own Ruffle Skirt?  Here's how...

 Supplies:

*Sewing machine

*Basic sewing supplies (pins, safety pin, scissors...)

*Two pieces of coordinating fabric

*5/8 in.elastic

Directions:

1. Cut out your fabric according to the chart shown below.  You will have two rectangular pieces (main skirt piece and ruffle piece).  Each piece can be cut from the same fabric or from two coordinating fabric pieces--your choice!  You can also go ahead and cut a piece of elastic and place it off to the side.

2. With right sides together, sew the two shorter edges together of both the main skirt piece and the ruffle piece.  I went back and did a zig zag stitch along the seams to neaten things up a bit.

3. Hem the bottom of the ruffle piece by turning it under 3/8 in. and then another 3/8 in., securing it with pins, and sewing it in place.  Create a waistband at the top of the main skirt piece by turning it under 3/8 in. and then another 3/4 in., using pins to secure it, and sewing it along both the top and the bottom.

4. When you sew along the top and bottom, stay as close to the edge as possible.  Leave about 1 1/4 in. gap along the bottom of the waistband in order to be able to feed the elastic through later.  (You can see my elastic opening in the picture below.)

5. Sew a running stitch along the top of the ruffle and pull the strings to gather the fabric.  Once the fabric is the same length as the bottom of the main skirt piece, evenly distribute the gatherings around the ruffle piece.  With right sides together, pin and sew the ruffle onto the bottom of the main skirt piece.  I like to go back and use a zig zag stitch to neaten up the raw edge.  Lay the ruffle out correctly, press, and top stitch right along the bottom edge of the main skirt piece.  This helps the ruffle lay better and gives the skirt a much more finished look.

6. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic.  Feed it through the entire waistband.

7. Sew the two ends of the elastic together with a zig zag stich and stitch up the opening you used to feed the elastic through the waistband.  I cut very generous pieces of elastic because I like to overlap the ends at least an inch when I sew them together.  Tip: If you find that the waistband is too big for your little one, simple cut some excess elastic off and stitch the ends together before sewing up the seam.

8. Now you have a lovely ruffle skirt for your own sweet princess.