Introducing the perfect dress up ballet skirt. Too fun!
This skirt is sized to fit 4-8 years, but you could shorten the elastic for a smaller child, add a longer waistband for a larger size, or make it extra long and tie it like a wrap around skirt.
You will need:
- 2.8 metres of Fine Tulle for the skirt (or more if you are making a larger skirt)
- 20 cm of Stella Poly interlock fabric (or a firm jersey 120cm wide) for the waistband & ties
- 45 cm of 20mm non-roll elastic
- Large spool of thread to match colour of fabric and tulle
- A sewing machine
Step 1:
Cut the waistband fabric in half, so you have 2 x 60cm wide pieces of fabric. Set one aside for making the ties later.
Step 2:
Cut the tulle into 7 lengths of 40cm from selvedge to selvedge (each piece will be 269cm wide x 40cm deep)
Step 3:
Sew a gathering thread 1cm in from one edge of each piece of tulle along widest edge and working gently, pull the thread to gather the tulle into 60cm lengths.
Do this for all 7 pieces of tulle.
Step 4:
Working from the bottom up (like steps) and with one piece of gathered tulle at a time, pin and zigzag stitch over your gathered line to attach the tulle to the waistband.
Leave a gap of approx 1cm between each layer as you attach them to the waistband – this will give you a beautiful slightly rounded shape that will sit out nicely.
You may find that you have an uneven edge – or that the waistband has stretched slightly with the addition of the tulle. If this has happened, lay the skirt flat on the table and trim the sides back to the required size.
Step 5:
With the right side facing you, turn the top over twice, and hem it over the top layer of zig zagged tulle – ensuring you have enough space in that casing to allow for the insertion of your length of elastic.
Step 6:
Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and run it through the casing – using the safety pin to guide the elastic. Pin both ends to the edge of the waistband and sew in place.
Step 7:
Take the remaining piece of waistband fabric and cut it in half horizontally. You will now have 2 lengths of fabric 10cm wide by 60cm long.
Zig zag all edges of the waistband ties.
With right sides facing, attach the waistband ties to each edge of the waistband, sew in place, fold back and then overstitch on the right side to strengthen the tie and make a neat edge.
Step 8:
Tie the skirt Around the waist of your ballerina and watch her leap about.
so cute and pretty!
Looks gorgeous! (Is it OK to dress my boy in a tutu too??!)