How to Make an Easy Child's Skirt

I would like to show you how easy it is to make a skirt.  This skirt is about a child's size 4, but you can easily adapt it to whatever size that you need.

 

I first measured my granddaughter from her waist to her knee (11 inches).  Then I measured around her tummy (20 inches). 

 

Length of the skirt:

When I measured the length for the piece of fabric and I added about 4 inches to the measurement that went from the waist to the knee.  My granddaughter measured about 11 inches from the waist to the knee., so I added 4 inches to make it 15 inches. Obviously, if you want it to be shorter than the knee, add fewer inches.  Just make sure you have about 4 extra inches to allow for the hem and the elastic waist.

Width of the skirt: 

Then for the other measurement around the waist she was about 20 inches.  I almost tripled  that measurement.  In my case I made it about the width of the fabric, which was 56 inches. 

The more full you want the skirt, the wider you cut your fabric.  

The less fabric, the less full that the skirt will be. 

You need enough fabric to fit around the hips, plus a few extra inches to allow for movement.

Too much fabric and it will not fit in the elastic. 

If you want very full skirt you will need to cut your material different which is not in these instructions.

 

Since I could do it in one piece, I only needed one seam in my skirt.  If you need a skirt bigger than that, then cut two pieces that are the same size.  For instance, if you need a skirt that is 100 inches, then cut two pieces of fabric that are each 50 inches wide.  When you sew the two pieces together, they will be 100 inches.

 

Here is an example of my seem.   I have a piece of fabric that is 15" by 56".  I sewed together the two sides that are 15".  Make sure that you keep the right sides together on the inside, and sew on the wrong side of the fabric.  See the picture above.

Now your fabric should make a big oval.  Place it on the ironing board and fold over the top about 1/4" and iron it down.  Do this all the way around the fabric.

Now fold the fabric over again, this time make it about the size of your elastic plus about 1/4".  Iron it all the way around. A good elastic size is 3/4 inch. 

Just a note, an elastic that is too small ( 1/4") will not be able to be strong enough to work for a waist band unless you have a light weight fabric.  A heavy weight fabric will need stronger elastic and not hold as much fabric.

Repeat the same process to the other side of the skirt.  First fold the material over about 1/4", iron, fold again at about 2", iron again.  This time it will be the hem. 

Now it is time to sew.  First we will work on the waistband end.  Start out by stitching as close to the edge as you can on the bottom fold of the fabric.  Stitch almost all the way around, but stop about two inches from where you started.  This is the hole that you will be putting your elastic through.

I like to sew a second stitch at the top of the fold.  Make sure you sew all the way around to point where you started.  I do a little back stitch to lock in the thread.  This step is not necessary, but I think that it just looks a little more finished, plus it keeps the elastic from folding.

 

Now turn your skirt around to the side with the hem.  Place your needle as close to the fold as you can.  Sew all the way around the fabric to sew down your hem.  When you get to the spot where your threads are overlapping, do a little bit of back stitching to lock in your threads.  That way they will not come lose.

Some people like to use a hem stitch for this or a hand stitch so that the thread is invisible.  You certainly can do it however you would like.

 

Now for the elastic waist.  Cut the elastic to the length that you need.  put a safety pin at the end of it.  This you will push through the waist band.  Just to be safe, safety pin the other end to the skirt.  This will keep the elastic from pulling all the way through.  I have done that a few times.  Keep pushing the safety pin around the waist until it comes out the other side.  Sew the elastic together (make sure there are no twists in your elastic).  Then sew up the hole that is left in the waistband seam. 

Now you have a quick and easy skirt. 

 That was so quick and easy that you will have time to make a matching t-shirt.  Click on the picture to learn how: