7.25.2011

(tutorial) Ice Cream Social Skirt

Happy Monday, everyone!
I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but found today's inspiration, again, on Pinterest.
I kept seeing this everywhere:

And since I am in LOVE with stripes, I repinned it.
I had some striped jersey, and a real need for summer skirts, so I recreated it, with a tutorial.

It is a striped circle skirt. Which, when I googled it, isn't supposed to work, or look good.  
But I really love how it turned out.

Even with my sewing-with-knits intimidation, it was super easy and fast.  The hardest part was laying/smoothing the fabric out to cut. Once that was done, (and it wasn't even perfect) the rest goes together super fast.  I actually made another out of a gray striped jersey and have plans for one more this week!  
I added some elastic trim to the hem, though it isn't necessary.  It gave it a nice little detail.

Bonus: This skirt is SUPER comfy.  Just the way I like it.

Oh, and the cardi? I needed a navy one, so I refashioned this one from a thrifted long sleeve v-neck sweater. Tutorial for that coming on Thursday.



Do you want to make your very own?


Materials:
about 60-65" of striped jersey/knit fabric, 60" wide
Coordinating Thread
Elastic trim (optional)

To make your pattern, there are a million tutorials you can find.  Since I am in love with her blog, I used Dana's tutorial from MADE. You will just need to make an adjustment, since we are sewing with jersey/knit fabric, which stretches. (And we are not using elastic)

Adjustment: Measure your waist, and subtract 2". Use this for your measurement for the skirt radius, as well as for the waistband you will cut out. (Do not add 2"!)  So you would take your waist measurement, subtract 2" and then divide it by 6.28 to get your radius.

Once you have your 1/4 circle pattern, follow these instructions:






 ***Note, use your waist measurement minus 2"- the same measurement you used to get the 
radius of your pattern. Then add 1" seam allowance.  This is the length of your waistband piece.




 ***Note, use a narrow width on your zig zag stitch, just enough to stretch.



Posted by {jen} iCandyhandmade at 12:01 AM

59 comments:

  1. Super cool skirt and very well written tutorial! Kudos!

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  2. I love this! I saw a similar grey and white one in a store that I just couldn't pay $45 for. Can't wait to make my own.

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  3. What a fun skirt!! I love the bold stripes. Your waistband turned out lots better than mine ever do; I always have so much shifting! The elastic trim is a fun touch. I bought some striped knit a few weeks ago (I really want to make this: http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-570-baja.aspx- doesn't it look like a circle skirt on the bottom?) and have been itching to get my sewing machine back out (it lives on the kitchen table when we don't have guests haha) I'm excited to hear more detail about the cardi too!!

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  4. I just came across your blog and what a lovely blog you have!! What a great skirt. I love the trim you added to the hem

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  5. Awesome. Love the stripes. I made a couple circle skirts for my daughter but always left the wide elastic waistband showing... I love the finished look yours gives. Trying it this week! : )

    www.whiletheysnooze.com

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  6. I have a silly question, how do you know which way to cut the fabric so that the stretch is correct? I have made mistakes before with sewing some pants for my son, and I get confused on how to know how to get the right cut. I love the skirt! Thanks
    Erica

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  7. Erica-
    If you look closely at the fabric, you will see tiny grain lines. The fabric will stretch best across the grainlines.(If you line them up and down, pull sideways) As I look at the striped knit in my stash, most of the time, the stretch is on the horizontal stripe, which makes it perfect for the waistband. Hope this helps!

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  8. SUCH a cute idea! Nice work :)
    http://tragicandlovely.blogspot.com/

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  9. Stop it!!! This is the cutest skirt ever! Fabric store, here I come :D

    Shelley
    www.westermanfam.blogspot.com

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  10. I love the stripes! I have some black and white... wonder if there is enough for a skirt for me... I've recently gotten really addicted to pinterest too.
    Emily
    domesticdeadline.blogspot.com

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  11. Awesome! Thanks for the tutorial! I just got some knit fabric and it looks like I'll have enough to make a circle skirt. :)

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  12. So adorable!
    It totally reminds me of Japan, which makes me like it even more lol.
    I do believe my mother just gave me the same fabric from the first skirt photo. I will have to dig it out. I just made a square skirt for my youngest, but I myself would like a circle one. Thanks for the tute and the link for a pattern.

