Scalloped Skirt Tutorial (Sew Through the Decades Challenge, Week One)

I think I would have rather liked the skirt a bit more with the layers sewn closer together, with not so much space in between the two different fabrics, but I still like it a lot.

 
Fashion Era had the following picture on their website, listing this as fashion for children in 1905.  I thought that dress on the right had a lot of potential for a skirt.  So a skirt it now is! 
There were sashes on a lot of dresses during 1900-1909, so I made a sash to coordinate with the skirt.

Fun fun!  Kind of reminds me of a cupcake, but that name was taken, along with every other name I could think of!

 

What You’ll Need to make a size 18 month-2T skirt (adjust as needed for other sizes):

-Two 20” x 7“ fabric for top portion and two same size for lining on top portion (you’d make these shorter if sewing below the elastic casing, as explained why above)

-Two 20” x 13.5” fabric for bottom portion and two the same size for lining on bottom portion

-18” elastic, 3/4” thick (more or less depending on size of child’s waist.  Measure child’s waist and subtract 2”-4” depending on how snug you want it)

-circle for making scallops.  I made my circle on the computer and to get 5 scallops per side of skirt, mine measures 3.75” in diameter

-48” x 4” strip coordinating fabric for the sash, optional (longer or shorter also depending on size of child’s waist)


Start by taking one of the fabric pieces, and along the bottom long side, mark a line 2” from the bottom. 

Line up the circle with the bottom and trace up to the 2” mark, leaving just a small gap in between each 1/2 circle you trace. 

Cut the edge around the half circles so it now looks like this.  Repeat with each piece of fabric, so 8 fabric pieces total (since you cut the lining the same way).

Place the same size lining piece and the main outer fabric right sides together.  Pin in place and sew around the half circles 1/4” in. 

Cut the excess off, and cut straight in the corners of the space where the half circles meet, but make sure you don’t cut too far in!  Second picture below shows how far to cut on the left half circle.  

Turn and topstitch just around the scallops.  Repeat with the other rectangles of fabric.

Take the top portion of the skirt, and pull the lining out like this:

Fold in half and line up the long edge. 

Sew just along the top edge, leaving sides open.  

Turn right side out and press.  Repeat with other top portion.

Mark a line 3” down on the bottom portion.  Pin the top portion along that 3” line. 

Sew the top portion to the bottom portion, about 1/4” from edge.  Repeat with other top and bottom portion.

Now you’ll have two pieces like this, a front and back to the skirt.

Lay right sides together, matching up the places that should be aligned.

Sew along each side.

I pressed my seam to one side and then sewed a line 1/4” away from the seam, on the top of the skirt.

To make the casing, start by folding over the top of the skirt about 1/4”.

Next fold over so it’s close to the line from sewing on the top portion.

Pin and sew, close to the edge.

Thread elastic through

Zig-zag the elastic together and sew the opening of the casing closed.

Now you’ll have this!

   
All you have left to do is the optional sash!

Take your 48” x 4” strip and sew right sides together. 
Turn, finish ends, and topstitch.  I only topstitched along one side because I wanted it to be kind of poofy. 

All done!     

Goodness, doesn’t B look like a natural here? Work it, my little 1 and a half year old!