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Tutorial Tuesday: My very first skirt!!

April 6, 2010 by Kaysi 55 Comments

I am loving this sewing right now, I decided to make a cute skirt. This is the first skirt that I have even sewn, so it’s not prefect, but I really like it! I saw the idea at Sew a Straight Line. I didn’t follow her tutorial exactly (I just don’t like following instructions sometimes :D). I had to switch it a little so it would work for me because I really don’t know how to sew and so I do it the way is easiest for me.
If I could make this, with little sewing experience, than it must be easy and I know you can do it too 🙂
This is what you are going to need:
2 coordinating fabrics (about 3/4 yard of each)
Lots of ribbon (about 6-10 yards)
This is how I made it:
1) Measure your waist, where the skirt will lie. I measured it loosely. This is the width of the skirt. Then measure the length you want it to be, I wanted mine to be a couple of inches past my knees. So my skirt is 34 in x 22 in
2) Cut the two fabrics. Make sure you cut the fabric a little longer so when you hem it and sew them together. So mine is 36 in x 24 in
3) Hem the edges to make straight lines (I don’t know what is with the fabric store, but they cannot cut a straight line!)

4) Now add the ribbon. The top of one fabric you need to have extra ribbon, this will be the tie. I think mine ending up being about 12 inches. I have found whenever I use ribbon, it’s safer to burn the edges, just in case it frays.

** Make sure you are sewing this, don’t sew all the way to the end of the fabric. Leave about an inch, so when you sew the two fabrics together, you aren’t sewing the ribbon inside the skirt. I made this mistake and had to go back to redo it.
5) Add ribbon and sew to the bottom of the fabric

6) Sew ribbon to both fabrics, top and bottom

7) Pin the ribbon to the middle, so it doesn’t get the way when you are sewing the two fabrics together

8) Pin the two fabrics together. Make sure you have the fronts facing each other and then sew the two together

9) Flip it inside out and admire your work, you’ll almost done!! Then try it on and pin the top so it fits about your waist loosely (or tight, whichever way you like it). Remember to take in account your hips, this hole must go over your hips.

10) Sew a straight line from the outside to the pin, directly on the ribbon. This will make the top hole not as big and it will be much easier to put on

11) Put on the skirt, wrap the sides around and tie. And just like that you have a cute a-line skirt.

Want a different look or it gets messy. Then flip it around and tie it again!

I had so much fun making this, that I made three more, for little girls 🙂
Reversible A line skirt 6 to 12 months
Reversible A line skirt 6 to 12 months
Reversible A line skirt 2T to 3T
I just love my baby’s belly button hanging out 🙂 All three of these skirts are for sale at my etsy shop!
I didn’t stop there though, I thought it would be fun to have a matching accessory, so I made a washer necklace with the fabric.

Filed Under: clothing, fabric, girls, ribbon, sewing, skirt, Uncategorized

Previous Post: « Motivate me Monday #13
Next Post: Whatever Wednesday: Dining Chairs Makeover »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The Local Cook

    April 6, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    that is so cute! Great idea. and you're right, sometimes we need to adjust things so they work for us.

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  2. Stephanie @ Minutes to Spare

    April 6, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    Love the skirt and the cute little baby belly. Thanks for all the comments you leave on my blog. Don't miss out on my first ever giveaway. minutestospare.blogspot.com

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  3. Amy @ Positively Splendid

    April 6, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    Count me impressed! You did a terrific job!

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  4. the thrifty ba

    April 6, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    love all the skirts! and your green shoes!

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  5. Polly

    April 6, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    Great idea! I've got a skirt tutorial for a baby skirt over on my blog you might like. http://helpinglittlehands.blogspot.com/2010/04/recycled-pants-into-ruffle-skirt.html
    Thanks, Polly 🙂

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  6. Polly

    April 6, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    Oops, just noticed you have boys…maybe not so interested in my skirt tutorial after all. I've got some great boys applique projects that I've started and will be on my blog in the next couple weeks if you're interetsed though. 🙂

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  7. Cottage Dreamers

    April 6, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    Cute skirts! I love the baby belly button!
    ☺ Celeste

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  8. It's Sew Stinkin Cute

    April 6, 2010 at 2:55 pm

    I love it! Yours is cute, and the mini me ones are ADORABLE! I will have to try and make a skirt like this as I am kind of terrified after my first experience!

