The Ballet Skirt

(Note - this isn't a Tutorial. Yet.  If you want to see it in tutorial form, leave me a comment and I'll do my best to get one up and going ASAP.  :D  It's easy as pie to make! And if you like the Ballet Skirt, hop over to the Woodland Fairy Skirt! )

I have been working to create something to submit to the Project Run and Play Flikr group.  Basically, the idea for this challenge is to create a "pattern remix" of DANA'S CIRCLE SKIRT TUTORIAL.  I've used this circle skirt tutorial before - actually, it was one of the first things I sewed when I first started sewing my own garments.

I sketched out ideas - some outlandish, some too simple, all over the map really.  I picked a few of my favorites, and sketched them out further, coming up with the steps and process it would take to make each one, the degree of difficulty, how interesting I thought others might find it, and so on and so forth.
I came down to 2 favorites, and sat down to make one of them, since I thought I could finish it fairly easily.

I made it to fit both of my nieces, who have almost exactly the same measurements.  Isn't that great?  If one doesn't feel like taking pictures, I can switch to the other one.  It's a pretty awesome setup.

Here's what skirt number one came out to - (I barely got it to fit on my adult dress form!)

The Ballet Skirt

I made it, and then realized it looks exactly like something you would wear in ballet class.  Which is exactly what my niece V is taking right now.  I think I'll have to stop by the dance studio for a photo op. I can't wait to get pics of this skirt in action.

I used a simple circle skirt pattern (made with the tutorial) and cut out the full size layer and the top layer.    I used a gray jersey knit for the base layer, and a very light pink interlock for the top layer, with the elastic waistband attached to both of them.

I cut a separate circle skirt pattern for the narrower piece, but I didn't really have to.  The pattern piece in the below pic is the full length 1/4 circle.  The length is a little below the knee on both of my nieces.

Remember the lettuce edge tutorial?

That's how I finished both layers on this skirt. It's actually a bit tricky for a circle skirt - think about it.  If you are cutting a full circle out of a knit fabric, you'll have two spots on the edge of the skirt, opposite of each other, where you are running your lettuce edge parallel to the ribs - i.e., 2 places where you have very little stretch to work with.

Those 2 sections look almost the same as the stretchier parts of the skirt, but I was careful to place them in less obvious places.

What do you think?  I have a second version of this skirt I'd love to show you soon - it's got a different twist to it.  I haven't decided yet if I'm going to work up the skirt from the second sketch.

As always, if you are interested, I'm willing to put together a full tutorial so you can make your own.  Just leave me a comment!

I've posted this project over at The Train to Crazy's "Make it Wear it Thursday" ....you should see some of the fantastic things people are making!

And if you can't see yourself making one, but need one anyway, message me!  I'd love to make more of these on request.  I just need a waist measurement and an idea of length. They can also be made to fit adults - Thanks!


On a completely different topic, we went to visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center again today, on request from the oldest child.

Look what was waiting by the entry arch! Can you see it?  There's a beautiful little owl taking a nap.  :)  A was so happy that he got to see an owl. I thought it was pretty cool too.

Hope things are going well for you  - here's a sweet little flower to brighten your day.

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