Paper Bag Skirt…….{{and hidden mistake}}

Okay, it’s not really a skirt made out of a paper bag.

But it’s called a “paper bag” style skirt.

Kind of a fun little skirt style that can be made pretty easily.

Well, unless you mess it up like I did the first time around.

I know, all paper bag skirts versions are a bit different…….but here’s my take on it.  

All cinched in with that flouncy bow tied in the front.

And with plenty of pleats, which gives it a nice fullness.

 And yes, we need fullness around here.

Because fullness allows for plenty of movement in the skirt…….you know, to help while gathering pine cones and such.

 The back is gathered with elastic (but is hiding underneath that waist tie), 

giving the skirt a nice snug fit.

Why not make one or two?  

They are certain to put smiles on faces.

(Directions are for about a 3T/4T…)

And as I mentioned above, I made this a little funky…….and would make it differently if I had to start again.  But it still worked out and really, the only problem is that there are 2 safety pins hidden in the wasitband, that will stay there forever.  So if that doesn’t bother you……do it my way.  If you’d rather skip the safety pins, read through and see where I made the mistake and then I’ll explain the alternate way.  But it’s not too different and can easily be adjusted, no worries.  

But it was too late to take pictures of the other way.  (sigh)  Haha!

I first started with a piece of fabric that was 45 x 26 inches.

I folded the piece of fabric in half lengthwise, and sewed along the 45 inch side, using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Then I turned that long tube right side out, and ironed it flat, with the seam about 3 inches from the top.  (Later, this seam will be on the inside of the skirt, and will not show.)  The reason for sewing the fabric into a tube and making it a double layer is to give this skirt an extra layer of fabric…….making the skirt stiffer and fuller, and giving the outward appearance a very sturdy shape.  

Then fold the fabric in half with the two raw edges together.

And pin the two edges together toward the top.  Place one pin 1 1/4 inch from the top, and the 2nd pin 1 inch below that.  This is where the elastic casing will go, a few steps ahead……so we need to leave an opening.  (And make sure that the seam that was ironed flat is towards the outside, so that after you turn this fabric right side out, the seam will be on the inside.)

Then sew along that raw edge with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, making sure to leave that inch between the 2 pins open.  

Then turn the tube right side out.  So now you have the beginning shape of a skirt, with a fold along the top and the bottom, an ironed horizontal seam on the inside and then this vertical seam that has the one inch opening towards the top.

Then, make sure that this vertical seam is along the very center of this back side of the skirt.  Then measure in 2 1/2 inches from both the right edge and the left edge of the skirt…..and place pins to mark it.  Then measure down 1 1/4 inch from the top and place pins, making a straight line in between to the two outer pins.  Or make a chalk line and skip the pins.  (This is the beginnings of casing for the elastic.)

Then make another line of pins, an inch down from the first line of the pins.

Then sew right along those two lines of pins, making 2 parallel lines that are 1 inch apart, with the top line starting 1 1/4 inches from the top and the second line 2 1/4 inches from the top.  And both lines should not extend beyond the two end pins that are 2 1/2 inches inward from both edges.

See the seams?  This is the casing that we’ll place the elastic in later.  (And the reason for measuring in 2 1/2 inches from both sides is because we need more fabric for the front to make pleats……and don’t need as much for the back elastic-gathered side.)

Then turn the skirt over to the front and make pleats about every inch……until you have about 11 inches of pleated material between the 2 pins.  (Need more help with pleats?  Check out this tutorial here.)

Then iron the pleats along the top by the pins, just a bit, to help the pleats all lay flat.  (But don’t iron the pleats all the way down to the bottom of the skirt.)

Then make a seam starting at the first pleat on one side, all the way across the pleats to the other side…….about 1 1/4 inches from the top edge.  Then make another seam 1 inch below that.  These seams don’t have to be perfectly measured……they are just keeping the pleats in place, but the seams will always be covered by the little waist tie and bow.

Then I turned the skirt over to the back.

Then I cut a piece of 3/4 inch wide elastic that was 7 inches long.  And placed a safety pin at both ends.

This is where I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand………”dang it”.  The plan was to use that little one inch opening and thread in the elastic and then I realized……..how am I going to get that little pin back out.  The skirt is sewn into a tube and there’s no exit.  So I just went with it.  

I threaded the elastic to the left first, all the way to the end, until I met up with the pleats.  Then I pushed the pin as much out of the way that I could, and made a seam at the edge, sewing the elastic to the skirt……..right by the edge of the pleats.  So that secured one end of the elastic in place.  Then I did the same thing with the right end of the elastic and sewed it into place on the far right side by those pleats.  And now there are 2 little floater safety pins that will never be seen again.  Oh well!