Bubble Skirt Tutorial - using our Sherbet Tie-Dyed Tulle Roses

Bubble Skirt Tutorial - using our Sherbet Tie-Dyed Tulle Roses

We love this darling bubble skirt.  So easy and fun to make!  We've had so many questions about how we do it... what pattern do we follow?  We've discovered that no pattern is necessary- it just takes a few measurements!

Materials needed:  Sherbet Tie-Dyed Roses (also available in Red Tie-Dye!) by Ruffle Fabric, jersey knit for the underskirt, 1 ½” elastic waistband.   

Notes:  All seams are 1/4”
 

Start with two measurements:  your waist and finished skirt fabric length (not including the 1 1/2" elastic waistband)

Your waist measurement should be taken snug and ADD 1” to allow for seams.  Cut elastic to this length.

Take finished skirt length measurement.  This measurement is made up of two parts:  the width of the elastic and the length of the skirt material.  Deduct the width of your elastic (1 1/2" in this example) from your finished length to determine the length of the fabric of the skirt.

For example:  for our size 4T skirt the measurements were:

Waist- 19" (we cut the elastic 20")
Length of skirt- 11 1/2" TOTAL, including the elastic waistband.  So, we deducted the 1 1/2" to allow for the elastic width, leaving 10" for the skirt fabric length.  This is the length of the jersey knit- we cut it 10" long.  We added 3 1/2" to the Rose fabric, cutting at 13 1/2".  

Next, cut jersey to the length of the skirt (NOT including the elastic waistband measurement).

Take skirt fabric length measurement and add 3 1/2 inches.  This is the length of the Tied-Dyed Roses.  Cut Rose fabric.  You will use the full width of the fabric (or close to it).

Your items to complete your skirt are shown below:

Right sides together, pin together the bottom edges of both the knit and rose fabrics. 

Seam the bottom edges together.  We used our serger but it is not necessary.

Gather top edge of roses to desired fullness.  We used our serger but you can use any method you prefer.  Even zig-zagging over heavy thread (or dental floss, or fishing line) and pulling to desired fullness works great.

Gather top edge of jersey knit to same fullness as roses.

Gathered edge shown:

Gathered edge shown:

You will now be sewing one side seam.  Bringing right sides together, fold skirt in half, WIDTH wise- aligning the two side edges of skirt.  
 

Trim fabrics to be the same width.   Sew side seam, beginning at the Rose gathered edge down through the entire length of the skirt, finishing at the gathered edge of the jersey knit. 

 

Turn right side out and layer the two gathered edges.  Mark the elastic waistband in quarters.  Mark the top of skirt in quarters. 

Match the quarter marks on the skirt and adjust gathers to be even. 

Prepare the Elastic Waistband

We like to serge the ends of the elastic and apply a drop of Fray Check to the ends of the threads. Set it aside to dry. (optional step)

After fray check dries, trim the thread on the elastic.

Stitch elastic ends together, backstitching at both edges.

Stagger the ends to reduce bulk in finished elastic

Turn right side out, then stitch 1/4” from seam (stitching down the seam allowances), then again, 1/4” away from the first seam line.

First seam on right side of elastic

Second seam 1/4" away from the first

Finished elastic, wrong side showing

Finished elastic, right side showing

Mark elastic in quarters.  We like to place the elastic seam at the side rather than the back of the skirt.  Pin elastic in place. 

Top stitch the waistband to the skirt.  We love to use a twin/double needle for top-stitching.  You can also use a zig-zag stitch to allow for the elastic to stretch.

Finished!