Thursday, December 18, 2008

tutorial: bandanna skirt

these skirts fit a 2-3 year old...you can adapt it for older girls by adding layers and extra bandanna's (maybe i'll make a tutorial of that later on)

first off get yourself a bandana



fold in half and press with an iron.

next cut in half with some fabric scissors. (took this picture with my left hand, yeah i'm talented like that)
this will be the bottom part of your skirt, it adds length and a little embellishment as well!
i cut the 2 strips the length of the bandanna (mine was 21 and half inches) at 4 inches width (you could cut it wider if you want the skirt to be longer)
fold in half and press with an iron
place raw edge towards the bottom of the skirt with the "right side" of fabric facing up
sew your strips onto the bottoms of the bandanna
press down with iron
this is what your bandanna halves should look like
right sides together, line up your seams where the bandanna and the bottom strip come together, sew together both halves to create a tube.
hmm where did my picture of me sewing it go? okay, well it's lost but you don't need it
now to make the casing for the elastic on the waist band, first fold over around 1/2 inch of the top, press that down with an iron
fold over one more time around 1/2 inch again and press with an iron again

next sew as close as you can to the bottom open edge of your casing (this will help to slide your elastic a lot easier)

go around the whole skirt and leave open about an inch so that you can put your elastic in the casing. (make sure you back stitch when you start and end so that it doesn't unravel as you put in your elastic)
with a safety pin slide in your elastic (it can be thicker than what i show here, this is all i had at the moment!)

once it's all in, sew the elastic together and cut off excess, and go back and sew finish the hole you left open for putting in the elastic.


if you have any question feel free to ask! hope this tutorial is helpful though!
comments closed

35 comments:

rachel griffith said...

how stinkin' cute!!!

i can't wait to make one for melanie!!!

thanks for sharing!!!

Lisa @ Life with 4! said...

that looks and sounds super easy. I was thinking it would take more than 1 bandana but this works out great since I have 2 bandanas and 2 girls. yeah!
I'll let ya know if I try it.

Jenny said...

Can I ask a stupid question? Well, I guess I'm going to anyways...What size would you say it makes? Just wondering. I have a 8 month old and a 4 year old, but I don't have a bandana hanging around to eyeball it (gave all those up when I quit the crips..ha, ha j/k). I would love to try this!
Thanks,
Jenny

K said...

I am so linking to this on my blog! I love it.

Tonya said...

My daughter got a sewing machine for Christmas from her Nana. I think I am going to get her a bandana and let her make this for a friend's little girl! Thank you for the post!

Deeanna said...

You are a great photographer! Everything wonderful about your blog goes back to your photos that you add to your entries. You are one smart gal! Loved this tutorial!!!

lera said...

VERY cute.

Jenny said...

Sorry I'm such an idiot! I totally missed where you said what size it fit IN THE FIRST 2 FLIPPIN LINES OF THE POST! Thanks for taking the time to respond to me anyway!

amy smart said...

So cute, V. Good job on the tutorial. Also, I love the aprons you listed. I have one and I LOVE to wear it!

And ditto on the feelings about snow.

Becca said...

love love love your tutorials! can't say it enough! you're awesome lady!

Kara said...

So cute, I wish Emery was a little smaller. Oh well, I don't think I could make it anyway. I seriously can't sew!

Laura said...

Great tutorial! So cute.

Anonymous said...

That looks like fun! I happen to have a few bandanas around the house. Awesome.

I do have a question. How long was the elastic that you used? I could probably try measuring my daughter's waist, but I'm not sure how much shorter the elastic should be, kwim? Like an inch or two smaller than her waist?

Thanks for the great tutorial!

V and Co. said...

i just measure my daughter's waist and then i just sort of guestimate it. when i first started out making them i would put the skirt on her and just cinch (sp?) it around her, make sure it's not too tight though!

Anne said...

I love this project so much!! I kind of wish my daughter was a toddler again just so I could make this for her. I guess that's what friends' kids are for, right? Anyway, I posted a link to this on Craft Gossip Sewing Blog:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-toddler-skirt-from-bandanas/2009/01/07/

Stephanie @ My Answered Prayer said...

Thanks for the tut...can't wait to try these.

Amber said...

Adorable! I'm bookmarking for future reference. Thanks!

Lisa said...

I just made one of these, and have several more in the works. It turned out great! Thanks for a fast cute tutorial.

SouthernDogwoods said...

I LOVE this! I have twin daughters who will LOVE these too! I can not wait to make these - I bought the bandanas today! I will post on my blog when done & link up your blog for the wonderful tutorial. Thanks for sharing!

Wolfie said...

This is toooooooooooooo cute!!!

Will have to do this for my 5 year old!!

Thanks.

WOLFIE

Kim said...

I am not certain how I found your blog, but I am glad I did. I just whipped up one of these skirts for my monkey and I am in love!! Thank you for sharing!!

two_girls said...

I just made this for my daughter, it was so easy! I love it!!! Anyone can make this, yes...anyone!

Robyn said...

Thanks for sharing this tutorial! I just made one this past weekend. Will do again.

Anya said...

Yet another great tutorial! Thank you for sharing it. I linked at PassiFlora today: http://passifloramag.com/2009/04/veggie-parade-and-skirt-tutorials/

Happy crafting!

Kirsten said...

Thanks for the instructions! My skirt turned out really well. :)

ranchmama said...

Thanks for doing this! I just made one and love it. Even a beginner like me could do it.

mommy2cjn said...

This skirt is too cute! I finally made mine. I ended up adding a topstitch around the bottom, because my bottom piece kept folding up. Maybe it is just my little girl, or my iron sucks. Either way, topstitch did the trick. Thanks for the tut.

saffiertje said...

this is sooo easy but also WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAy to cute!!!
Have a lot of bandana's into the drawer... Sertain that i am going to try thisone.
What size is this skirt for???
love Miranda

Anonymous said...

Thanks! I have made one for my toddler and it's so cute!

Anonymous said...

Managed a regular sized one so I attempted to make one for a newborn... took a lot of cutting but it turned out cute! I also added a ribbon border right above the seam between the trim and the bandanna. This was my first article of clothing I've made.... thanks for teaching me the ropes!!

community helpers said...

I just wanted you to know I love this!!!!! I took your idea, and made it smaller for my twin nieces they are 10 months old. As with any family money is tight for my sister so I bought a Halloween bandanna at Joanns for 1.19. Had the elastic laying around, and what I did was cut it in half, and used each half for a skirt for the girls. This was super fast and cute, now with a orange onsie and this skirt they have a costume!!!!!! This would fit to maybe a year to 14 months or so, . and I didnt have to add any length. Thanks so much cant wait to make one for my other niece,

Rowanmayfairs said...

Thanks for the tutorial !

I picked up two bandana's at Hobby Lobby and have some cordinating fabric here at home !

Going to attempt one with fabric then try to figure out how to put tulle under the 2nd skirt to make it fluffy/puffy !

Sherri @ Dude I Made It said...

I love this fun tutorial! Thanks so much for sharing. I made a skirt today. So easy and fun! I've posted a link to you on my blog. Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

Love this idea! I have a question!
How do I hide my raw edges? I am just starting sewing so I am learning. I took home-ec in 6th grade so its been awhile and I am trying to reteach myself.
Please email me back about this at
amanchesgirl03@yahoo.com
Thank you
Brittney

Binnur A. Ö. said...

easy peasy but wonderful job :)

I liked it very much.

My daughter is 6 years old. I think bandana isnot enouh for her.
But I got the ide nd use it for any piece of material.
Thnks from Turkey
Binnur

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