https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/ruffle-skirt-4 • Posted by Cherry D.
You need time and patience! I watch something on TV that doesn't require much attention while I do projects like these. I'm quite lazy so I got inspired by the site but I didn't actually completely follow the instructions, just took the idea (measuring.. arrrhhh!!). I just made a strap that fitted me. It was too short so I had to add more material. Then.. you'll see the how to. I might add white lace to it because it's quite dark and the bow doesn't stand out etc. Anyway, I bought the fabric cheap for $5. I recommend finding material that won't fray so it's less sewing. And yes, I don't know how to work a sewing machine so this is hand sewn. I find you have more control anyway. Go by sight.
You need time and patience! I watch something on TV that doesn't require much attention while I do projects like these. I'm quite lazy so I got inspired by the site but I didn't actually completely follow the instructions, just took the idea (measuring.. arrrhhh!!). I just made a strap that fitted me. It was too short so I had to add more material. Then.. you'll see the how to. I might add white lace to it because it's quite dark and the bow doesn't stand out etc. Anyway, I bought the fabric cheap for $5. I recommend finding material that won't fray so it's less sewing. And yes, I don't know how to work a sewing machine so this is hand sewn. I find you have more control anyway. Go by sight.
1st, I made the strap (the top bit of the skirt). Basically you measure yourself properly (NOTE: beware if your material is stretchy! Mine was and I stretch it to fit but don't stretch it! Keep it loose but be able to fit you. You can always add a drawstring on the inside if it's too big). I sewed it from the inside so you can't tell it was sewn. I only did two sides and with the last I turned it inside out (so you want the outside on the inside to start with). I figure you don't need one side sewn because you can sew the end underneath the other end :)
I measured out the rest of the material. This bit is going to be the top ruffle, but you're going to make and sew it first. Measure the width you want the first ruffle to be and the second ruffle and try to make the length the same. Try to have twice as much as the top (the bit you just finished). But I didn't have enough. So I just did a baelish stitch (<- look at photo) and put the material on the top bit and pulled the thread so it could fit. It really depends on how ruffled you want your skirt. If you want it more ruffled than my skirt, have at least twice the length of the top. Mine was about 1 1/2 the length of the top.
So you lay it out on the ground and put lots of pins. You'll pin the ruffle to the top and start sewing.
Oh, how do I explain this. Look 2 pictures above. I did a similar stitch only one side does not show the stitching, only a dot. so you basically halve the stitch and put the visible thread on the inside.
Bad photo. But when that's done, you repeat that with the second layer and sew it to the top bit too. Then it's just about sewing the left side to the right side ^^ .. I also sewed the ruffle layers together. Ideally you want to sew the first/top layer, the left side to the right and the same for the bottom. But I sewed the wrong layers together and arrgghhh >_<" can't be bothered redoing it and you can't really tell.
As for making the bow, I got the straps, made a rectangle, scrunched the top and bottom together and tied a bow and sewed it. There's heaps of bow how-to's on this Cut Out + Keep site. I hope this how to makes sense. If it doesn't, feel free to message me. Anyway, good luck! :)