Tutorial: The Twirly Skirt
Make one using a vintage floral sheet or turn it into a dress-up skirt using something sparkly.
This skirt is so easy, you should probably make both.
This skirt pattern is so versatile! You’re going to be using it for everything once you realize how quickly you can whip it up.
Make one from a thrifted floral bed sheet.
Or turn it into a razzle dazzle dress up skirt.
First you need to decide some measurements:
W(aist) & L(ength) W=true waist measurement x 1.5 then divide by 2 (because it’s cut on fold) L= desired length.
My skirt is a size 4T.
W=17″ & L=10″ For a dancing skirt, I go a little shorter.
Now make the pattern.
These instructions will give you a “good enough” pattern.
Draw a rectangle using W & L measurements.
Along length of skirt, draw slashlines about 3″ apart.
Cut out rectangle and slash up to (but not through) waist.
Spread pieces apart about 3″ and glue in place on new paper. Spread further to create an even fuller circle skirt.
Connect pieces with a curved line along the hem.
Smooth out new curved waistline.
Gather your materials.
For the 4T cotton print skirt, you will need about 3/4 yd fabric (or part of a thrifted sheet!), Elastic = W-1″, 1 package of double fold bias binding.
Place pattern on FOLD and cut.
Finish waist edge using serger or zig-zag.
Pin cut elastic to skirt evenly dividing extra skirt width along band.
If you divide and mark elastic and skirt pieces at 1/4, 1/2, & 3/4 points, you can match these marks up to evenly distribute skirt fabric.
Sew elastic band to skirt while stretching band to match skirt width.
Waist elastic should overlap right side of skirt about 1/4″. I like to use a zig-zag stitch to attach waistband.
Waist elastic should overlap right side of skirt about 1/4″. I like to use a zig-zag stitch to attach waistband.Once tension is released on elastic, it will “gather” the skirt.
Sew double fold bias tape to raw hem edge.
Sew up center back seam of skirt using 1/2″ seam.
Finish seam with serger or zig-zag.
Topstitch CB seam so elastic lays flat and is comfortable.
Time to TWIRL!
If you thought that was easy, this sparkly skirt is even easier.
This fabric is a knit, so you do not have to finish any of the edges. Not even the hem! Just cut, sew on waist elastic, and sew up center back seam. DONE.
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I’m totally doing this for my daughters. Adorable! Thanks for blogging this, Carrie! You’re my hero. 🙂
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Just love it!!! thank you so much for sharing
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This is awesome, thank you so much for the amazing instructions, this is my first time using, and making!, a pattern and it turned out great!
I cut out three of these to make today, just need more elastic!
It wasn’t even too bad configuring the size to a 6x! I did increase my skirt spread to 4 inches since I am using a bigger size, so I hope that works out for me, and I decided to add lace to the bottom of one. eeekkk
Thank you for sharing, I am very excited about this little skirt. Great tutorial!
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Thanks! I made two today. My girls loved it. I increased the pattern for size 8 and size 14. I added sometrim to the elastic on the top. Sweet!
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I made one of these for my daughter out of pink camo corduroy with a wide elastic band and it turned out absolutely adorable. She wears it all the time and I cannot believe how easy it was to make! Thanks for the great tutorial! She wants me to make more for the upcoming school year and, for once, I think I can get a bunch done without breaking a sweat. I plan to do a little embellishing on some of them just for a little creative outlet 🙂
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This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
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August 1st, 2011 at 4:06 pm
That sounds so cute! You’ll definitely be able to whip up a whole wardrobe of skirts for her.
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Rosemary Reply:
April 14th, 2014 at 3:45 pm
Is the elastic the length of the true waist measurement?
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OH wow you did figure out a MUUUUUUCH easier way!!!!! So glad i found you. We are a modest Christian family and wear long full skirts and our home burned so I thought for sure I could find a new pattern…..and here you are!!!! Thank you so much!!!! Mary
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Great pattern!
Do you think you could tell me where to find colored elastic like this? I’ve looked and cannot find it anywhere! Thank you!!
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Thanks for the pattern – I can’t believe this was that simple! My 3yo chose the fabric herself, and helped make the pattern and even helped cut it out. Thanks so much for sharing!
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This is fantastic!!!! I’m in the pep band at our high school and wanted to make a skirt like this. Although measurements are different,it is way more simple then the one I tried before. Thank you so much. Also, how could I make this into a sleeveless dress? I sew by hand.
Thank you again <3
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My 3yo daughter is insisting on wearing only skirts “that twirl” up to her standard and this looks fantastic!
I’m brand new to sewing but I think I’m almost brave enough to try this. What do you mean with “diving extra skirt width along band”? Do you mean making pleats or folding it or something else entirely?
Thanks for any clarification!
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Thank you for this, it’s great, I’ve made two now which I’ll write up on my blog in due course. The only thing I would say is that with my basic sewing machine, I find it very difficult / fiddly to stretch the elastic to attach the skirt. I had to put a lot of pins in to hold it and I still missed bits. But the finshed skirts look great.
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