Look What Else I Made!

I'm getting handier on my sewing machine! I am finding inspiration and motivation on Pinterest and other blogs and making it a point to keep my sewing machine out so that when it hits, I can sew! I want to make myself a ruffly pettiskirt like this one. I decided to practice by making one for Everleigh first. I already had this fabric so this was more like an experiment. It turned out great though and I am really proud of it. The most important thing that I learned while making this one for the baby is that before I buy nice fabric and try to make one for myself, I MUST get a rotary cutter and cutting mat. Hello, Christmas present.

Other than reading the tutorial for the skirt mentioned previously, I did not follow any particular patterns or instructions. The fabric I used is a shiny jersey knit type fabric. I knew how to make ruffles already, although I had never done it. Turned out pretty simple. I used one of E's current skirts to figure out the basic shape and size to cut the foundation. The skirt is a 2T and she only wears 12-18 months. I planned on putting in an elastic waist to ensure a good fit and knew that it would make for a very full ruffly skirt. I was okay with this. This way it will last a while. Also, being this slightly shiny, black fabric, I was worried this style would look too mature for a little baby. So I made sure it was fuller, more tutu-like, so that it was still appropriate for her.

The only concern I had and never really solved was lining up the front ruffles and the back ruffles when sewing the two pieces together. It turned out to not be a problem. It is so full and ruffly that you can hardly tell, plus since it's black you really have to look closely. I think if and when I make this skirt for myself I will try harder to line the ruffles up. I think using the rotary cutter and measuring more accurately (or measuring at all) will solve this problem.

Also, the skirt ended up coming to a point on the sides that were sewn together. I just cut around the bottom to make it more even and look how I want it to. The one necessary point to this skirt is to use a fabric that does not need to be hemmed. That way if a ruffle goes wonky, it's easily repaired.

Cutting out the foundation.
The skirt at the very top is the one
I used to make my pattern.

These are all the strips I cut to make ruffles.
Each one is about twice the width of the skirt.

I sewed one line at the top of each strip and
pulled the extra thread to make it ruffle!

I made a whole bunch of ruffles.

I unruffled the strip until it was the
right length and pinned it to the skirt.
For the shorter, higher up widths
I just cut off any excess ruffle.

Repeat to create many rows of ruffles.

I took care to sew the top of the top ruffle
carefully since it can actually be seen.

Front and back, full of ruffles.

Front and back together, right sides facing.
Seam is pinned for sewing.

Complete, except without the waistband.



Pretty Ruffles. That extra fabric on the top was turned under
to form the waistband so the top of the
skirt is the top of that first ruffle.



Adorable baby in an adorable skirt.

I have many more pictures of her wearing the skirt that I will put in a future post as I made the rest of the outfit as well! :)

I hope I offered some inspiration and motivation to make your own cute things. If sewing is not your thing, keep a look out for my no-sew shirt I made to go with the skirt. All kinds of adorable.