Handkerchief Skirt W/ Roll Down Waistband From Hand-me-down T Shirts
by sarahfish in Craft > Fashion
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Handkerchief Skirt W/ Roll Down Waistband From Hand-me-down T Shirts
This instructable will show you how to make a handkerchief skirt, by cutting panels, and a bit of math. It will also show you how to make a "yoga-style" roll down waistband that could be put on any skirt or bottom.
Supplies
Supplies:
-scissors
-sewing machine
-thread
-measuring tape
-sewing pins
-Choosing a Material:
So you're going to need material. You can buy fabric, I'd suggest a cotton/lycra blend, or something that's a bit stretchy. In this, I use hand-me-down t shirts.
-Amount of Material:
For a size 6ish women's, I use 3 mens shirts in this, but I would suggest at least one more so that it flows a bit better.
More panels = more frills
If you were buying fabric, for the same size skirt, I'd say at least 3 yds.
you can use different colors, or patterns, or different patterns, whatever you like.
-scissors
-sewing machine
-thread
-measuring tape
-sewing pins
-Choosing a Material:
So you're going to need material. You can buy fabric, I'd suggest a cotton/lycra blend, or something that's a bit stretchy. In this, I use hand-me-down t shirts.
-Amount of Material:
For a size 6ish women's, I use 3 mens shirts in this, but I would suggest at least one more so that it flows a bit better.
More panels = more frills
If you were buying fabric, for the same size skirt, I'd say at least 3 yds.
you can use different colors, or patterns, or different patterns, whatever you like.
Wash and Iron Everything
Be sure to wash new fabric or dirty shirts.
Then iron, iron, iron.
For that matter, iron things first, and any other time you have a newly cut edge, or before you sew, iron again!
The iron is your friend. The iron is your friend.
Then iron, iron, iron.
For that matter, iron things first, and any other time you have a newly cut edge, or before you sew, iron again!
The iron is your friend. The iron is your friend.
Cutting Off the Sleeves
If you are using new fabric, pretend you never saw this step...
Cut the shirts just under the armpits to make a large tube of fabric. put the sleeves and shoulders aside.
You can cut the sleeves into headbands, or make rags. Aren't t shirts fun?
Cut the shirts just under the armpits to make a large tube of fabric. put the sleeves and shoulders aside.
You can cut the sleeves into headbands, or make rags. Aren't t shirts fun?
The Cutting Begins
-Cut one side of the tube so that you make a long piece of fabric
-leave it folded in half
*if you are using t shirts, they may have a seems down the side, feel free to cut the seem off completely
-If you are using new fabric, you can fold, but it may be easier to just cut the panels out separately from flat fabric, try making a paper form using the following measurements (it should look like an oversized necktie)
-leave it folded in half
*if you are using t shirts, they may have a seems down the side, feel free to cut the seem off completely
-If you are using new fabric, you can fold, but it may be easier to just cut the panels out separately from flat fabric, try making a paper form using the following measurements (it should look like an oversized necktie)
Fold, Measure and Cut
-Before you continue on this step, think about how wide you want each panel to be. You should make your fabric 1/2" wider than you want your panels, if you want to hem the bottom, make your panels 1/2" longer than you want the skirt
-Fold the fabric along the longer axis
-Determine how long you want your frills/cuts to be at the bottom, and measure that distance in from the upper corner (the side with all 4 corners, not the side with the fold)
*note, if you want/need to hem the bottom, measure up 1/4" less than how big you want the frills
*NOTE leaving the fabric in two layers will allow you to cut two panels at once. If you're using new fabric, you don't have to do two at once.
-Now cut at an angle from the bottom of the fold to the pinned distance
-Fold the fabric along the longer axis
-Determine how long you want your frills/cuts to be at the bottom, and measure that distance in from the upper corner (the side with all 4 corners, not the side with the fold)
*note, if you want/need to hem the bottom, measure up 1/4" less than how big you want the frills
*NOTE leaving the fabric in two layers will allow you to cut two panels at once. If you're using new fabric, you don't have to do two at once.
-Now cut at an angle from the bottom of the fold to the pinned distance
Measure and Cut, Measure and Cut
Ok, there's going to be a bit of math, but stick with me, I know you can do it!
-measure your circumference (around) 4" BELOW your waist
-divide that number by the number of panels you want your skirt to have
EXAMPLE, my below waist measure was 40", and I want to make 4 panels, thus, I will make 4, 10" panels (40/4=10)
-now remember, your panel is currently folded in half the long way, so you must dived the panel width by 2
EXAMPLE 10/2=5
see, I told you you could do it!
-measure 2" in from the side with the seem cut
-measure your 1/2 panel width up (5" for me), pin this spot
-now mark a diagonal cut from this pin to the top of the corner you made in the last step
-cut PERPENDICULAR from the edge to the pin (not on the diagonal)
-the cut the diagonal from the pin to the bottom
repeat this for all your panels
-measure your circumference (around) 4" BELOW your waist
-divide that number by the number of panels you want your skirt to have
EXAMPLE, my below waist measure was 40", and I want to make 4 panels, thus, I will make 4, 10" panels (40/4=10)
-now remember, your panel is currently folded in half the long way, so you must dived the panel width by 2
EXAMPLE 10/2=5
see, I told you you could do it!