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  14. This is an adorable skirt and fabulous, tutorial Thanks for sharing! I am visiting from Funky Polkadot Giraffe and I am a new follower!! Hope you have a great week and that I see you around soon!
    Michelle
    www.delicateconstruction.blogspot.com

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  15. Cute! I love it and it's on my to do list.

    Jeanna @ dramaqueenseams.blogspot.com

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  16. i have some brown and white striped knit that i want to try this with - i'm curious about positioning the stripes - yours has a perfectly centered stripe down the front - was that just luck? i'll have to lay mine out and see what happens. great tutorial!

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  17. Thank you for this tutorial. It is so cute and I was in a pinch the day I saw your post to get a birthday gift done for my niece. I made the skirt and it turned out great. I used my serger and did a rolled hem on the bottom. http://www.stvital.com/2011/07/skirts-as-gifts.html

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  18. This is really awesome and turned out great! I'm just getting the hang of sewing with knit and I love it! So comfy to wear!

    I found you through AllFreeSewing.com!
    I'm a new follower!

    Amanda @ PandiolaLane.blogspot.com
    Hope you'll stop by!

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  19. Do you have a resource where I can find great jersey strip fabric? My local stores don't have much selection & like you, I'm obsessed with stripes!

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  20. Crys302-
    I am of NO HELP! I can't find striped Jersey for the life of me, except for downtown LA. And even there, the colors/options are super limited. http://www.denverfabrics.com/ has some (the most jersey options I have found) but not that great selection of strips either!

    Anyone else have any striped knit resources???

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  22. Hello, I love your blog, sorry for the misspelling, I do not speak or write in English and my helper is the Google translate. Where did you buy this guide that you cut the fabric on top is where the cm? I've never seen here in Brazil and it helps a lot, where I go and you tell me the price? You could send me an email with this information? I appreciate your attention. Thank you. Corina
    My email: corina@houseware.com.br

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  23. @Corina, don't know if you got an answer to your question so I'm going to answer. ;) I have seen these cardboard cutting boards/guides at Joann Fabrics and at Walmart. Do you have anything similar in Brazil? If not, maybe try googling the product? Hope this helps!

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    1. Cinderella Lollipop Hello, thank you for your attention.
      Here in Brazil I have never seen, but my aunt lives in the USA and I will ask to see me. Thank you so much. Goodbye.

      Delete

  24. Looks great, I'm glad you broke the rule of no stripe circles! I have seen a skirt where the stripes went across (where yours go up and down) and the edge of the skirt was cut perpendicular to the stripes creating a handkerchief bottom edge - never could get my head around how I could make one.

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  25. Super cute! I'd love to make this in a ton of colors but I lack a sewing machine and honestly, I think it would come out terrible for me. Kudos to you!

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  26. Thanks for the awesome tut!!!!! I just made one yesterday and it was so easy and turned out SO CUTE!! I love your blog by the way!! Thanks for sharing this!!!

    annasattempts.blogspot.com

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  27. So did you cut this so that the stretch actually goes up and down instead of across the skirt. IN otherwords, the stretch goes with the stripes horizontal but yet you cut it so that the stripes are vertical?

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    1. The beauty of a circle skirt, is you can wear it with the horizontal stripes in front, or the vertical in front. So it doesn't really matter about the way the fabric stretches. I have never noticed any issue! Does this answer your question?

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  28. Thank you for the tutorial. very easy to follow.
    I'm into hand sewing knit jersey, Alabama Chanin style, and have a few striped jersey, and am still trying to combine the style and the material. The image of a horizontal stripe A-line skirt didn't sit right. Perhaps a half circle skirt...
    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  29. I am in Jackson, TN, so no cute fabric here. Any way you'd be interested in making a red/white one to sell? :) Love it! & Love the whole outfit pulled together! Carol Ryan

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  30. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  31. LOVE LOVE this skirt!! I found some red and white striped fabric on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/listing/82440016/15-red-and-off-white-wide-stripe-cotton, but it is listed as cotton lycra knit. It is listed as having 4way stretch...I am not too familiar with lycra knit. Is this similar to what you used? THANKS!!!!! Shelley

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    1. Hi Shelley!
      I used a jersey knit, but a knit with a four way stretch would most likely look fine. I am not sure exactly what cotton/lycra knit is; I know that lycra is bathing suit material but not sure about the mix. You might want to email the seller and ask if it is shiny. I don't think you want a shiny skirt!
      :)

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    2. Thanks Jen! I had the same worries about lycra being shiny and more of a bathing suit material. Hmmm...I will have to memo the seller. Thanks again for such a cute tutorial! :)

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  32. Thank you for letting me use your handiwork!! You went to all the trouble of making the pattern and I'm grateful that you're sharing it! I'm going to go to JoAnn's next week and buy some material so I can make this!!! Thanks!!

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  33. this is absolutely gorgeous! I'm book marking this page so that this summer when I have more time I'll use this picture tutorial to help me! :D

    - Nicole

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  34. Is there a way to print this out?

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  35. this skirt is fantasitc! I bought one similar last year at Old Navy but wanted more colors...now I can make my own thanks for the tutorial LOVE IT

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  36. I'm a little confused...do you fold once widthwise and then once lengthwise so you get folds on two sides and raw edges on the other two sides? Does this leave you with a donut of fabric once cut?

    I am also wondering what the size limitations are on this tutorial...It appears if you have a bigger waist, the upper circle just gets larger, and you end up with a shorter skirt...am I right?

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    1. Once you fold your fabric into quarters, you will have two edges with folds and two with raw edges. Place your straight edges on the two edges with folds. You will end up with a donut.

      You have full control of the length. For a really good explanation of circle skirts, check this out:

      http://pattythesnugbug.com/2011/circle-skirt-calculator-for-the-drafting-of-full-half-and-34-skirts-with-bonus-grading-worksheet/

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  37. I love this skirt! I have a question--I notice your skirt fits down lower on your hips, did you measure your true waist or did you measure where you want the skirt to sit?

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    Replies

    1. In just about every knit skirt I have made (except for super thick knits), the waistband has stretched a lot. So I did measure my waist, and it sits at my hips. I would make it a bit smaller than you want to allow for the stretch!

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  38. For those looking for fabric, fabric.com has some striped jersey.

    http://www.fabric.com/apparel-fashion-fabric-knit-fabric-designer-knit-fabric-designer-striped-jersey-knit-fabric.aspx

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  39. I love this...I am just horrible at stuff like this but I think I might try it!

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  40. Thanks so much for sharing! I made one tonight and I love how it turned out! Such a cute skirt for these hot summer days!

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  42. First time on your blog, and I LOVE that skirt! I think the one you made is a whole lot cuter than the one on pinterest (and it looks very comfy!)! Can't wait to make this sometime. Thanks!

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  43. Do you make and sell these? I would love to buy one!

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  44. Love love love this! I found some striped jersey knit for this skirt on fabric.com, but it was only 58" wide...do you think I could make that work?

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  45. wow. it's really a good contribution to us guys not good at icecream, you know i did some cakes before but the taste it's not good, then i quit, so if you have interesting, you can load to hermes bag outlet

    visit my new make up, give me your advice, Thanks!

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  46. Help!! I'm really confused with how to make the donut thing. How do I make this template??

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    Replies

    1. Here is an excellent post on circle skirts, and includes a calculator:

      http://pattythesnugbug.com/2011/circle-skirt-calculator-for-the-drafting-of-full-half-and-34-skirts-with-bonus-grading-worksheet/

      Let me know if you still need help after that!

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  47. Beautiful! You make such wonderful tutorials! Where do you gat your fabric from? I cant seem to find sone like it anywhere.
    Kayla

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    1. Kayla, thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment, they mean so much! As for my fabric, I live in Southern Cali and make several trips a year to the LA fabric district, where I buy most of my knit. Sorry! A really good online resource for cute knits is http://www.girlcharlee.com/

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  48. Oh...ok. thanks ill check out that website:)

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  49. cool skirt i need to make that. I'm also a male that loves skirts and make them. Jen you look so cute in that skirt nice legs too!! Gordy

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  50. I love everything ya'll do!! I made this skirt for myself and it's perfect for summer, I can't wait to wear it all of the time! Thank you!

    http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/485357_10151436661043194_468995189_n.jpg

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  51. What an absolutely lovely skirt, it looks fabulous! Thank you for sharing!

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