I know it’s taken me a while to get this going, but here was my final entry in SoYouThinkYou’reCrafty – – –
Now, I made this skirt for non-sewers – really! This is A SEWING PROJECT FOR THE SELF-PROCLAIMED NON-SEWER. I want everyone to know that they can tackle simple sewing projects and have fun creating with a sewing machine. The skirt is easy – just one rectangle and a little straight-line stitching. It has a faux-waistband, so you don’t have to mess with figuring out how to make a real waistband or put in buttons or zippers – this skirt is just elastic.
Sorry about the above pictures – by the time my Kindergartner got out of meeting with a reading club, it was near-dark so the pics are being lit by a street light. Not to mention it was freezing – you can see that with the huddled-neck of my youngest daughter. Here’s some details in normal light:
My guesstimate on cost for these skirts (including the coordinating bib necklace) are about $6 a skirt – what a deal, right? Want to whip one up for that holiday work party?? Or make a coordinating set like me so you can WOW everyone when your family walks into church?? (and when they ask – did you make those?? – you can proudly say, YES I did!)
Thanks so much for sticking with me all Season long, and for letting me be a part of SoYouThinkYou’reCrafty – it’s been great!
A quick how-to:
First measure. For your waist measurement, be sure it’s big enough to fit over your whole lower half. I hold my measuring tape in one spot and try slipping it up and down like I’m trying it on – if it’s hard to fit the circle over your booty, then it’ll be hard to fit the skirt over it 🙂 Then add 1 inch for seams. You’ll also need to measure from your high waist to a little past your knee – add 2 inches to this for hemming.
Cut out a rectangle according to your measurements. Then make the rectangle into a tube and sew up the seam in the back – yep, just one seam. Then hem the bottom. That means turn under and iron the bottom edge just a little (about 1/4 inch). Then turn it under and iron again (maybe 1/2 inch this time) so the rough edge doesn’t show. Sew into place. Hard to tell, but here’s the picture:
For the top “casing”, aka, place where the elastic goes, do the same thing except leave an opening so you can thread the elastic through. Measure your elastic to fit your waist – it will fit over your booty because it stretches. And that’s a basic skirt.
Now, to make it more fabulous, add the snowballs. I pinned on a whole row around the bottom and then randomly put some coming up one side.
To make the snowballs, cut a strip of tulle. Then put your finger on one end and wrap the tulle around – think of how you wind a yo-yo – the string goes around the outside edge. I’ve made lots of various kinds of fabric flowers, but this is the best way for this project because you want them to be kind of flat but still have fluff.
Hold it in place and then pin it onto the skirt. Then use the sewing machine to sew an “X” on every snowball – not hard, just takes a little time.
Finally, make a sash by sewing a tube of fabric as long as you’d like the sash. Turn it right-side-out to hide the seam. Then sew the middle of the sash to the side of the waist of the skirt. Then when you wear it just tie it on the other side, so that the sash comes across the waist and hides the elastic, making it look like a sewn-in waistband.
For the bib necklace I just made some of those flat tulle flowers along with some rolled flowers from the scraps of my skirt. Some I even rolled the fabric and tulle up together for a combo. Then I hot-glued them on to some felt and cut around the glue-on parts so you can’t see the felt from the front. I glued on beads and jewels I had laying around, and I even glued on the ribbon. It just ties around your neck.
That’s it!! You can DO this – really!! All the sewing things were straight lines. No zippers or buttons.
I know the instructions are probably lacking, so please let me know if you have any questions and I’ll try to explain things a little better for you. – – Mandy
Oh, and I’m using this to enter Crafting With the Stars (yes, I might be slightly addicted to craft blog competitions…..)
casserole says
That’s such a pretty skirt!! I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
https://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-snowball-skirt-with-fabric-flower-embellishments/2010/12/20/
–Anne
Lynette @ My Craft Discovery says
I love how the sash hides the elastic waistband. Super, super cute! Thanks for the great ideas.
Chrissie Love says
I’m so glad you posted this tut! I voted for you on SYTYC and was hoping you’d win so I could make this 🙂 It’s beautiful and looks easy! Thanks!
Heidi says
So cute! I love that necklace!
