Making a skirt

[Mother Goose]

DD LOVES to dress up. At creche and the gym creche she always beelines for the dress up skirts so thought I'd make her a couple for home... but don't have a pattern. Do you think I need one or do you think I could (simplifying it) just sew 2 triangles together? What do you think is the best way to do this? Or should I go get a pattern?

TIA

MG

[Salsa]

You dont really need a pattern, but dont sew 2 triangles as such, cut the top off one end of the triangle for the waist (Im sure this it what you`d do anyway ) and you`ll have a basic a -line skirt. You can add darts if you want to make it more fitted, but since its for dress up, then just some elastic would be easy for all. I`m sure if you google you will find a basic skirt pattern and instructions.
Show us some pics when youve made them

You can always just copy the pattern from an existing skirt she has, and remember to add an extra bit when you cut out for seam allowance.

[Mother Goose]

that was what I was thinking Salsa - glad I'm on the right track! I'm even thinking that if it works ok, I might make some with quilt material on the inside for extra warmth for everyday use! I will post pics once I am done... whenever that may be!

[luna moth]

If you want to make a great twirling skirt - and what little girl doesn't want one of those - cut out a big circle, and one in the middle that is slightly larger than waist size. Then turn up a hem, elasticise your waist, and there's your skirt!
Mum made me one like it for my Year 6 farewell, but put a waistband in it, and I can *just*fit back into it - woohoo!

[Mother Goose]

what a great idea SB! Thanks heaps! Might give that a crak tomorrow or Monday...

[Mother Goose]

Ok, I gave it a go. Drew 2 circles, cut, hemmed, WOLA! Well.... I have discovered I make a lousy seamstress! my poor child - it is so lopsided it is just too funny! thank goodness it is just for home play! Next time I will draw a semi circle on a fold which will at least give me a same size all around skirt! going to sew some flowers on it when she goes to bed and then I will try to take a photo and post in the next few days. Not bad for a first go...

[luna moth]

Well done! She won't care about lopsidedness. She'll only think how much effort you went to just for her! And next time it will be even better! Good on you!

[Bathsheba]

Following on from our discussion as we were walking down Goldie Lane last night LOL I would try buying some tulle.... maybe in several colours... it's fairly cheap and you won't need to hem the bottom as it won't fray. It's a fairly forgiving fabric... easy to gather. You could try cutting out some long rectangles folding over the top for the elastic, sewing up the side, then threading the elastic.... gather it quite heavily. You could try just using one colour/piece and if that works out ok you could then go on to layer another colour ontop... or even a third colour to kid of make a rainbow effect. You can also cut slits without worrying about fraying. Maybe go to a toy store that sells fairy outfits and check out what they have done. You can also cut broad zig-zags along the hem to give that Tinkerbell effect IYKWIM? If I had a young DD I'd give it a go myself! Somehow I don't think my 14yo would fancy me experimenting on her anymore! I might have some dress ups that you can have though.... i'll have a look before Tuesday.

[luna moth]

OK, so how does one gather tulle? Can't do it by machine, the thread just breaks, my overlocker just laughs at it, even on gather stitch, and doing it by hand is tedious. I'm doing a multi-layered tutu for a friend, and I am struggling. Could I just sew elastic around the top to sort of suck it in? Have you done this before, Bath? Or anyone?

Sorry for hijack MG, but you might get soem good ideas

[Bathsheba]

I guess I do it the tedious way then LOL and gather it by hand. I would say you could also try sewing the tulle onto some cotton tape first to give you machine something more "substantial" to grab onto IYKWIM? I have made a tulle skirt... about 10 years ago now though... it was just a quick and simple job though, nothing fancy, and it wasn't meant to last.

ETA: I'll have a look at a store-bought tutu that my DD still has... it's gorgeous with beads as well.... i'll have a look at the waist and see if I can work out how they did it... then post back in here.

[HotI]

OK, so how does one gather tulle? Can't do it by machine, the thread just breaks, my overlocker just laughs at it, even on gather stitch, and doing it by hand is tedious. I'm doing a multi-layered tutu for a friend, and I am struggling. Could I just sew elastic around the top to sort of suck it in? Have you done this before, Bath? Or anyone?

Sorry for hijack MG, but you might get soem good ideas

did you sew 2 rows of stitching (on the biggest stitch) on the tulle?

you then slide the tulle along the thread and gather it up.

i think you need to gather it before you sew the elastic on.

i am sure i did it by machine, but if i did it by hand it mustn't have taken too long cos i can't remember it being too painful.

good luck

[Violet Star]

Gee babe, I miss out on convo and all little miss gets is a lopsided skirt! I will save my skirt order for later on down the track.

One Option
Find a skirt she already has, and then create a pattern from it. If you want to be extra good, you can unpick it and use the pieces to create the pattern. You could get the pattern paper to keep a copy, or if you think this will be it, just use the other material to copy straight to.

Option 2
Buy a pattern - Kiwk sew are good ones, super easy

Keep going, Miss will love them. I saw some great material in the current spotlight catalogue. Sparkly Stretchy "Tinkerbell Velour". It was about $6 a meter. There is a cute tutu on a little girl as well in the add.

[luna moth]

did you sew 2 rows of stitching (on the biggest stitch) on the tulle?

Yeah, I did. My machine is usually awesome at gathering, but it's obviously just anti-tutu.
It's really stiff tulle. So I've been doing it by hand, and it's not so bad. I'm putting elastic on as well, then sewing it on to a leotard to make a little ballerina outfit for a young friend of mine (one of my best friends in the world is 7!)

Thanks for your help!

[Mother Goose]

i thought about tulle - but can't work it out in my head...

SS - you're a clever bunny! Hehe. I might buy a pattern... although I am having trouble following a simple doll clothes pattern! That material sounds ace... might have to get her some!!! And, your skirt is already on it's way

Thanks Bath. I will give that a go re: the rectangles. I think that will work well! Oh, those bean bags I was talking about - saw some at the Yarra Glenn market y/day!!!!! Didn't have time to ask what she put in them because miss ran into the crowd and needed to grab her before I lost the monkey!

I might have another crack at it this afternoon... luckily I have a bit of fabric stockpiled. The Vic Markets is great for cheap material. And I promised DD I'd make flowers for the lopsided skirt!

[Mother Goose]

Ohhhhhhhhhh SS - you're a bad influence!!!! Dragged DH and DD to spotlight (refuse to go there on my own with DD - what a nightmare that is! They need a child minding area!) and bought the tinkerbell material. DD chose "Anthony stars" AKA blue stars! And then I saw the flannalette material *drool* Bought 4 meters of pink with ducks and 2 of a softer line one! DD is going to have such a lovely warm quilt!!! And if there is enough I might make her some nice warm PJ's! And if I can find an appropriate pattern, might even make some for me (after getting more material)! Hehe. And DH bribed DD by buying her a cowgirl costume (which she is now refusing to wear. Wants to wear her princess dress and fairy wings only ) $50 later (and about 7m of material!) I'm home again! You are a wicked wicked influence! MWAH

Saw some tulle but not confident enough to tackle that yet...