Toddler Bandana Skirt and Top

Using five full sized bandanas, I made a skirt and top for my 3 year old granddaughter.

5 bandanas

elastic, I used 7/8"

thread to match one of the bandanas

bobbin

straight pins

one safety pin

measuring tape

iron

needle

scissors

1. Measure the waist to a snug fit, not too loose or too tight. Round up to the next inch. Write that measurement down.
2. Add 2 to the waist measurement. Divide the sum by 6.28. Round that number up to the next whole number. This is the measurement of the circle you will cut.

1. Layer 2 bandanas making a square.
2. Fold twice to make a smaller square. (I pinned the free corners to keep them from moving)
3. From the corner that makes the fold, measure along the edge to the number from the equation in step 1 and mark it. I put a straight pin horizontally in the bandana at that number, but you can use a chalk pencil.
4. Continue measuring from that corner all the way to the other side, marking as you go.
5. Once you have a semi circle marked, cut along the marks.
6. Unfold the bandanas so they're flat.
7. Turn one on the bandanas 1/8 of a turn so you see all the corner from both bandanas.
8. Pin the layers at the circle together.

Sew the layers together at the circle using a 5/8' seam allowance, in a complete circle. Once the two layers are sewn together at the waist, you can lay it in a flat square. The second photo shows the skirt folded in half to show the waistline.

1. With the skirt folded like it would be worn, flatten out the waist as much as possible and measure. For my granddaughter's skirt, this was 13". This number needs to be doubled. (Yes, this number should be about 2" more than the child's waist measurement.)
2. Add 1.5" to the sum of the previous step for seam allowance.
3. The third bandana will be used for the waistband. Because the bandana was only 21", I had to cut two strips to make the 23" waistband + seam allowances. In my case, I cut two strips that were 14.5" long and 2" wide.
4. Pin the short ends together with right sides together and sew at 5/8"seam making a circle.
5. Flatten the seams and trim the seam allowance by about half on the waistband to make it easier to pull the elastic through.
6. Put the waist band around the skirt, right sides together and pin in place. Note the photo... you will have the waistband lying on the skirt at this point.
7. Following the previous seam on the skirt, sew the waist band to the skirt.
8. Turn the waistband up so the right side of the bandana is showing and iron.
9. Fold 1/4" of the waistband's top edge down to the back side (wrong side) of the bandana and iron. Pin if it won't hold the fold. This creates a clean edge and prevents raveling.
10. Next, fold the waistband in half so that its now folded to the inside of the skirt. slightly overlapping the previously stitches, and pin in place. YOU NEED TO LEAVE ABOUT AN INCH UNSEWN TO INSERT THE ELASTIC. I like to crisscross two straight pins on either side of that inch to ensure I stop sewing in time.
11. Place the skirt waistband under the presser foot with the marked edge of the opening closest to you at the back of the presser foot. Line up the pinned edge to the left-hand inside gap of the needle area.
12. Gently sew all the way around the skirt keeping the edge on the inside of the presser foot and stop at the second mark.

Now it's time to add the elastic.

1. Measure a length of elastic to match the child's waist measurement, add 1/2", and cut.
2. Put a safety pin on one end and close the pin.
3. Insert the pinned end of the elastic into the opening in the waistband.
4. "inchworm' the elastic through the waistband being careful not to pull the unpinned end of the elastic inside the waistband.
5. Once you've threaded the elastic all the way through and have both ends sticking out, use the safety pin to pin the ends together, overlapping them by 1/2".
6. Thread a needle and hand sew the elastic ends together. There's no rule about how to do it, but I start on the edge where the two meet and work my way around to the other edge.
7. Push the elastic up into the waistband and stretch the waistband to make sure the elastic is not twisted and the skirt is evenly spaced around.
8. Close the opening: you can attempt to sew this area on the machine, but I find having the elastic inside makes it tricky. I chose to do a "whip stitch": Start with the knotted end under the waistband so it's hidden, now catch a small portion of the bottom edge of the waistband and gently pull taught. Next, move back slightly to catch just a few threads of the skirt (don't go all the way through) about halfway between the starting knot and the stitch on the waistband. Now, move forward past the first stitch on the waistband and do the same thing. Repeat moving slightly forward and slightly back until the opening is closed. Remember to stay along the bottom folded edge to allow the elastic room to move.

1. Measure the child's chest. Divide by 4. Add 1.5" to that amount for seam allowance. For my granddaughter, she measures 22" around the chest. 22 divided by 4 = 5.5". 5.5" + 1.5" = 7". 7" divided by 2 - 3.5", which is the width of each panel.
2. Lay each of the two bandanas flat in a diamond, then fold in half bringing the top corner down to the bottom corner. Fold in half again by bringing the right corner to the left corner. Pin the edges so they don't move. You now have a folded side on the right and open layers on the left.
3. Keeping the open point of the triangle pointed at you and the fold on the right, measure from the folded edge over to the left to 3.5" and mark. Do that all the way up to the top folded edge of the triangle.
4. Cut along the marked line, leaving a long strip with points at either end.
5. Measure from the arm pit to wherever you want the bottom edge of the top to hit and add 1" to that. I went about an inch below the waist.
6. Still having the long strip folded in two, measure from the point up to the measurement in the previous step and mark. The easiest way to make an even cut is to now measure from that mark up to the fold. Now take that measurement and measure from the fold down across the strip and mark. You should have a horizontal line now.
7. Cut along that line giving you two pieces.
8. Repeat for the other bandana.
9. Match two of the pieces longways with right sides together and pin. Add a third piece to the open end and pin. Repeat for the fourth piece, pinning both sides so you now have a cylinder.
10. Sew the four pieces together at 5/8" seam. Iron the seams open flat.
11. Fold the top over 1" to the wrong side, iron and pin.
12. Measure over the shoulder from the front of the armpit to the back. Add 1/2". In my case, this was 9.5"
13. Using scrap bandana pieces, cut two strips that are 2" wide and the length from the previous step.
14. Fold over 1/4" to the wrong side all the way around each strap, ironing as you go, and pin.
15. Sew as close to the cut edge as you can to prevent raveling. Another option is to use hemming tape, follow the instructions on the package.
16. Measure from the outer edge of the child's shoulder to where you want the strap to lay.
17. Lay the top flat determining a front and back.
18. Measure from both outer edges the distance from step 16 and pin the straps placing the short edge even with the bottom of the folded edge. Flip the top and do the same on the other side. Make sure you don't pin the front to the back.
19. Sew around the top at 5/8" seam allowance.

I hope you like my granddaughter's outfit as much as she does!