A Little More About the Ruffled Skirt Sewing

I love my new skirt and have already had so many 

compliment on it!! Today I wanted to share a little more

of my creative and sewing process for this. 

I first started wanting something a little more fitted than just a regular gathered skirt.

So I took waist and hip measurements and then dropped straight down for the skirt.

It worked and fit....however was a little tighter than I wanted in something I might wear all day.

I really want a great fit, but plenty ease of movement.  The first skirt I made I also used 4" 

ruffles, which are pictured...my second skirt and the finished skirt photos feature the 

5" ruffles which I really love the most. It is all personal preference though.

I ended up using a 48" sweep at the bottom, but will go just a little

more on the next one. Probably more like 50"-52". I haven't

quite decided which.

Cut 5" ruffles for both skirt panels.

Mark the panels where you want your ruffles to fall. 

My bottom ruffle is 3" up, then 2" between each ruffle until the top one.

I used 3" between the very top and the second ruffle.

Run a gather stitch on all ruffles. I just gather and adjust each one

individually on the skirt panel and pin in place. 

my ruffles are cut the width of the fabric, but I didn't use all the width. 

Just gather to you taste and liking for the overall look. 

Trim the extra and sew the side seams. I use a 1/4" seam allowance and then serge the 

seam for a finished look. 

You will notice the ruffles are not hemmed though and the will ravel.

I also serge the very top before tuning it under for an elastic casing.

Turn down 1" and sew in place. I then use 3/4" elastic

I would only wash this skirt on cold and hang dry. You will 

probably have to trim some threads after washing depending on

how much ravels. For a more tailored look....of course hem all the ruffles.

This would also be great done in knits with a yoga style waistband. 

If I used anything other than muslin I would most likely hem the ruffles

to have a more finished tailored look.

But I think the muslin gives a fun messy, and even 

anthropology inspired look. 

Happy Sewing :)