Welcome! This is a truly fun and fashionable project that looks more complicated than it actually is. Making a tiered ruffle skirt is a great way to practice your gathering skills and create a beautiful, custom garment. This pattern is inspired by the charming skirt you shared and is designed to be a straightforward project for a confident beginner or an intermediate sewer.
This pattern builds on the simple ruffling techniques we've previously discussed and applies them to create a full, flowing skirt with multiple tiers.
Materials
Fabric: A lightweight, flowy fabric like cotton lawn, voile, or crepe (you'll need a few yards, see the cutting guide below).
Elastic: A 1-inch wide strip of elastic, long enough to go around your waist.
Thread: All-purpose thread that matches your fabric.
Basic sewing supplies: Sewing machine, scissors, pins or clips, measuring tape, and an iron.
Key Concepts & Measurements
This pattern is based on your specific body measurements to ensure a perfect fit.
Waist Measurement (A): Measure the narrowest part of your waist.
Hip Measurement (B): Measure the fullest part of your hips.
Desired Skirt Length (C): Measure from your natural waist to where you want the hem to fall.
The Ruffle Ratio: For this skirt, we'll use a 2x ruffle ratio, meaning each tier will be twice as wide as the one it's attached to.
Calculating Tier Dimensions: You'll be making three tiers. To get your tier lengths, divide your Desired Skirt Length (C) by 3.
Tier 1 (Top Tier): Your waistband will attach here. The width will be based on your hip measurement.
Width: (B + 2 inches for seam allowance)
Length: (C / 3) + 1 inch for seam allowance
Tier 2 (Middle Tier): This tier is gathered and attached to Tier 1.
Width: (B x 2)
Length: (C / 3) + 1 inch for seam allowance
Tier 3 (Bottom Tier): This tier is gathered and attached to Tier 2.
Width: (B x 4)
Length: (C / 3) + 2 inches (1 inch for seam allowance, 1 inch for the hem)
Waistband:
Width: (A + 1 inch for seam allowance)
Length: 3 inches
Sewing Instructions
Note: Use a 1/2-inch seam allowance throughout the pattern unless otherwise noted.
Step 1: Prepare the Waistband
Take your Waistband piece. Fold it in half lengthwise, with right sides facing, and sew the short edges together to form a tube.
Press the seam open. Fold the waistband in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press.
Step 2: Create and Attach the Tiers
Tier 1: Take your Tier 1 piece. Fold it in half, with right sides facing, and sew the short edges together to form a tube.
Tier 2: Take your Tier 2 piece. Fold it in half, with right sides facing, and sew the short edges together to form a large tube.
Using a long stitch length on your machine, sew two parallel gathering lines along the top raw edge of Tier 2.
Gather Tier 2 until its top edge matches the width of the bottom edge of Tier 1.
Pin the gathered Tier 2 to the bottom of Tier 1, right sides together. Distribute the gathers evenly. Sew them together with a straight stitch.
Tier 3: Take your Tier 3 piece. Fold it in half, with right sides facing, and sew the short edges together to form a very large tube.
Using a long stitch length, sew two parallel gathering lines along the top raw edge of Tier 3.
Gather Tier 3 until its top edge matches the bottom edge of Tier 2.
Pin the gathered Tier 3 to the bottom of Tier 2, right sides together. Distribute the gathers evenly. Sew them together with a straight stitch.
Step 3: Attach the Waistband
Take your finished, tiered skirt. Pin the raw edge of the folded Waistband to the top raw edge of Tier 1, making sure the waistband's seam aligns with the skirt's seam.
Sew the waistband to the skirt, leaving a 1-inch opening for the elastic.
Attach a safety pin to one end of your elastic. Thread it through the waistband until it comes out the other side.
Overlap the ends of the elastic by 1/2 inch and sew them together with a zigzag stitch.
Gently pull the fabric to tuck the elastic inside the waistband. Hand-sew the opening closed with a slip stitch.
Step 4: Hem the Skirt
The final step is to hem the bottom of Tier 3.
Press a 1/2-inch fold along the bottom edge, then press another 1/2-inch fold. Sew the hem in place with a straight stitch.
Your beautiful tiered ruffle skirt is now complete!
No comments:
Post a Comment