How to Make Three-Tiered Skirts

Make a three-tiered skirt for your little girl.

A tiered skirt is a lovely style for a little girl. It has a larger sweeping hem and a loose comfortable fit. There are many options when making this type of skirt. You can make all the tiers the same color, you can choose different colors for one or each tier, or you can use a mix of patterns. The most difficult part in making a tiered skirt is figuring out the lengths of the tiers. It takes a little math, but once you get the hang of it you will want to make one in every color and pattern.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Paper
• Fabric
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• 3/4-inch-wide elastic
• Safety pin

Instructions

Preparation

1. Measure your child around the hip. Measure your child around the waist. Measure your child from the waist to the length you want the skirt.

2. Add 5 inches to the hip measurement, for seam allowance and ease. Write the number down on the paper with the pencil, this is the length of the first tier. Divide the length you want the skirt by three and add 1-1/2 inches. Write the number down. This is the width of the first tier.

3. Multiply the length of the first tier by 1-1/2 and add 1 inch. Write the number down. This is the length of the second tier. Divide the length you want the skirt by three and add 1 inch. Write the number down. This is the width of the second tier.

4. Multiply the length of the second tier by 1-1/2 and add 1 inch. Write the number down. This is the length of the third tier. Divide the length you want the skirt by three and add 1 inch. Write the number down. This is the width of the third tier.

5. Cut two rectangles out of the fabric with the scissors that measure half the length you got for the first tier by width you got for the first tier. Cut two more rectangles out of the fabric that measure half the length you got for the second tier by the width you got for the second tier. Cut the last two rectangles out of the fabric that measure half the length you got for the third tier by the width you got for the third tier.

Sewing

1. Sew on the sewing machine along the top edge of one of the third tiers with a basting stitch, 1/4 inch from the edge. Leave the thread ends long. Repeat with the other third tier.

2. Pull the thread ends gathering one of the third tiers until it is as long as one of the second tiers. Repeat with the other third tier.

3. Place the right side of one of the third tiers on the right side of one of the second tiers. Line up the gathered edge of the third tier to the bottom edge of the second tier. Sew the tiers together 1/2 inch from the edges. Repeat with the other second and third tier.

4. Baste along the top of one of the second tiers, 1/4 inch from the edge. Pull the thread ends gathering the second tiers until it is as long as one of the first tiers. Repeat with the other second tier.

5. Place the right side of one of the second tiers on the right side of one of the first tiers. Sew the tiers together 1/2 inch from the edges. Repeat with the other first and second tier.

6. Place the right side of the skirt front on the right side of the skirt back. Sew the pieces together along the side seams, 1/2 inch from the edges.

7. Fold the top edge of the skirt over 1/2 inches, with wrong sides facing each other. Fold it over another 1 inch. Sew the fold in place close to the bottom edge, leaving a 2-inch opening in the back of the skirt. This creates a casing for the elastic.

8. Cut a piece of elastic that measures your child's waist measurement plus 1 inch. Attach a safety pin onto the end of the elastic. Insert the elastic into the opening in the skirt and around the casing. Overlap the elastic 1 inch and sew in place.

9. Fold the bottom edge of tier three over 1/4 inch, with wrong sides facing each other. Fold it over another 1/4 inch. Sew the fold in place.

Tips & Warnings

• When figuring out the length and widths of the tiers, round the numbers to the nearest inch or half inch. This makes for easier math and it does not have to be precise measurements.

• Using a ruffler foot on your sewing machine makes for faster work than basting and gathering.

• You can make a skirt with more tiers. Just divide the overall length by the number of tiers.

References

• Cool People Sew; How to Make a Three Tiered Skirt; Ketcham Family; September2010
• Kuky Ideas; Tiered Skirt Tutorial; July 2006
• Indietutes; Tiered Skirt, Aka The Twirl Skirt; November 2008
• "Draping for Apparel Design"; Helen Joseph - Armstrong; 2000
• "Childrenswear Design"; Hilde Jaffe and Rosa Rosa; 1972
• "Guide to Fashion Sewing"; Connie Amaden-Crawford; 1986

Resources

• Chica and Jo; How to Sew a Tiered, Fuffled Skirt; Chica; May 2009
• Sewing.org; Ruffles; October 2009
• Sewing.org; Easy Waistband Casings-Elastic and Drawstrings; March 2006