The Autocrat: Haley says
Oh I love makin’ skirts like this! I made NINE new ones for the winter time a few weeks ago. I just love how you make matching stuff for you and your girls. Too cute!
DANA says
Hello! I found you at Pinkapotamus and I am loving your blog! I wanted to invite you to enter my $50 American Express giveaway and my link party that are both going on this week! Keep up the great blogging and happy holidays! -Dana
https://danajeanward.blogspot.com/2010/12/50-american-express-giveaway-ends.htm
Jana says
I love that necklace!
DeniseAngela says
Hi there! saw your skirt on girl creative and love your mother daughter outfits! Beautiful to wear to church.
Steph Cef says
I love this skirt! I was just wondering what type of fabric you used. It looks so cute.
Sabra says
very pretty. the material choice is perfect.
Lisa says
This is gorgeous! And don’t say you can’t sew because it looks GREAT!
AmieAnn says
This is amazing! What a great idea to use the tulle for a festive skirt! So jealous of your sewing ability! Thanks for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party!
Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says
So stylish and clever! Love it!
SarainAkko says
Oh my, it’s perfect and the matching with the girls is pretty stylish when it works this well. I love the color and already know I’ll need to give it a try. Great project, thanks for sharing.
To Sew With Love says
This is lovely! ^^)
Miranda says
Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous! I hope you win!
Miranda
http://www.justdrinkacoke.blogspot.com
Jenni says
beautiful!
those rosettes make any outfit that much better, they are just so time consuming, but worth it!
you did a great job! good luck!
melody-mae says
this is just adorable and super easy looking. I have a daughter who is in college and loves skirts, thinking I might like to try this for her!
Oh by the way I am here from ‘whatchya got weds.’ blog hop and am a new follower too! 🙂
melody
melody-mae.blogspot.com
Mrs. Brittany says
ADORABLE!!!!!! I love the necklace too! WOW!
Thanks for sharing!
-Brittany
https://lifeyasadiywifey.blogspot.com/
Anngela's Pretty Little Things says
This is an amazingly EASY tutorial–I can’t wait to give it a try. I love the rosette details and matching bib–thank you for the inspiration!!
<3
anngelasprettylittlethings
stephjacobson says
So pretty! I like how you made the band to cover the elastic waist.
Katri says
I love it! I’ll definitely have to try out the faux waistband over an elastic skirt. I just did Made’s Circle Skirt but really like your skirt!
https://katrihakes.blogspot.com/2010/12/made-circle-skirt.html
Andrea says
I chose this for the Make It Wear It Competition! Voting is open until Wednesday!
DeniseAngela says
congrats on making the top ten – your skirt is so original & pretty!
hawkeyejlp says
Love this skirt…very flattering on you!
Kristina says
This is so beautiful! I’m a freelance clothing designer and your skirt just really stands out! Kudos to you…Lovely!=)
Kristina J.
Seamingly Smitten says
Love the faux-waistband! What’s the material you used? It looks great!
jgirl says
Ok, I am new to blog world. I hope you don’t mind, but I blogged this. I pulled your top photo and added it to the post. Your link is in there so people will see where it came from. I don’t think I have any followers yet, but I will let my family and friends know once I add my projects.
Love this project and can’t wait to get my new sewing machine. Can you tell me what type of fabric you would recommend for the new be.. ..me. Thanks,
Jessie
PS I love working with cotton, duh, but I am excitied to try something new.
Laura @ live.laugh.photograph says
this turned out so cute! i love that you have matching ones for the little girls!! i so enjoy coming to your blog each day!
VBartholomew says
I’d love to make this for an upcoming event! What is the fabric you used?
Thanks!
Kim says
I love this skirt!!! I am going to make one for Christmas. I love easy, quick, but fashionable projects. Thanks for sharing.
Kimberly
Beth McJones says
Love that you showed us how to do the sash, the flowers, and the necklace. Thank you!
Maralyn says
I just have to comment on this picture, I saw it years ago when I first tried to make this skirt, and it just popped up on my pinterest again. You look very similar to my mom, your youngest looks just like my little sister and I looked similar to your older daughter. My sister has so much spunk and tood that this picture makes me laugh (in a good way) and reminds me of our childhood every time I see it!!