Super Simple Ruffle Skirt Tutorial

Sharing this Super Simple Ruffle Skirt Tutorial today!  It’s a perfect tutorial if you are looking to “up your game” when learning how to sew a skirt (instructions include measurements for sizes 3 to 10.)

Not really sure what the deal is lately, but my missy does not want to wear dresses to school anymore.  I guess the trend for 3rd graders leans to the more casual side.  (She also refuses to wear shirts with “people on them“- which is a shame because she has a ton of these and they are so cute!)

Luckily, she’ll still wear skirts- good thing they are so easy to make!

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I’ve had this knit fabric in my stash since last year, so I really wanted to use it this year while the print is still in season.  The directions below are for a knit skirt, but it can be made with a woven fabric.  If you choose to do woven, I recommend adding 4 inches to the width of the main skirt panel and creating a casing for the waistband.  You will also need to add about 7 inches to the ruffle width.

I made a little boo boo, when cutting out the fabric- I should have cut the ruffle in one piece or at least done a better job lining up the fabric print.  (There was enough fabric but I was trying to conserve enough to make a top later)  They are completely off as you can see in the photo above.

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Both of my kids have Beanie Boo obsessions!  Anyone else’s kids love these little stuffed animals too?

By the way, I’ll be sharing the tutorial for this scarf in the next couple of days…

(*Update: Here is the link: Reversible Infinity Scarf Tutorial)

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Ready to make a skirt?

Tips for sewing with knits:

• Use a ballpoint/stretch needle
• Sew seams with either a serger, stretch stitch, narrow zig zag with a long stitch length or a straight stitch with a long stitch length and a slightly loosened tension. (Make a couple of practice stitches on your fabric to see what works best.) I also like to use this “lightning bolt” stretch stitch on seams that need strength but a little give. (I used it when attaching the skirt to the waistband).
• Sew hems with a zig zag, twin ball point needle, narrow zig zag with a long stitch length or a straight stitch with a long stitch length and a slightly loosened tension or leave raw. (also helps to use a walking foot.)
• If you find your fabric keeps getting pulled inside the needle plate, place a small piece of tissue underneath the fabric so the feed dogs have something to grip.

Products used and Recommended:

1. My favorite fabric shop for knits: Fabric.com,  Funkalicious Fabrics and Girl Charlee.
2. My Sewing Machine: SINGER 9960 Quantum Stylist, my coverstitch: Janome Cover Pro 1000cpx
3. My Serger: Brother 1034D 3 or 4 Thread Serger or you can just use Pinking Shears
4. Ballpoint/stretch needles
5. Ballpoint/stretch double needle
6. Rotary Cutter
7. I love my large ruler and large cutting mat, but you may prefer to start off with a smaller Cutting set
8. Dritz Dual Purpose Marking Pen and Fray Check
9. Wonder clips (I didn’t use these in the post, but they are just awesome!

Super Simple Ruffle Skirt Tutorial

Materials needed:

• 1 inch elastic
• fabric (up to 2/3 yard of 60 inch knit fabric)
• ball point needle
• basic sewing supplies

Special notes:  

• 1/4 inch seam allowances are used with a 1/2 inch bottom hem allowed
• The directions below are for a knit skirt, but you could make it in a woven fabric.  If you choose woven, I recommend adding 4 inches to the width of the main skirt panel and creating a casing for the waistband.  You will also need to add about 7 inches to the ruffle width and don’t forget to finish all seams.

Instructions:

Cut your fabric (measurements are in inches) according to the size needed in the chart below.  (not sure what size your little one is?  Follow this link for an all inclusive measurement chart.)

Cut your elastic to the following width: (These measurements are based on the standard chart linked to above. If your child is handy, I do recommend checking her waist measurement and adjusting the elastic accordingly.)

3: 20.5 inches
4: 21 inches
5: 21.5 inches
6: 22 inches
7: 22.5 inches
8: 23 inches
10: 24 inches

Press the bottom of the ruffle strip over 1/2 inch and hem using a long, wide zigzag or double needle.

Sew a long basting stitch along the top of the ruffle strip.  Gather fabric evenly until the ruffle is the same width as the main skirt tier.

Right sides together, line up the ruffled edge with the bottom edge of the main skirt tier.  Pin in place and sew right along the edge of the ruffle stitch.

Flip ruffle over, press and topstitch.

Right sides together, line up the sides of the skirt and sew.

Overlap edges of the elastic by 1/2 inch (on both ends) and sew together.

Divide the elastic circle and top of the skirt into to 4 equal sections.

Line up the 4 marks and and pin the elastic to the skirt a scant 1/4 inch from top.

Set machine to a long wide zig zag.  (my settings were 3.5 and 3.5)  Insert needle into the top edge of elastic and sew a couple of stitches.  Gently stretch elastic, sew it is the same width as the skirt and sew from pin to pin.  (If yo have a serger, you could serge the elastic to the fabric using a long stitch length.)

Fold elastic over and gently press with iron.  (This will help keep elastic aligned with fabric for next step.

With the elastic folded over, sew the same zig zag stitch along the edge of the elastic.

That’s it.  You are done!

If you make one of these dresses, be sure to come back and share a picture on my Facebook page or tag me on instagram!

Like this project? Don’t forget to pin it:   

1. My Sewing Machine: SINGER 9960 Quantum Stylist
2. My Serger: Brother 1034D 3 or 4 Thread Serger or you can just use Pinking Shears
3. Rotary Cutter
4. I love my large ruler and large cutting mat, but you may prefer to start off with a smaller Cutting set
5. Dritz Dual Purpose Marking Pen and Fray Check
6. Ball Point needles Ball point double needle
7. Singer walking foot or universal walking foot
8. Blind hem foot.
9. Wonder clips (I didn’t use these in the post, but they are just awesome!