Big Girl Tutu Skirt

This Big Girl Tutu will bring out your inner Carrie Bradshaw. Once you put it on, you will feel oh so pretty. I've made tons of tutus for my little love bug but when I saw these all over Pinterest, I had to make one for myself. I think I'll probably have one in every color. Best part is they're simple, easy to make, inexpensive and freaking awesome. Here's how:

Materials:

Sewing machine or serger

About 10 yards of tulle

1-2 yards of lining fabric

1 1/2 - 2 inch elastic

Scissors

Paper for making pattern

To make this skirt we're making a circle skirt or "skater" skirt pattern. You can see how to do that here. Just don't cut out a waistband for it. Use newspaper or whatever you have to make a pattern because you will use it a lot. The waist will be a little large which is what we want, so no worries.

I know this pic is a little "Wicked Witch of the West" so it's just to give you an idea of how full it is!

Cut out your lining. I chose a black poly-blend that is light and airy. Perfect for these types of skirts. Then turn your skirt inside out and hem the bottom. I serged the bottom instead of hemming because I'm just that lazy. 

Next, you have to cut out all of your tulle. I did 5 layers on mine, you can do more or less. Make sure you use the circle skirt pattern. I tried a different way since tulle is such a pain to cut and it didn't work out and I had to redo it. So, make sure you use your pattern! I've also found the easiest way to cut poly and tulle is to lay it on carpet or a rug. It doesn't move around as much and makes it a heck of a lot easier.

Once you have everything cut, pin it all together at the waistline. One layer at at time. This takes the longest so do what I did and watch an episode of Chelsea. It doesn't seem to take as long when you're laughing at something. When everything is pinned, serge or do a tight zigzag stitch to hold it all together. 

Then get your elastic ready. Cut it to your waist measurement minus an inch. Put right sides together and zigzag stitch or serge the ends together. Now,this part starts to get hard and confusing. I tried looking up some YouTube videos to help, but can't find any that would make this easier...so, mark your elastic into quarters. Fold it in half and pin, then in half the other way and pin. Do the same with your skirt. Put the elastic inside out over the right side of your skirt and match up the pins. Pin the elastic then serge or do a medium zigzag stitch to attach it. To sew the elastic, make sure you pull it taught so it stretches out to the next pin and sews on right.

Try it on and go out tonight to show it off! Because let's be honest, this is THE skirt to show off.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Be sure to follow us on Pinterest at makeitlovediy so you don't miss anything!

 

 

Elastic Waist Pleated Skirt

I've had this fabric for a few weeks now and finally decided what I wanted to make. I need some new work clothes and can't find too many things that I like in store, so I made this elastic high waist (because I loath installing zippers) pleated knee-ish length skirt. Of course, there's a few things I would change about it the next time I make one, but I'll fill you in on what they are when we get to that. This, like most of my tutorials is really simple. As long as you know how to sew, it will go by super fast.

Materilas:

1-2 yards of fabric

(I used a plain old cotton that was 50% off! You want something a little stiff to hold the shape but pick what you fancy)

1/2"-1" elastic

(you need enough to fit your waist)

I started with cutting my fabric on the fold to have 2 pieces, each 1 yard long and cutting a waistband from each piece. I did my waistband 2" wide, which will make it about an inch wide once sewn. (This is where I would have cut to make it 4" to have at least a 2" waistband). You want to make sure the skirt will stretch over the widest part of you (mine are my giant hips) comfortably. So,measure around your widest part (giving a little extra wiggle room) and divide by 2 and write that number down. Measure out your fabric, and subtract the number you wrote down from that. This is how much you have to make pleats. Take your pleats number and divide it by 2 (inches used per pleat). Now, take the length in inches of your fabric and divide it by the number you just came up with. This is how far your pleats are apart from center of pleat to center of pleat. Once you figure this number out, mark on the right-side of your fabric every x amount of inches that number was. Then go back and mark 1" on each side of that mark. Do this on both pieces of your skirt. Then press and pin your pleats in to the center line. If you don't know how to do these box pleats, check out this tutorial to see how. 

One you have your pleats done on each side of the skirt, lay it out and match your waistbands up to it. Cut your waistbands to size with the waist of your skirt. Then, put right sides together with your skirt and pin along the side seams, serge or zigzag stitch together and press. Do the same for your waistbands.

Once right sides are sewn together, turn your skirt right-side-out and waistband inside out. Pull your waistband down the waist of your skirt (I pulled it down about 1/4" or where I had stitched down my pleats), pin and zigzag stitch in place. Turn over and press your seam. Turn your skirt inside out and press your waist band down just above the stitch line you just did. Pin and stitch around, leaving at least an inch opening to slide your elastic in. 

