Skirting the Issue: Susan from Living with Punks

Hi all!  I’m Susan from Living with Punks.  My littlest punk has an obsession with skirts…she doesn’t want to ever wear shorts or pants because as she says it, “I’m not a boy”.  No kidding!  I love thinking up new ways to have new styles for her to wear so I love this series and can’t wait to use some of the ideas for her and for the sew-along.  Because foster children can be any age or size, I’m going to give you a formula to make any size you want! But first, here are a few other skirts I’ve made:
Click on the picture to take you to the post:
  

This skirt has an attached apron for added cuteness.  It’s an easy one, so follow along!
I love knit fabric…. it can take some practice getting used to but there are so many hints and tricks out in blogland, before you know it, you will be using it for everything you sew.  Knits are so soft and confortable to wear and if you think about it, practically any type of clothing you buy from a store is from knit.

You can find the dimensions for your own skirt by using this formula:
Skirt: Measure your waist.  Add 50%.  (20”+10”=30”)
Measure where you want the skirt to fall and add 3”.  (11.5”+3”=14.5”)
Apron:  6” less than your skirt length (14.5”-6″=8.5”) and 2” less than half the overall width(30”/2=15”-2”=13)  Apron is 8.5”x13”
Here are my measurements for a 4T:

Knit underskirt:  14.5”x30”
Apron:  2 pieces cut 8.5”x13”  (round the bottom corners on both pieces)
Ruffle:  2”x76” (more or less)
1/2” Elastic

Ruffle the entire length of the 76” piece on one of the long sides.  Use a long basting stitch with tension set to the max to easily ruffle your knit

Place the ruffled piece and place it on the wrong side of one of the apron pieces.  Pin it about 1/2” in from the outside.  Also ,leave about 1” free at the top.  Sew the ruffle down.

Now place the other apron piece on top and pin it down, making sure to cover up any stitching from your previous sewing.  Sew this piece to the other.

Find the middle of your skirt by folding n half and marking.  Do the same with the apron

Place the apron on top of the skirt matching the center points. Pin in place. Sew the side seam using a 1/4” seam

Fold over the top of the skirt  1” to create the casing for the elastic. Sew in place leaving a 2” gap in the back to slide the elastic through
Here is what it looks like after you’ve sewn your casing

Insert the elastic through the gap and pull through to the other side.  Stitch the elastic together and sew the gap closed.

Stitch the bottom using a 1” hem

Have fun!
— Have a wonderful day! ~Susan