Step One

Start by cutting out your main skirt fabric.  I was making mine for a small 5-year-old, and it turned out that using the whole width of my fabric (about 44-inches was about perfect). To figure out how wide to make your skirt, measure your child’s hips.  Then multiply that by 1 1/2 – 2 times as long.  Round to whatever will be a convenient width to work with.  This is not an exact science.

To figure out how long your skirt should be, measure your child from where the skirt will hang at their waist, to where you want it to fall on their leg.  Then add 3/4 inch for the bottom hem, and add 1 1/2 inches for the elastic casing.  (So you add a total of 2 1/4 inches to the length you want your skirt to appear.)

 

Step Two

Cut your accent strip to the same width as your main skirt.  You can choose just about any height for your strip, and it may depend on your fabric.  I wanted to really show off the silvery hexagons in my fabric, so I went with a 3-1/2 inch strip.

Step Three

Cut out the same amount of Stick fusible web (3-1/2 inches and the same width as your skirt.)

Step Four

Layer your fabrics with your skirt on the bottom RIGHT SIDE UP.  Then your Stick fusible web, and then your accent strip.  Use a ruler or straight edge to make sure it’s lined up straight.

 

Step Five

Thoroughly iron with a damp cloth covering your fabrics to protect your iron.  Be sure to read and follow manufacturer’s instructions for Stick.

 

Step Six

Stitch the edges of your accent strip with a tight zigzag stitch in coordinating thread.

 

Step Seven

Trim your fabric to have an even edge.

 

Step Eight

Pin your fabric with the selvage edges together, forming a large tube.

 

Step Nine

Sew with a 5/8-inch seam.

 

Step Ten

Iron open.

 

Step Eleven

Hem the bottom of your skirt.  I chose to use my serger to make a neat edges, and so I would only have to fold my fabric over once.  If you don’t have a serger, don’t worry about it.  You’ll just need to fold your fabric over once at 1/4 inch and then again at 1/2 inch so you don’t have any raw edges.

 

Step Twelve

Stitch.

 

Step Thirteen

Do the same thing at the top of your skirt, but fold it over 1/4-inch and then 1-inch to make a casing for the elastic.  When you stitch your elastic casing, leave an opening to put your elastic through.

 

Step Fourteen

Measure enough elastic to fit around your child’s waist, plus 1 inch.  Use a safety pin or something similar to feed the elastic through.

 

Step Fifteen

Securely stitch the ends of your elastic.  Stitch your elastic casing closed, and try it on!

And feel free to use the scraps to add some fun appliques to a shirt to create a whole outfit.