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  9. Sabra

    April 6, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    I'm so glad you liked the skirt pattern/tutorial. I love your fabric. And your baby versions are super cute, too.

    Sabra
    sewastraightline.blogspot.com

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  10. Mom2fur

    April 6, 2010 at 4:16 pm

    You don't know how to sew much and you made those???? Wow, I'm impressed, and I've been sewing about 40 years! Good job!

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  11. Tasha

    April 6, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    Fun! Great job. I always say "the more your sew the more you'll know" That is how I have learned. Just kept going. These are cute.

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  12. The Harris Family

    April 6, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    Adorable and thanks for sharing how you made it. We might need a bunch of these.

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  13. TheCraftInMe

    April 6, 2010 at 5:12 pm

    Wow, this skirt is too cute!

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  14. Jenn

    April 6, 2010 at 6:28 pm

    I've begun sewing clothes as well – however, I've only stuck to kids clothes. Nervous to try something for me. But this looks cute! Does it stay on well?

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  15. Kaysi

    April 6, 2010 at 6:40 pm

    Jenn:
    I wore it for about 3 hours and it felt loose but it never felt like it was going to fall off. It even stood up to Kansas wind :). My shirt was tighter and that helped to keep it still. You can make it tight though, I just wanted mine to be looser.
    Kaysi

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  16. Chris

    April 6, 2010 at 7:34 pm

    The floral/stripe combination is so cute.

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  17. michelle@somedaycrafts

    April 6, 2010 at 10:23 pm

    Love the fabric you used!!! And I love the little girl skirts!!! I hope you link this up to my party tonight/tomorrow:)

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  18. Tonia

    April 6, 2010 at 11:57 pm

    That is so cute! I want to try it really bad!!

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  19. Meet Virginia

    April 7, 2010 at 5:18 am

    Kaysi!! These turned out so stinking cute! Way to go girl!!

    ~Morgan

    Meet Virginia Crafts
    Meet Virginia's Etsy Shop

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  20. Kimbo West @ a girl and a glue gun

    April 7, 2010 at 2:12 pm

    so cute! I Love the fabric and I love the look!!!!

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  21. Cheryl

    April 7, 2010 at 2:13 pm

    These turned out so cute.

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  22. Amy

    April 7, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    Very cute!! What is better than getting two outfits out of one item. I just might be adding a new skirt to my wardrobe soon. Thanks for sharing!!
    –Amy
    http://www.thebutcherthebakerthecraftmaker.blogspot.com

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  23. Linda@Coastal Charm

    April 7, 2010 at 3:14 pm

    Thanks for coming to my PAR-TAY with your CUTE skirts!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  24. Misty

    April 7, 2010 at 4:28 pm

    Kaysi…these turned out SO CUTE!! Great job!! I'm going to have to try making some of these for my girls!!

    Thanks for linking @Creative Itch's "Sew Cute Tuesday"!!

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  25. Sunshine of Seven

    April 7, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    I love these skirts! Adorable fabric too!

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  26. LuckyStarHeather

    April 7, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    I love the baby belly hanging out too – Super cute! The fabric you used for your skirt is so pretty – they look really nice together 🙂

    Thanks for linking at Lucky Star Lane!

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  27. Dawn

    April 7, 2010 at 9:28 pm

    SOOO CUTE!! I want to make one!

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  28. Debbie

    April 8, 2010 at 1:49 am

    Super cute! I would botch it all up, but you certainly made it look and sound fairly simple….I love the pattern!

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  29. Jill from Women Who Do It All

    April 8, 2010 at 2:07 am

    Very cute! I've been meaning to make myself something like this so thanks for sharingg the tutorial!

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  30. Christie

    April 8, 2010 at 2:45 am

    I also love this skirt. Sabra did a great job designing it!

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  31. Alison

    April 8, 2010 at 5:21 am

    This is darling, Kaysi!!

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  32. Louise

    April 8, 2010 at 7:26 am

    How cute, jumped over from Somewhat Simple

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  33. Lanie Ree

    April 8, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    So cute! I especially love it on your little one. And that matching washer is adorable.

