Guest post: Julie K

 I'm Julie Kelley and I am a mom, crafter, teacher and blogger at www.juliek.org. I love to share my love of all things crafty, and I co-own a crafting crop spot where people can get together and craft at www.latenightcroppers.com.

I was so excited that my daughter's friend wanted me to teach her how to sew! It's so fun to pass along the traditional skills that I learned from my grandmothers when I was little! I wanted to have the girls make something "real" that they could show off a little, but also that they could really make themselves, so I came up with this little skirt. It uses just 3 cuts of fabric (and only 2 if you use prepared bias tape). My daughter doesn't like seams, so this skirt features an enclosed pillowcase top band that was super easy, but looks impressive! We added a little t-shirt with an iron-on detail to make the perfect outfit. I hope you enjoy and make these with a special little girl in your life! Here's a peek at the finished product! Look at how proud she is of her own handiwork!
 
Materials:
 

• 1-12" x Width of fabric (here, Kathryn picked this fun flip flop material)
• 1-6" x Width of fabric (bright green)
• 1-2" x Width of fabric (bright green) or a coordinating bias tape
• Scraps of fabric for the iron on applique on T-Shirt
• Elastic (measure around the waist and cut to fit)
• 1 T-Shirt in a coordinating color
• Heat n Bond or other Iron on adhesive

  The skirt is made with the 3 pieces of fabric, all width of fabric that we'll trim up at the end. The first step is to make the bias tape with the 2" strip (or use prepared bias tape) surround the bottom edge of the 12" strip, and sew along the open edge. You can either use a coordinating thread, or here we used black thread as an accent. (That's Kathryn sewing carefully along the edge).
 
Next we're going to make the enclosed pillowcase band. Lay the 6" strip right side up, then lay the 12" strip on top (also right side up) lining up the raw edge.
 
 Starting at the bottom (bias tape) edge, start rolling the 12"fabric toward you. Notice the bottom edge in the picture, the 2 raw edges are still lined up.
 
 Now, you're going to fold that green fabric over the roll and line up (like a sandwich) all 3 raw edges, the flip flop material is now completely enclosed by the green.
 
 When I was testing the pattern, I held the layers together and just adjusted and kept the edges lined up. When the girls were sewing, I went ahead and pinned them so that they wouldn't have to adjust.
 Here's what the tube will look like when you've sewn down the whole edge.
 Now, the magic is going to happen!! Start on one end, and pull it right side out... You will have a beautiful top band with a completely enclosed seam!
 
 Fold in half and line up the top and bottom and the 2 selvage edges.
 Trim off any excess and the selvages so that you have a nice even edge.
Insert the elastic into the band being sure not to twist it.
 
 Run a small seam on the ends to hold the elastic in place.
 
 Hold the 2 right sides together and run a seam to close up the skirt.
 Voila!! A fun and easy skirt!! How cute is that??
 
 This was such a fun fabric that I put some Heat n Bond on it and had the girls cut out a couple of the flip flops and ironed them on the T-Shirt to make a matching set!
 
 Here they are together! The only thing I helped them to sew was to add a stitch across the elastic on the band to hold it in place. Stretching the elastic and sewing at the same time was tricky for them, and it wasn't a necessary step, the skirt is adorable without it. I thought it would wash a little better with that added seam.
And the model with her fabulous outfit that took us about an hour total (with me watching both girls and doing the pinning when we needed it).