Tulle Petticoat Directions

Petticoats go underneath skirts to make them appear fuller.

A tulle petticoat is a lightweight, full skirt that goes underneath another skirt or dress to give it volume. These days, there aren't many reasons to wear a petticoat. If you need one, it is most likely to go under a ballet or play costume. Most people buy their petticoats. If you need a special size or color, however, you may need to make your own. Fortunately, you don't need to be an expert seamstress to make a petticoat.

Things You'll Need

• Pattern (see Resources)
• Sewing machine
• 44-inch-wide lining material
• 54-inch-wide tulle
• Thread
• Dental floss
• Pins
• Elastic waistband

Instructions

1. Cut the pieces you need to make your petticoat. You'll need one 36-inch-wide by 7 1/2-inch-long piece of lining material for the yoke; two middle tiers of lining fabric, each approximately 140 inches long by 16 1/2 inches high; two bottom tiers of lining fabric, each approximately 220 inches long by 9 inches high; one tulle bottom tier, approximately 270 inches long by 9 inches high.

2. Sew the tulle pieces together end to end to make one very large tulle loop.

3. Sew half of the bottom tiers of lining together end to end to make one large loop. Do the same with the other half of the bottom tiers of lining for a second loop.

4. Hem the edges of each of your three loops with your serger using a four-thread overlock. This will prevent shredding and make your petticoat look more polished.

5. Gather the top edge of each of the three loops by using a zig-zag stitch over dental floss. The floss is waxed and makes gathering the skirt easy.

6. Sew half of the middle tiers together, making a loop. Repeat with the other half.

7. Attach one bottom tier to one middle tier with pins. Adjust the gathers on the bottom tier so that they are evenly distributed, and sew or serge the tiers together.

8. Attach the other bottom tier to the other middle tier with pins. Adjust the gathers, and baste these tiers together.

9. Attach the tulle tier to the wrong side of the fabric bottom tier with pins. Adjust the gathers and sew or serge all three pieces together.

10. Grasp each of the middle and top tier pairs, and place them wrong side together. Baste the top edges of the middle tiers together, and treat the skirt as one piece.

11. Gather the top of the middle tier.

12. Sew the side seam of the yoke together, and serge the top of the yoke.

13. Attach the middle tier to the yoke with pins. Adjust the gathers, and sew the middle tier to the yoke.

14. Fold the top of the yoke around the elastic, and sew the casing shut.

References

• Quite Contrary: Mary's Petticoat

Resources

• Petticoat Pattern (PDF)