How to Make an Organza Ruffled Cupcake Skirt

Cupcake skirts are often a part of performance ensembles.

Cupcake skirts are full skirts with ruffled tiers that girls wear for performance or playing dress-up. Many ballet skirts, or tutus, are cupcake-style skirts. Though the volume of the skirt may make its creation seem complex, it is as straightforward as sewing a regular skirt. Using organza to make this design is smart because, in spite of its sheerness, the fabric holds a shape well. Cupcake skirts should spread outward, appearing abundantly full and layered, which organza accommodates perfectly.

Things You'll Need

• Organza, 3 yards
• Thread
• Needle or sewing machine
• Fabric glue
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Measuring tape
• 1-inch-wide elastic

Instructions

1. Measure the child's waist and the length from her waist to the point where the hemline should fall.

2. Cut the organza in half, yielding two sections that are 4 1/2 feet long. Set one of the halves aside.

3. Spread the other half flat in front of you. Consider the long edge closest to you to be the bottom of the skirt and the opposite edge to be the top.

4. Trim the organza to the length measurement you took.

5. Cut the elastic to be 2 inches shorter than your child's waist measurement.

6. Fold over 1 1/2 inches at the top of the organza. Pin the fabric in place.

7. Sew along the edge, leaving the sides open.

8. Feed the elastic through the open-ended band. Pin the tail end to the edge of the band to hold the end in place. The fabric will bunch up in the middle as you go because it is longer than the elastic. Pin the lead end of the elastic to the other edge of the band to hold it in place.

9. Stitch the elastic to the edges of the fabric where you pinned them. Set the fabric aside.

10. Lay the other piece of organza in front of you.

11. Cut the organza in four or five equal strips, depending on how long you want the tiers to be. Fold each strip in half longways.

12. Line up the fold of one organza strip at the seam for the waistband of the skirt.

13. Open the folded strip, and pin it in place. The strip should be pinned in its middle to the hem of the waistband.

14. Stitch the strip in place at its center point.

15. Line up the fold of another strip at the bottom of the skirt, 2 inches above the bottom edge of the skirt. Pin it down the middle as you did with the first strip.

16. Sew the strip into place.

17. Arrange the remaining two or three strips between the first strips, evenly spacing them apart. Follow the same pinning and stitching procedure for each strip.

18. Sew the skirt down the side from the waistband to the bottom edge of the skirt, seaming the two ends together.

19. Embellish the skirt, if desired.

References

• Simply Modern Mom: Ballet Ruffle Skirt Tutorial
• Maggie Muggins Designs: Ruffle Sweater Skirt Refashion & Tutorial