This project has been designed by Little Miss Fancy Frocks – the dynamic mother-daughter duo who lovingly create handcrafted clothing for adults and children. Visit their Facebook page here.
Minerva Crafts have kindly provided the materials for this project.
Make this pretty tiered skirt in cool cotton for a little girl this summer. It has an elasticated waist, a gathered frill and is edged with ribbon and lace An ideal project for the beginner to dressmaking.
Size Chart
Small 3–5 years | Medium 6–7 years | Large 8–10 years | |
Waist | 54 – 56cm | 58 – 62cm | 64 – 68cm |
Length | 40cm | 45cm | 50cm |
You will need…
Small skirt | Medium skirt | Large skirt | |
Fabric 112cm wide | 75cm | 80cm | 90cm |
Lace | 1.70cm | 1.90cm | 2.10cm |
Ribbon | 1.70cm | 1.90cm | 2.10cm |
Elastic | 2.5cm x 60cm | 2.5cm x 66cm | 2.5cm x 72cm |
Sewing thread
Sewing machine
Scissors
Bodkin (or a large safety pin to thread the elastic through the waist casing)
Instructions
The skirt consists of a top tier and a bottom tier. The sizes for each tier are given below.
Small skirt | Medium skirt | Large skirt | |
Top tier | Width 80cm Length 26cm | Width 90cm Length 28.5cm | Width 100cm Length 31cm |
Bottom tier | Width 160cm Length 23cm | Width 180cm Length 25.5cm | Width 200cm Length 28cm |
*The fabric width will determine a join in the bottom tier
*Seam allowances are 1.5cm throughout
Cut out the tiers. Stitch the side seams on each tier and neaten appropriately.
Fold over the top edge of the top tier by 1.5cm and press in place. Fold over the top edge again by 3cm and press in place. This will form the casing for the elastic. Pin and tack the casing in place.
Edge stitch the top and bottom edges of the casing. The edge stitching at the top of the casing will ensure a neater finish to the casing. Leave a gap of approximately 5cm on the bottom edge to thread the elastic through.
Thread the elastic through the casing, overlap the two ends and pin in place. Hand or machine stitch the elastic overlap. Don’t forget to machine stitch the 5cm gap left for the facing.
Neaten the bottom edge of the tier appropriately. Tack the lace in position. Tack the ribbon on top of the lace concealing the raw edge of the lace.
Edge stitch both sides of the ribbon to give a neat finish. Turn under the ends of the lace and ribbon concealing the raw edges.
Joining the tiers
TIP: To ensure the bottom tier is gathered evenly onto the top tier you may find it easier to mark each tier into quarters with an eraseable pen.
Gather the top edge of the bottom tier by machine or hand.
Match each quarter of the bottom tier to each quarter of the top tier and pull the gathering thread to ensure the bottom tier fits the top tier. Pin, tack and machine stitch in place and neaten appropriately.
