Little Girls Ruffle Skirt Tutorial

I started a tradition last year of making Easter Dresses for my little girls. This year, after I helped my sister in law make similar skirts for her daughters, I decided to make something similar; ridiculously ruffly and cute. But I needed something that didn't take a week to make, and this is what I came up with.

The best part is that they were so easy to make. I would definitely make them again (and that is saying something because sewing ruffles isn't one of my favorite things.)

This tutorial is for a size 18-24 months.

Lets get started!

First you will need 1 piece of fabric as a base to sew each of your ruffles to that is 36" wide x 18 inches tall. Mine is black.

This skirt has 6 ruffles that are three different prints. Each ruffle is 65 inches long x 3 inches wide.

I also added a layer of tule underneath each ruffle. You could make it without the tule, but I like how it added more fluff. Each strip of tule is 65 inches long and 3 1/2 inches wide. (you need 6 strips)

Surge one long edge of each of the ruffles.

Pin the tule and ruffle together and serge the top edge together.

This holds the two layers together so you can gather them easily.

Surge one long edge of the black (rectangle). Sew each of the ruffles and the black rectangle fabric together to form a large circle and finish each edge.

Gather the top edge of each ruffle so that it is the same size as the (black) skirt that you will sew them each to.

With rights sides facing, pin the bottom ruffle to the surged edge of the skirt (black rectangle that you just sewed into a tube shape) making sure the edges are even and the ruffle pleats are even around the entire skirt. Sew using 1/2 inch seam allowance.

fold ruffle down flat and top stitch 1/8 inch above ruffle (making sure to sew top surged edge of the ruffle up, which helps ruffle lay flat.)

Pin and sew on next ruffle in the same way you did the first, 1 1/2 inches above the bottom ruffle.

Flatten the second ruffle down and top stitch it much like you did the first ruffle. When you top stitch it, it will create a pleat in the under-side of the skirt. Continue doing this for each of the ruffles.

This pleat will cover the surged top edge of the ruffle, so the finished look is clean on top of the ruffle and underneath the ruffle.

This is the view of the inside. You can see how the top-stitch on the front above each ruffle made a small pleat on the under side of the skirt.

Trim the top of the skirt (black fabric that you sewed all the ruffles to) so it is 4-5 inches above the top of the top ruffle. Make it longer if you want some of the black to show below the waistband and above the top ruffle.

Fold and iron the waist down 1/2 inch, and then another 1 1/4inches. Sew 1 inch elastic into the waist that is cut to length for your child. (elastic should be 1 inch short of reaching all the way around your child's waist.)

SO CUTE! This tutorial was about size 18-24 months (my daughter on the left) It turned out perfect. My daughter on the right is size 3. I made hers first and would have done it slightly different; mainly, cutting each of the ruffles about 18 inches longer, and the black rectangle that I sewed everything to I should have kept the full 45 inches wide, rather than trimming it down. Hers is adorable, but it doesn't stand out as full as Phoenix's does.

Can you picture them running around in little black leggings under these skirts, picking up Easter eggs? CUTE! Can't wait!!!