How to Make a Square Dancing Skirt

Add a bit of tulle underneath for a skirt with some flair.

Make a poufy square dancing skirt from an old tablecloth or bed sheet for an environmentally friendly dancing accessory, or make the skirt from a brand new piece of your favorite fabric for a skirt you will wear for years to come. The skirt is made with a stretchy, elastic waistband for a forgiving fit that will feel comfortable even when you're bloated. Add a layer of tulle underneath for a puffy skirt and leave a little bit of the tulle exposed for a frilly embellishment.

Things You'll Need

• Tablecloth, bed sheet or lightweight fabric
• String
• Pencils
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• 1-inch-wide elastic
• 4-inch-wide tulle ribbon
• Straight pins

Instructions

1. Measure around your waist and add 4 inches. Divide the total by 3.14 and then divide the new total by 2. This is the radius measurement necessary to make the skirt.

2. Lay the fabric or tablecloth on your work surface. Cut a piece of string to the final measurement from above, plus about 3 extra inches. Tie the ends of the string to pencils to use up the extra 3 inches.

3. Hold one pencil in the center of your fabric and draw a circle around the fabric with the other. Cut out the center circle.

4. Multiply the final measurement in Step 1 by 2 and write down this number. Measure from your waist to the length you would like the skirt and add this to the number written down. Cut a piece of string to this length plus an extra 3 inches

5. Tie the ends of the string pencils to use up the extra 3 inches and hold one pencil in the center of the missing circle. Draw another circle with the other pencil and cut out the shape.

6. Fold over 1/2 inch along the entire outer edge and sew a running stitch to make the skirt's hem. Fold over 1 1/2 inches along the inner circle and sew to make a tube for the elastic waist. Leave a 1-inch gap in the stitching.

7. Cut a piece of elastic to the circumference of your waist and thread it through the tube in the inner circle of the skirt. Sew the elastic ends to the skirt and sew the gap in the stitching closed.

8. Cut a piece of 4-inch tulle ribbon to twice the circumference of the bottom of the skirt. Sew a wide running stitch along one side of the tulle and pull the thread to gather the tulle to the circumference of the skirt.

9. Pin the tulle to the inside of the bottom of the skirt. Hide the tulle completely beneath the skirt or leave a little bit of the tulle peaking out for decoration. Sew the tulle to the skirt.

References

• "Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics"; Francesca DenHartog; 2006
• "Sewing Bits and Pieces: 35 Projects Using Fabric Scraps"; Sandi Henderson; 2010