Infant Girl Clothes: Bubble Skirt Tutorial

I promised a bubble skirt tutorial, and here it is!  This is a wonderful addition to your infant girl’s clothing — pair it with a onesie and your little one is all set! .

You will need:

• The Usual Suspects: Sewing Machine, Coordinating Thread, Pins
• ~ 1/2 Yard Midweight Fabric (less if you use two different fabrics like I have done).  Woven fabrics like linen, linen-cotton, or 100% cotton would be good choices.
• Elastic (3/4″ preferred)
• Safety Pin

Note:  I have made this skirt in two sizes: if your child is thin, use the first measurements unless you want it very loose.  If your child has thick legs or a big diaper, use the second measurements.  I’m suggesting the first measurements are for a size 9-12m, the second are for a size 12-24m, but read the instructions and look at the pictures below and then measure your child to determine the best fit.

9-12 month size:

• Exterior Fabric: 9.75″ x 17.5″ – cut 2 of these
• Lining: 8.25″ x 11″ – cut two of these
• Waist band fabric: 21 3/8″ x 4″ – cut one
• 20″ of 3/4″ elastic

12-24 month size:

• Exterior Fabric: 9.75″ x 19.5″ – cut 2 of these
• Lining: 8.25″ x 13″ – cut two of these
• Waist band fabric: 25 3/8″ x 4″ – cut one
• 21″ of 3/4″ elastic

**These measurements have  5/8″ seam allowances.

First cut out your pieces.  I used two different fabrics – a bold pattern for the outside and a plain tan linen-cotton blend for the lining and the waistband.

After cutting the pieces, sew the exterior fabric pieces together on the shortest sides (right sides together).  Now you have a tube.  Iron the seams flat.

Sew the lining  pieces together on the shortest sides (right sides together).  Another tube.  Again, iron your seams flat.  (See picture above.)

Sew a gathering stitch along the bottom of the exterior fabric’s tube.  You could sew two rows about 1/2″ apart for a more even gather.  (To gather on your machine, loosen the tension on your machine and make the stitch length as long as possible. Pull the bobbin threads and the fabric will scrunch up or “gather”.)

Flip your lining tube so the right side is facing out.  You will need to stick the lining inside your exterior fabric tube.  The right side of the lining should be touching the right side of your exterior fabric (as in the picture above).  Line up your side seams.  Pin the gathered end of the exterior tube to match the circumference of the lining tube.  Sew over your closest row of gathers to secure.

When you have completed this last step, this is what you should have so far.

The Wrong Side

The Right Side

Now sew another gathering stitch at the top of your exterior piece.  Note: I recommend using less than a 1/2″ seam allowance here, as it means you won’t have to remove as many gathering stitches once the waistband is in place. Gather this piece to match the width of  the lining piece.  The wrong sides should be touching this time (see picture below).  Sew on top of the gathering stitches to secure.

Take your waistband piece and iron it in half.  Open up and fold over a 1/2″ seam to the inside on both long sides. Iron these in place.

Sew the short ends of the waistband together.

Flip the skirt so the lining is on the outside.  Unfold the waistband and pin it in place around the top edge, covering the stitches that attach the skirt together.  (This process is jut like sewing bias tape on.)  Sew.

You might notice a few snips at the seam -- a little cheat to help everything lay flat while I sewed it on.

Flip the skirt right side out and fold the waist band over to the exterior of the skirt.  Pin in place and sew to secure.  I sewed as close to the edge as possible (as you can see in the picture below).  Make sure to leave a small opening  to thread the elastic through!

Cut your elastic to the circumference of your child’s waist and add 1″.  Using a safety pin pinned to the elastic, thread it through the casing you have just made for the waist.  Overlap the ends by 1″ and zig-zag-the-heck-out-of-it to secure (or sew a few rows of stitches, like the picture below, to make sure the elastic is securely sewn together).

Adjust the elastic in the casing, now sew your opening closed.  Finished!!

You just made a bubble skirt!  Have your little girl wear it with pride!

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