dolly's skirt

Today we are getting our third snow storm in 10 days....I definitively need to create warm weather craft!!

So here is my first attempt at a tutorial, a dolly's skirt, perfect for a nice spring day!

to make this skirt, you need

  fabric (less than 1/4 yard)

(I like to use at least 2 different fabrics, so that the bottom ruffle has a petticoat aspect, you can also use some lace as I did for the second skirt.)

 thread

elastic (measure the doll's waist, I use about 10.5 inch)

(3/8 inch width works well, but 1/4 or 1/2 is fine too)

you need to cut

for the top band a rectangle 4 * 13 inch

for the middle band a rectangle 4 * 26 inch

for the bottom band a rectangle 1.5 * 42 inch

if using lace cut to 27 inch

the seam allowance is 1/4 inch.

here are the two sets of pieces for both skirt.

First let's focus on the bottom skirt, without the lace.

Take the top band, fold it in half, wrong side together, iron it, sew 1/2 inch away from the ironed side to make the casing for the elastic (if using 1/4 inch elastic sew 3/8, if using 1/2 inch elastic, sew 5/8). Mark the middle of the band

Take the middle band, sew two rows of long stitches at the top for gathering at 1/8 and 1/4. Mark the middle of the band.

Pull the the thread and gather the top.

Match to the length of the top band, matching the middle points, distributing the gathers.

Sew just below the gathering stitches, a large 1/4 inch.

Zigzag the raw edge, iron the seam allowance toward the top band.

Stitch the seam allowance to the top band from the top with a straight stitch.

Hem the bottom of the third band, you can fold under twice 1/4 inch or use a narrow hemmer foot, and just roll the fabric to make the hem.

Gather the top of the band with two rows of long straight stitches, match the length to the middle band, and pin in place.

Sew with a straight stitch and then zigzag the edge for a neat finish.

With your iron, press the seam allowance toward the middle band and sew a straight stitch from the top to secure the seam allowance.

Insert the elastic with a safety pin, stitch the elastic 1/8 of each side.

Put the skirt right side together, stitch the side seam and finish it with a zigzag stitch.

Turn right side out and you are done!!

For the second skirt, start the same way for the top and middle bands.

To attach the lace, put right side together, leaving about 1/8-1/4 inch between the fabric and the lace.

Use a wide zigzag stitch (about 3.5 in width and 0.9 in length), it will roll the fabric toward the lace, securing together.

This is what it will look like when you are done.

Iron, press the seam allowance toward the middle band.

Stitch from the top a straight stitch.

Finish the skirt the same way than the first skirt and voila!

These skirts fit well the 18 inch dolls (like American doll), but it also work for other size dolls, you might need to adapt the length of the middle band and the elastic width, unless you like it longer.

Here are other versions of the same skirts.

I like better the shorter versions, the long was made with a longer middle band and longer bottom band, rickrack was added just above the seam.

Please let me know if you need help making your own version.

Happy sewing!