Do It Yourself Twirl Skirt

Spin around to make your skirts twirl.

A twirl skirt fans out when you spin around. Make a twirly skirt using bright colors and poly-blend fabrics that are light and drape well. Look for poly-blend fabrics that are marked wash-and-wear. Avoid stretchy fabrics as they are harder to sew. Use two fabrics that are the same weight and type so that the skirt will move easily and stay in the same shape after washing.

Things You'll Need

• Fabrics
• Scissors
• Tape measure
• Tailor's chalk
• Straight edge
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Iron and board
• Elastic
• Safety pin

Instructions

1. Cut two pieces of fabric 40 inches wide and the length you want plus 1 inch for seams to make the body panels of the skirt.

2. Cut three pieces of fabric in a color different from your skirt fabric, 40 inches wide by 3 inches tall, to make the waist band and the hem band. Cut one piece of fabric 40 inches wide by 2 inches tall to make the tie ribbon.

3. Place your skirt body fabrics right sides together and sew the side seams together using a 1/2-inch seam. Iron your seams. Pink or zig-zag the seam edges. Place your hem fabrics face sides together and sew the side seams using 1/2-inch seam. Iron your seams. Pink or zig-zag the seam edges.

4. Position the hem band face side together over the bottom edge of the skirt fabric. Align the raw edges so that the main body of the hem fabric is toward the top of the skirt. Align your side seams. Pin a 1/2-inch seam. Sew a 1/2-inch seam. Iron your seam toward the bottom edge of the skirt.

5. Fold the raw edge of the hem fabric to the back 1/2 inch and iron. Fold the fold to line up with the seam and pin. Sew a hem seam 1/8 inch from the ironed seam. Iron the bottom edge of the skirt. Repeat for the waistband. Leave a 1-inch gap in the front waistband seam.

6. Place the tie fabric face down and horizontal on the ironing board. Fold 1/4 inch of fabric from the top toward the middle lengthwise and iron. Fold 1/4 inch of fabric from the bottom toward the middle lengthwise and iron. Fold the top fold over to the bottom fold and align the folded edges and iron. This will create a strip that is 3/4 inch wide by 40 inches long.

7. Sew along the folds 1/16 inch from the side. Turn the short ends under 1/8 inch and 1/8 inch again and sew along the short ends to close off the ends of the tie. Cut elastic 1 inch longer than the waist measurement of the child. Safety pin elastic to one tie end. Insert the safety pin through the 1-inch opening in the waistband and feed the elastic and tie through the waistband. Check that the elastic is flat around the waistband. Overlap the elastic ends 1 inch and sew the ends together. Check that the tie is flat and make the ends of the tie even. Tack stitch one tie end to the waistband to prevent it from being pulled through.

Tips & Warnings

• Decorate twirly skirts with fringe or other kinds of trim to add to the swirly effect.

References

• House On Hill Road: Twirly Skirt Tutorial