Boho Chic Skirt Tutorial

Thanks to Katy over at nobigdill.com for creating another amazing tutorial for the Boho Chic Skirt.  We love this skirt- we started our using our Boho Chic Ruffles but have now made the skirt with our 1" Cascading Ruffles and our 2" Ruffles.  We have made it in all sizes- women's and children's, short and long.  We have even used our Color Block Tutorial to piece two 1" Ruffles together and then followed the Boho Chic pattern.  You cannot go wrong with this fun and simple skirt!  And, Katy's directions are wonderful- so easy to follow!

Head over to nobigdill and enter to win Ruffle Fabric of your choice to make this fun skirt!

Thanks again, Katy!

Apron with Ruffle Fabric

Ruffle Fabric makes a darling, fun, and easy apron skirt.  We love to pair our RUFFLES with fun combinations of cotton fabrics for this tutorial.  This apron is design for 3-5T.  Length can be easily adjusted by adding or subtracting the number of ruffles you use or in the apron bib length.  You will need approximately ¾ yard of cotton fabrics and 1/3 – ½ yard RUFFLES.  We use ¼” seams.  We do not recommend pressing Ruffle Fabric.

From your cotton fabrics cut:

(2) trapezoid bibs – top length 6”, bottom length 11”, height 10.25”

(2) shoulder straps – 18” x 4”

(1) waist band – 19” x 4.5”

(2) waist ties – 22” x 4”

 

Cut your Ruffle Fabric for the apron skirt-  We use 12 1” ruffles (so your apron length can be easily adjusted if you would like it shorter or longer)  Cut fabric between ruffles, making sure to leave the knit fabric above the top ruffle intact.  We will sew our gathering stitches on the fabric above the top ruffle.  We use the full width of fabric.  Cut selvages off.

Mark Ruffle Fabric into quarters with a pin or tailor tack.

Gather the Ruffle Fabric at the top.  I can do this quickly by increasing my stitch length to a 4-5.

Mark waistband into quarters.

With right sides together, align quarter marks on waistband and Ruffle Fabric.  Make sure waistband extends ¼” past Ruffles for seam allowance on both short sides.  Make sure the waistband covers your gathering stitches.  Adjust gathers to be evenly spaced on waistband.  Pin and stitch in place.  *I have found it easiest to have your cotton fabric on the bottom and your ruffles on the top while stitching.  The ruffles have a line in the fabric where you can stitch to make sure your gathering stitches are covered.  If your seam allowance is wider here, don’t worry!  We have allowed a little extra.

Waist ties:

Fold waist tie in half lengthwise with right sides together.  Press.  Sew one long side and one short side of tie.  Turn right side out and press.  Topstitch along edges.  Repeat for other tie.

Match raw edge of waist tie to the raw edges of the waistband.  Pin ties to waistband, just above Ruffles, with ties toward the middle of the skirt.  Fold top of waistband over ties so they are sandwiched by the waistband.  Sew in place, stopping just at the RUFFLE skirt.  Open waistband and press top edge of waistband.

 

Shoulder straps:

Fold in ¼” on one short side.  Press.  Press each shoulder strap in half lengthwise, right sides out.  Open fold and fold both long raw edges into the center press mark.  Press again.  Finally, fold along original press line and press again.  Topstitch around each side.  Repeat for other strap.

Bib:

Pin shoulder straps to top of one apron bib, right sides together, raw edges together, ¼” from the sides of the apron bib.

Place second apron bib on top of shoulder straps with right sides together, the shoulder straps will be sandwiched between the apron bib pieces. 

Sew sides and top of apron.  Turn and press.  Topstitch the top and sides of the bib.

Place skirt front side down.  Place bib front side down.  Match centers of bib and waistband and align raw edges.  

Fold raw edges under along the waistband.  Pin in place.  Top stitch the waistband, making sure to catch the raw edges on the back of the waistband and apron pieces. Press the waistband again.

Finished!

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!