How to Make a Pettiskirt for Babies
Ruffled, frilly and made of chiffon, pettiskirts are ideal for baby’s first pictures, holidays and special events. They are bouncy and fun to wear, and perfect for a mother who wants to introduce her baby girl to the joy and pride of dressing up.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring Tape
- Non-fray chiffon or tulle
- Satin chambray
- Elastic
- Thread
- Scissors
- Pins
- Cardboard
- Iron
- Sewing machine
- Ruffle foot
Instructions
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1
Measure the length of the baby from head to toe and divide that number by three. This will become an accurate width of the tier, because once the ruffles are gathered, the skirt will look much shorter.
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2
Create the yoke by measuring and pinning two rectangles of satin. To determine the size of the satin pieces, add the waist measurement plus the width measurement of the baby, and add 2 to 4 inches, depending on how loose the skirt will be. Cut a piece of elastic to the size of the baby’s waist plus 2 inches and set aside.
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3
Create the first tier of the pettiskirt. Using the baby's width as your guide, measure out the same amount of chiffon plus 6 inches in length, then pin and fold the fabric onto itself and cut the width along the pin lines. Since fabric comes in separate lengths and widths, you will have several strips cut out. Sew each strip together for one continuous strip and wrap the final tier around a piece of cardboard.
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4
Create the second tier by measuring and cutting another section of chiffon to the width measurement and 18 inches long. Create the hem ruffle by cutting a strip of chiffon 2 inches wide and 36 inches long. Wrap each tier around separate pieces of cardboard.
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5
Sew the yoke pieces with right sides together along the long edge. Make a casing for the elastic by pressing the top down 1/2 inch, and fold again another 2 inches. Sew the casing along the edge and insert the elastic. There will be two open ends at the bottom of the yoke.
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6
Using the ruffle foot, sew the hem ruffle up the middle. Pull the thread until the ruffle is half its original size.
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7
Sew the ruffled hem along the gathering stitches on the second tier. On the other end of the second tier fabric, sew more gathering stitches with the ruffle foot. This is the top edge of the tier.
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8
Put the first tier over the second tier, right sides together, matching edges, and sew them together. Turn right side up.
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9
Gather the top edge of the first tier. Sew this top edge to the bottom of the yoke. Turn the skirt right side out and sew up the back seam, leaving the elastic casing open. Thread the elastic through the casing hole.
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10
Stitch the pieces of the elastic together and then sew down the rest of the seam. Your baby's first ruffled pettiskirt is now done.
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Tips & Warnings
The gathering stitch is loose enough so that the fabric can be pulled into the ruffles. Make certain that your sewing machine is set to its widest stitch to accomplish this.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Stockbyte/Getty Images