-measure 2" in from the side with the seem cut
-measure your 1/2 panel width up (5" for me), pin this spot
-now mark a diagonal cut from this pin to the top of the corner you made in the last step
-cut PERPENDICULAR from the edge to the pin (not on the diagonal)
-the cut the diagonal from the pin to the bottom
repeat this for all your panels
Separate the Point*
*If you are using t-shirts, do this step. If you are not, pretend this never happened
Cut the very end of the point, so that you separate the two panels
-Cut up the side if there is no seem there
-Cut the seem out if there is a seem
Cut the very end of the point, so that you separate the two panels
-Cut up the side if there is no seem there
-Cut the seem out if there is a seem
Sewing Up the Panels
Once you have all your panels cut, it's time to sew them up
-Because you're so well trained, I'm sure you've already ironed, you crazy kids...
-Lay two panels over each other, with the "good side" facing in (the "good side" will be the outside of the skirt)
*note-if you're using different colors/patterns of fabric, be sure to alternate!
-Pin up one side of of the panels
-sew baby sew
-Now repeat that with each panel, keeping the "good side" in
-To complete it, sew the open end of your last panel, to the open end of the first panel, keeping the good side in
-Because you're so well trained, I'm sure you've already ironed, you crazy kids...
-Lay two panels over each other, with the "good side" facing in (the "good side" will be the outside of the skirt)
*note-if you're using different colors/patterns of fabric, be sure to alternate!
-Pin up one side of of the panels
-sew baby sew
-Now repeat that with each panel, keeping the "good side" in
-To complete it, sew the open end of your last panel, to the open end of the first panel, keeping the good side in
Fabric for the Waistband
Sorry, one of these is blurry...
-If you're using t-shirts, cut another just under the armpits
-If you are using new fabric, determine the size first, then cut as much as you need
-If your t-shirt has a hem on the bottom, cut it off
-If you're using t-shirts, cut another just under the armpits
-If you are using new fabric, determine the size first, then cut as much as you need
-If your t-shirt has a hem on the bottom, cut it off
Making the Waistband
-Measure your waist where the top of your pants fit.
-This will be how wide your waistband tube should be
-If you're using an old t-shirt, the tube should be about 8-12inches tall, if not, use a piece of fabric that is
-If you're using new fabric, your piece should be 8-12 inches tall, by your waist long
*note- if you are using a t-shirt, and it's still a tube (folded in half), dived the number in half when you measure it
-Pin and cut
-Sew up where you just cut
-This will be how wide your waistband tube should be
-If you're using an old t-shirt, the tube should be about 8-12inches tall, if not, use a piece of fabric that is
-If you're using new fabric, your piece should be 8-12 inches tall, by your waist long
*note- if you are using a t-shirt, and it's still a tube (folded in half), dived the number in half when you measure it
-Pin and cut
-Sew up where you just cut
Putting It All Together
You should now have
1. a tube as wide as your waist, and 8-10" tall
2. all your panel sewn together, with the top being about as wide as your waist
-Take your time with this, pay attention to what side will end up facing out on the band and the skirt
-Turn the panels so that the "bad side" (side with exposed seems) faces out
-Turn the waistband tube in half along the 8-10" axis, with the "good-side" facing out
-Tuck the waistband (good-side out) INSIDE the top of the panels (bad-side out)
*the side of the tube with all the edges goes up
1. a tube as wide as your waist, and 8-10" tall
2. all your panel sewn together, with the top being about as wide as your waist
-Take your time with this, pay attention to what side will end up facing out on the band and the skirt
-Turn the panels so that the "bad side" (side with exposed seems) faces out
-Turn the waistband tube in half along the 8-10" axis, with the "good-side" facing out
-Tuck the waistband (good-side out) INSIDE the top of the panels (bad-side out)
*the side of the tube with all the edges goes up
*Oh No, It's Too Big! *I Want My Next Skirt to Be More Frilly!
Ok, so I was sloppy with my measuring. I'm sure you followed the instructions well, and yours is beautiful, but for the slackers out there who were a little liberal in their measuring, no worries, this is the easiest "take in" ever!
-Toss it on and pull the excess fabric to one side
-The amount that you can pull to the side, will look like a "V" the length of the "V" (both sides) is how much you need to take in
*that means if the "V" sticks 2" away from your hip, (thus each side of the "V" is 2", 2+2=4), you'll need to take in 4" inches
-Flip the skirt inside-out
-To take in 4", as an example, fold the skirt on itself in the middle of a panel so that the fold is 1", pin and sew
-Repeat this on 3 other panels, evenly spaced around the skirt (front, back, side, side)
*You could also plan to make the skirt too big, and do this to make it even more frilly
-Toss it on and pull the excess fabric to one side
-The amount that you can pull to the side, will look like a "V" the length of the "V" (both sides) is how much you need to take in
*that means if the "V" sticks 2" away from your hip, (thus each side of the "V" is 2", 2+2=4), you'll need to take in 4" inches
-Flip the skirt inside-out
-To take in 4", as an example, fold the skirt on itself in the middle of a panel so that the fold is 1", pin and sew
-Repeat this on 3 other panels, evenly spaced around the skirt (front, back, side, side)
*You could also plan to make the skirt too big, and do this to make it even more frilly