    Thank you for linking this to A Little Craft Therapy with Life in the Pitts

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  34. Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden

    April 8, 2010 at 4:41 pm

    Super cute! And you did that without a pattern! I love making skirts, I may have to give this a try.

    Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours Day!

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  35. Kim @ seven thirty three

    April 8, 2010 at 4:58 pm

    I think you have more sewing skills then you let on! I love the little baby bellies. Too cute.

    Thanks for linking up with Sugar & Spice.

    Kim

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  36. Fawnda

    April 8, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    I love it! It is so cool that it is reversable! : ) Great fabric choices too!

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  37. Kelly, Carrie, Kylie and Zachary

    April 11, 2010 at 12:24 am

    This is great!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  38. michelle@somedaycrafts

    April 11, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    I'm featuring this today at somedaycrafts! So cute!

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  39. Jenn @ Delicious Ambiguity

    April 12, 2010 at 2:10 am

    Creative ideas! Thanks for linking up this week. I hope you'll join me tomorrow for another great party!

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  40. Heidi@cutoncemeasuretwice

    April 12, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    Very cute! Love your fabric choices

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  41. Allison Shops

    April 12, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    Super cute! Dropping by from BNOTP.

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  42. kirstin & jordan

    April 13, 2010 at 2:53 am

    LOVE these… I especially love the baby version- seriously, how cute!
    We have a Friday Fun Finds party- if you're interested, we'd love it if you'd link to this!

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  43. Ginger

    April 13, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Cute fabric choices! Thanks for linking up to Mad Skills Monday at SSB! Link up as many projects as you want and see you nest week!

    Blessings,
    Ginger
    SSB

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  44. The Persimmon Perch

    April 13, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    What a great little creation. A fun way to have a reversible skirt! Thanks for sharing with Made it Monday! Jules

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  45. simplydesigning.blogspot.com

    April 13, 2010 at 8:28 pm

    Your skirt turned out so cute!

    Thanks so much for linking up!

    Hope to see you on Friday for another link party!

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  46. Lori

    April 14, 2010 at 12:46 am

    Too cute!!

    Thanks for joining Get Your Craft on Thursday! Please join me this week for another great party!
    Sorry, it's taken me a while to come and visit, but i was out last week!

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  47. Jill from Women Who Do It All

    April 14, 2010 at 4:59 am

    I'm featuring this 🙂

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  48. Daddy's Fighting for Freedom

    April 16, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    I loved your skirt so I tried it (with only one fabric). I love the way my skirt turned out. Thanks for the tutorial. http://iwant2trythat.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-first-skirt.html

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  49. Betsy

    April 16, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    I loved the skirt that you made so I tried it myself. It turned out really cute and your tutorial was very easy to follow. Thank you so much!

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  50. saffiertje

    April 21, 2010 at 9:35 pm

    so cute… mother and DD with the same skirt….

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  51. Angie

    April 24, 2010 at 5:32 am

    You've inspired me to make a couple for my two girls. I'm not much of a sewer myself but this looks really doable. Thanks!

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  52. Keith and Angy

    June 2, 2010 at 2:07 am

    I made my first one the other day, lots of ripping out thread, cutting and recutting. But that was all due to me not paying attention and measuring right. Once I put my head on straight this was so fun and easy to make! I whipped out another one tonight and have plans for 2 more!

    I did have a problem with my hips being bigger than my waist so I made my own fix. I sewed up one side right to my waist and left the other side sewed up with 2 inches left open. I then added two snaps to the inside of the skirt and this way I am able to pull the skirt up over my hips and it will still be snug on my waist!

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  53. Sourkraut

    June 18, 2010 at 1:07 pm

    I hope you don't mind that I loved your version so much that I featured yours on my blog:
    http://sourkrautkrafts.blogspot.com/2010/06/easy-peasy-domesticated-skirt.html

    I totally stole the ribbon idea from you because I think it really makes the skirt.

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  54. Tamika Rybinski

    January 3, 2012 at 2:05 am

    very cute, i need to try this. i am taking up sewing again after many years

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  55. Melissa at Artful Slice of Home

    April 15, 2012 at 7:12 pm

    I made the skirt this morning! Thanks for your simple directions. Now my 6 year old daughter wants one!
    Keep up the tutorials. They are great

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