Remember when I showed you that wooden LOVE sign that I made for Chloe’s room a couple months ago? Well, I placed a little mini dress form up on her dresser, in front of the LOVE sign……with plans to add a bit of color/ruffle to it. And I finally did.
Let girls be girly, right? Well, that’s what I tell myself at least. ;) And I know not all of you will have a mini dress form the exact same size (I bought mine at Hobby Lobby, in case you’re looking) but the ruffled skirt I made was also the perfect size to fit an 18 inch doll…..so this will work great for that too. In case you have a girl or two into those American Girl sized dolls.
But Elli’s doll isn’t going to wear the skirt for long…….because it belongs on the dress form. And that’s it. (Do you hear me Elli?!)
But, I may have to make another one for that little doll. Because I can’t stop gushing at how cute it looks on her. :)
The skirt is full and fluffy and adds some great color to that plain dress form. It totally makes me smile. :)
And it has an easy on/off velcro closure in the back……..
……..which makes it easy for little fingers to put on a doll as well.
I kinda love it!
Want to make one too?
**Keep in mind, the way I put this skirt together is not for regular use. It’s not meant to worn a lot or to be washed. If you want to create a skirt for a child to dress up with, you’ll have to adjust a few thing. (hem the bottom, possibly add a different closure, etc.)
First measure the waist of the dress form (or doll) you’re making the skirt for. Mine is 11 inches. (Which is also about the same as Elli’s doll.) Then cut a larger strip of fabric that is 3-4 times as long as the waist measurement, to give the skirt some really nice fullness. As for the height of this strip, mine is about 4 inches tall. But I didn’t hem the bottom since it won’t ever be washed (resulting in fraying) but you’ll need to add more for a seam allowance, if you wish to add one. Cut a piece of tulle that is the same length but is about one inch taller, so that it peeks out below the bottom of the skirt.
Next, you’ll need a smaller strip for the waist band. Add two inches to the waist measurement and cut the strip that long……and then make it about 3 inches tall.Â
Now, serge (or zig-zag) along one side of the strip and then fold the strip in half lengthwise and iron flat. Then, fold under the edge that’s not serged (or zig-zagged) towards the inside of the ironed fold, about a 1/2 inch. Iron that flat too.
Then, on each end, fold each end towards the inside a 1/2 inch, and sew in place.
Then, sew a basting stitch along the top of the fabric strip and the tulle strip, about a 1/2 inch from the top, and then gather it in to the same width as the waistband. (Need help with gathering?)
Then, open up with waistband and then pin the tulle to the “wrong” side of the serged (or zig-zagged) edge of the waistband.
See that? The tulle is overlapping the bottom edge of the fabric by about a 1/2 inch.Â
Sew in place.
Next, pin the gathered fabric to the folded side of the waistband (remember, keep the waistband opened up). The “wrong” side of the waist band should be pinned to the “right” side of the gathered fabric. (Overlap by about a 1/2 inch.)
Before sewing in place, fold the waistband back into place, to be sure everything looks correct and is facing the right way.Â
Then open it back up and sew the gathered fabric in place, making a seam about an 1/8 of an inch from the bottom edge of the folded edge of the waistband.Â
Then sew a square of veclro onto each end of the skirt opening. One piece on the inside of the skirt and one on the outside…….so that you can overlap the skirt and close it.
And that’s it.
Have fun with it!
Ashley
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Hi, I’m Ashley—the DIY-enthusiast behind this crazy blog!