Now, cut your elastic to your waist measurement minus 1 inch. Hook on a safety pin and shove it through your casing. Once you get all the way around your waist band, overlap your elastic by 1/2" and zigzag stitch together. Get your elastic ends back in your casing and stitch the casing closed.

Lastly, hem your skirt. Turn your skirt inside out and press up 1/4", then another 1/4", pin and stitch down.

And you're done! It's quick, easy and super Cute!

Don't forget to follow us on pinterest and share with your friends!

 

 

Sweet Spring

This week, we're making an entire outfit! A loose polyester tank, a bandeau top and a "skater" skirt. I haven't been able to wear anything (out in public) that shows my belly since I had the sweet baby. Stretch marks galore! I want to participate in this bandeau with a sheer flowy top trend, so I had to make a high-waisted skirt to do so...and this was the outcome...

If you shop for your fabric right, you can find some great deals. I don't like making clothes for the same price I can buy them for. It makes all the time completely pointless, so I always buy sale fabrics or take coupons in. I ended up spending $10 for this outfit. Including the fabric for the top, bandeau, skirt and zipper. For the top, I used Hancock's "value fabric" polyester. Only $4.95/yard! I only bought 1/2 yard, but next time will get a yard. The bandeau top, I used a stretch lace. And for the skirt, I found some amazing cotton floral fabric at 40% off! I'm a huge bargain shopper, but I have never been able to go buy 3 pieces for only $10 so I was super excited to make this outfit.

First we'll start with the top:

Materials

1/2-1 yard of loose fabric

Double fold biased tape (optional)

To make the pattern for your shirt, find a shirt you like the fit of but make sure it's loose and has a wide enough neckline that it will fit over your head without stretching. Turn it inside out and mark your pattern, leaving room for seam allowance. Cut your pieces out. Cutout a 4x4 piece of the fabric that we'll use for the pocket on the chest.

Once cutout, put your shirt with right-sides together and zig-zag stitch or serge your side seams and shoulder seams then press. Now you can either use double fold biased tape for your hem or fold over your hem 1/4" and press then another 1/4" and press, pin and stitch. (I've learned that if you serge the edges or put a zig-zag stitch around your edges, it will help with hemming them. It gives the fabric a little more weight and helps you keep an even hem.)

Now to just add your pocket. With your 4x4 square, either hem the edges or use your biased tape. Put your shirt on and mark where you want your pocket. Pin your pocket down and don't forget to leave the top open! I really wish I would have just used my poly fabric for the pocket. I think the print is a little too much with the outfit. Anyways, done with a simple little top!

Now to the Bandeau Top!

Materials

1/4 yard of fabric (something very stretchy)

1/4" elastic

Bandeau tops are so easy to make, that you want to but one again. First, take your chest measurement and subtract 5" from it. We're taking inches off so it will fit snug. Then measure from where you want your bandeau to start and down to where you want it to end and add seam allowance. (With the stretch lace, I didn't end up hemming the top and bottom.) Once cutout, put right sides together and sew up your side seams and press. Then sew down your hem. Now, get out your elastic. I cutoff enough elastic for the length of my top, but you won't need that much. Make sure your top is turned inside out and mark a straight line down the center front. Start sewing your elastic with a zigzag stitch if you're using something like lace, or a straight stitch. Pull the elastic pretty hard while your sewing it down to create the ruching. Once it's sewn down, cut the excess off. Sewing the elastic down will create a sweatheart neckline.

Then to the Skater Skirt. The skater skirt is really just a full skirt like a pleated skirt but without all the pleating. You need plenty of fabric for it since we'll be cutting it on a fold.

First you need to make your template for your waist which will be a half circle. Measure your waist then add seam allowance for your zipper. Then figure out the diameter of the circle by dividing your measurement by 3.14. Make your half circle like this:

Decide how long you want your skirt and add room for seem allowance then take 2" off that measurement so we can add a waistband. Lay your fabric out, folded in half like it comes off the bolt. From one end, measure up how long you wanted your skirt then pin down your half circle on the fold. Then mark on the other side of the circle down the length you want your skirt and mark from the center of your half circle down the length you want your skirt. Now connect your marks then cutout and cut your waist hole out so it will make large half circle like this:

Then cutout your waistband. I always cut waistbands on the fold so I have less sewing to do. If you don't have any more fold, just cut 2 strips out the length of your waist measurement plus seam allowance and sew right-sides together at the top and sides.

Lay your skirt out and cut straight down one side of your skirt. Then lay it out and attach your waistband with right sides together and sew then press. Once your waistband is sewn on, install your zipper according to manufacturer's instructions then finish sewing your seam together.

Lastly, all you need to do is hem your skirt and you're done with your outfit!

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial this week and thanks for checking it out! You can also follow me on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/makeitlovediy