Chevrons & butterflies: Three ways to make a pieced skirt

It has been a long time since I sewed something for my 3 girls.

Although I don't have them wear matching clothes in our normal day to day life, 

it is sort of fun to do occasionally. As long as they'll let me I better enjoy it...

Since I tend to get bored when I make the same thing over and over,

I used three different methods to make their skirts.

I will describe what I did & post a link to a tutorial or pattern for a similar skirt.

I will start with the easiest one:

The basic single layer skirt

This skirt just consists of two strips of fabric sewn together, and after that you just treat it as a if it were one piece of fabric. 

You can follow the directions in this pattern to make the skirt.

The hardest thing was to match up the chevrons at the seam, which was easy...

Next is the double layer skirt.

This one is a little more work, but still pretty basic.

Basically the skirt has 2 layers:

the chevron fabric is the basic skirt,

and there is an extra strip of fabric sewn on top of that.

To create a similar skirt, you can use this layered skirt tutorial.

This works great if the fabric you are using is sort of thin,

and you don't want to line it. 

And last but not least the tiered skirt.

This one was the most time intensive.

Not hard, but ruffling fabric and matching up the tiers is not my favorite thing to do.

However, I thought I could handle one :)

A tutorial for a similar skirt can be found HERE.

Shared at Sugar Bee Crafts, Today's Creative Blog,  girl. Inspired and The 36th Avenue.

Matching summer skirts for THREE girls!

I love to have my girls wear matching clothes. But with more kids, it is definitely not easier, since I have to get their clothes in different departments of the store. So am slowly giving up on the idea of have them wear matching clothes all the time...

I decided for a happy medium, and have this one matching set for my 3 girls by making my own.

(And no, I am NOT going to make them a lot of matching sets, making something times 3 takes a lot of time ;) )

But I am happy with the way these turned out!

Baby sister:

Big sister 1:

Big sister 2:

 (The oldest, somehow this skirt appears smaller in this picture, but it is not.)

Love the patterns and colors!

I linked up to Tea Rose Home.

Simple Skirt

Just made this little skirt.

As simple as it can be.

But cute, because the fabric is cute.

Perfect for fall.

(If you would want to make one like this,

just follow the directions in this tutorial,

without the extra layer on top.)

I linked up to:

Layered Skirt Tutorial

I just made this skirt, actually I made two of them, and thought this second time I would make a tutorial and take pictures to illustrate my steps. It is a very simple skirt, but by adding a layer on top, it just gets something extra! And it is so easy! This would probably work for a girl's skirt up to size 5T. All you need is 2 coordinating fabrics, and not too much of it, depending on the size.

Are you ready to make one, too? Let's start!

1. Begin by measuring the length of a skirt that fits your girl well. Add 2.5 inches for the seam allowance. Cut off that amount of fabric needed. (My fabric is doubled here, the finished edges are the vertical lines.)

2. Zigzag both raw edges.

3. Stitch finished edges together with a straight stitch, right sides together.
4. Press a small seam on the bottom (1/2 inch) and a bigger one on the top (2 inch), the top will be the tunnel for the elastic.

5. Stitch the bottom seam.
6. Stitch the tunnel for the elastic. Make sure you leave an opening to pull the elastic through later. I usually mark the opening with pins before I make the tunnel.

7. Measure the length of the 'skirt' you made so far. Divide the length by 3. Take this number and add 1 inch (for 1/2 inch seam allowance on both sides). Cut off that amount of your second fabric.

8. Zigzag the raw edges and stitch the finished edges together with a straight stitch, right sides together.

9. Press a small seam on 1 side of the fabric.


10. Stitch a seam with a straight stitch.

11. Now, slip the second piece you made, inside out, over the first piece (right side out).
In the picture: The tunnel of the first (striped fabric) piece is at the top of the picture,
the bottom seam of the second (flower fabric) piece is at the top of the picture. I left room between the two pieces (oops...), but in order to have 3 equally sized tiers, make sure you line them both up at the top!!

12. Pin the 2 pieces together. In order to not accidentally pin the front to the back I like to put my cutting ruler in between the front and back.

13. Attach the smaller piece to the main skirt with a straight stitch, at about 1/2 inch seam allowance.

14. Turn the skirt inside out and press the top (flower) layer flat.

15. Measure your girl's waist and cut enough elastic (plus some extra) to make the skirt fit comfortably. Pin a big safety pin through the elastic, and pull the safety pin through the tunnel. Pin the ends together with the safety pin and let her try it on before you actually sew it together. Adjust width if necessary.

16. Stitch the elastic together. Make sure it isn't twisted in the tunnel.

Then, close the tunnel by finishing off the part you just pulled the elastic through.

You did it! The skirt is ready to wear!!

Enjoy!

I linked this up to: