Life As We Know It: Cutest Skirt Ever

I think I'm going to be trying out my sewing skills with this little cutie...

Clark and Lily has a wonderful tute

1/2 yard of bottom weight fabric (45" wide)
2/3 yard of contrast fabric for trim (45" wide)
1/2 yard lightweight interfacing if your trim fabric is delicate
1/2" wide elastic
12" of 1/4" wide elastic
Thread to match

Find the measurements for your skirt. You'll need a waist and length measurement. I used 22" for the waist and 16" for the skirt. Since we'll be ruching, add 1 1/2" to your regular length.

Cut two skirt panels using these measurements (so you'll end up with a total skirt width that is twice your waist measurement). Then, cut the following from the trim fabric: cut a 6" wide strip from one of the short ends of the fabric for the waistband. It needs to be long enough to equal half of the waist measurement plus 2" (so mine was 13"). Then, cut two strips of trim fabric that are 6" wide and 30" long to make the sash. You'll also need a strip that is 2" wide and twice-plus-2" your waist measurement (so mine was the entire 45"). Last, cut four strips of fabric that are 3" by 12" for the bows.

Note: instead of using trim fabric for the hem of the skirt, you can use pre-made double fold bias tape. It's cheap and easy!

If your trim fabric needs interfacing to give it more body (mine did), cut interfacing for the waistband and the sash pieces. Make them 5" wide and as long as the fabric pieces. Iron the interfacing onto the wrong side of your trim pieces according to the
manufacturer's instructions. Leave 1/2" margin on the long sides, like this:

Take waistband and sash pieces and fold the 1/2" margin in toward the interfacing. Iron the fold and continue down both sides. Then, fold the fabric in half to make a 3" band of fabric with right sides on both sides. Here's a helpful hint: when you fold the band of fabric in half, don't line up the edges perfectly. Leave a tiny edge peeking out on the bottom side. This will make it easy to catch the underside when you top stitch later. Use this technique throughout he process to make things quick and easy.

Take the sash pieces and cut one end at a 45' angle.

Unfold the cut end and turn it in 1/2". Iron it down.

Fold the other edge in 1/2" and iron. Trim the excess fabric at the point to reduce bulkiness. Refold the end of the sash and iron again to secure the new folds.

Stitch around the angled edge and he open long edge of the sash, being sure to keep the slightly wider side of the sash on the bottom.

Take the waistband and line up the folded edge with your presser foot. Topstitch along the top (folded) edge. Then take one skirt panel and make a gathering stitch along the top. Set your stitch length to the longest setting and don't backstitch.

Gather this panel until it is half of your waist measurement plus 2". On the other panel, fold and iron down 5/8" from the top to make a casing.

Stitch the casing down as close to the edge as possible. Cut your 1/2" wide elastic to half of your waist measurement and use a safety pin to pull it through he casing. Don't let the tail slide into the casing, but when it meets the edge, stitch it in place.

Continue threading elastic through to the other side and stitch it down as well. You should end up with a panel that looks like this:

Lay the waistband on the table and open it up. Sandwich the gathered edge of your front panel between the folded-under edges of the waistband and pin.

Topstitch along that edge, aligning the presser foot with the edge of the fabric to make all of the topstitching uniform.

Take the back panel and lay it on the table right side up. Then, take a sash piece and align the non-angled end with the top corner of the elastic panel. Place the front panel on top of the stack right side down. Match everything up in the corner and pin in place.

Follow the same procedure for the other side of the skirt. Sew down each side seam, making sure to catch all three layers under your needle. Trim off excess seam allowance if necessary.

Turn the skirt right side out and lay flat. Trim off the bottom of the front panel so it's even with the back.

If you're not using bias tape, you can make your own. Iron the 2" wide strip of trim fabric. Fold in in half lengthwise and iron the fold. Open the fold and fold one edge into the center line and iron down. Continue on the other side. Once your sides are ironed in 1/2", fold the strip in half and iron it down again (remember to leave the bottom layer hanging out a bit). Now you have bias tape. Yay!

Start at one of the side seams on the bottom of the skirt and sandwich the raw edge in the bias tape. Stitch all the way around the skirt and when you get to the starting point, turn the tail of bias tape back on itself to enclose the raw edge of the trim fabric. Stitch it down and trim threads.

Lay the skirt flat again and measure in 4" from the side. Mark the spot with a pin in the bias tape. Mark the front and the back of the skirt with separate pins to make things easy.

Cut your 1/4" wide elastic into 4 equal pieces. Turn the skirt inside out and place one of the pin markers under the presser foot. Lower the needle into the fabric and lift the foot again. Place the end of an elastic segment under the foot and lower it to hold the elastic in place. Zig zag stitch down the elastic while you stretch it as much as you can. The fabric will begin to ruche behind the presser foot, so use both hands to keep everything smooth and tight.

Continue around the skirt. You'll have this on the inside...

...and this on the outside.

You can stop at this point, or you can add bows. To make them, use the 3x12" strips and sew them into long tubes with right sides together. Turn them right side out (this tutorial by Ashley is an awesome trick for turning tubes) and iron them flat with the seam in the center.

Tuck each end in on itself and iron.

Stitch the ends closed. You don't even need to clip threads between tubes, just loop the other end up and keep on sewing.

Clip the threads once all 8 ends are sewn. Lay the tube on the table with seam side up, find the middle of the tube and loop each end in toward the center.