It’s FINALLY done…the $5 Tulle Ruffle Skirt

First, before you buy your fabric you are going to need 2 measurements. The first is a waist measurement, in my case I need 20 inches. Then take a length measurement,in my case 10 inches (waist to knee measurement). I made this particular skirt for a 2 year old.

Now to know how much fabric to buy…..double the waist measurement. Mine will be 40 inches. Add 2 inches to the length measurement. Mine will be 12.

You need a piece of fabric 12 inches by WoF(width of fabric that you will cut to 40 inches.)

SUPPLIES:

Fabric – 12 inches by 40 inches
Tulle- 3 yards for 2 and under, 3 1/2 for size 3-5.
Matching thread

Step 1

Serge or zig zag stitch both sides of fabric. (Top and bottom of your rectangular piece.)

Step 2

Turn top edge of skirt and iron 1 1/4 inches down. DO NOT SEW YET. You need it as a guide for your ruffles.

Your skirt should now look like this.

Step 3

You are now ready to cut your tulle. Cut 6 inch pieces of tulle along the width of fabric. You will need 4 of these pieces per ruffle. So, since I am making a size 2 and I can only fit 3 ruffles, I cut 12 6-inch pieces of tulle. Whew, Math. Are you still there? Ok. Let’s move on. (For the size 5 I did 4 ruffles…..16 pieces of tulle.)

Step 4

Sew 4 peices of tulle together to get one LONNNNGGGG ruffle. Do not backstitch. This will be the first tier. Repeat until you have all 3 (or 4) done. Don’t worry about these seams, they do show in the skirt, but we will pull them out later.

Step 5

Get ready to ruffle. Set your tension on your machine to the highest it goes. In my case 9.

Put your stitch length on the longest it goes. 5, in my case.

Fold tulle in half (you want a three inch ruffle) and sew down the middle. The machine will do all of your ruffling for you. Magic, I tell you. Magic.

Continue ruffling the other 2 (or 3) tiers.

Step 6

Turn your skirt over…the ironed edge should be underneath…and begin pinning the ruffles onto the skirt. I usually start with the top and line up the top ruffle with the bottom of the iron-edge (the elastic casing).

Repeat with other layers until you have something that looks like this.

Sew each of the layers onto the skirt layer, following the same lines as the ruffling.

Ok. Take a break. Get some chocolate. Ready again?

Step 7

Unfold the ironed edge and put the skirt right sides together to sew the side seam. (Make sure that the tulle is tucked in well on the front….from experience). Sew the side seam. It should now look like this.

Step 8

Refold the ironed edge. This will be the casing for your elastic, and sew. You will want a small opening to thread the elastic through.

*Again,from experience, make sure that the tulle is NOT getting caught under this seam….go slow and push it down underneath with your hand.

Step 10

Here’s where you are going to pull out your vertical seams. You don’t have to but they do show through the tulle a bit, and it will make your skirt look more professional and less homemade.

It’s not showing up super well in the picture but you understand. Pull out these vertical threads that once held the tulle together. It’s worth the time, I promise.

Step 11

Now it’s time to measure your elastic, which will be 2 inches smaller than your waist measurement and cut. Thread through your casing (I use a giant safety pin). Stitch ends of elastic together and then stitch up your casing as well.

AND YOU’RE DONE! Hip hip hooray! Yahoo! Celebrate!!!

And take a picture. We would LOVE to see your skirts.