Since I've never been camping I asked my cousin what to pack and she sent me a list. She suggested bringing a few pairs of shorts or skirts to pull over my bathing suit. As I surveyed my skirt collection this weekend I realized my wardrobe is lacking in casual skirts. I have tons of pencil skirts but nothing casual enough to take camping. I decided to make my own out of some old t-shirts I have laying around.
T-Shirt Skirt
Supplies:
2 t-shirts, one in your size (I used Medium) and one in a larger size (I used extra large). It helps if their colors look nice together
Scissors
Straightpins
Iron
coordinating thread
Ribbon
Grommet maker (optional)
I started by laying my smaller shirt flat and cutting a straight line, directly under the armpits through both sides.
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| This is your skirt tube |
You should end up with a large t-shirt tube. Turn the tube inside out and fold down the top (the cut side) about 1.5" all the way around and iron. This is when you can use your optional grommet maker, for the drawstring. I just bought a little grommet tool and wanted to play with it. Decide which side will be the front of your skirt and lay it facing up. Measure across the top and find the center. Mark a small dot with a Sharpie one half inch on either side of your center point. Don't do this on the piece you folded down, do this on the right side of the skirt, about 1/2" down from the folded over top. If you're not using a grommet maker, skip the next step and just poke a small hole with scissors at the Sharpie marks.
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| For some reason I thought you'd need to see a picture of me measuring... |
Following the instructions on your grommet maker, install a grommet, right-side out, over each Sharpie hole. These will be the drawstring holes. Re-fold and iron the top piece back down and pin in place. Stitch the top fold closed, close to the cut edge of the fabric so it's wide enough for you to work a piece of ribbon or string through.
Now, you can just add your drawstring and leave the skirt as is. However, I have an ample rear end and this tube skirt wasn't long appropriately cover it. I decided to add a ruffle. Using your second, larger, t-shirt, lay it flat and cut a straight piece about 6 inches up from the bottom, like so.
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| This is your ruffle tube |
Now turn your original piece (skirt tube) right side out. With your 2nd piece (skirt tube) inside out, slip the ruffle tube around the bottom of the skirt tube, upside down (the cut edge of your ruffle tube should match up with the hem of your original skirt tube.) The right sides should be together and the skirt tube should be inside the ruffle tube. The ruffle tube will be wider than the skirt tube, so make sure you center them. Starting in the center, pin the two tubes together. Every 3-4 inches, make a dart in the ruffle tube, this is what makes the ruffling. Continue to do this around until your ruffle tube and skirt tube match up all the way around.
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| It's hard to see my pins and darts |
Now, stitch all the way around the skirt, over your pins and darts, close to the edge of the fabric. Remove your pins and flip the ruffle down. T-shirt material is forgiving so you might not need to iron it, but you can iron the seam in between the ruffle and the skirt.
Now just add your drawstring. Tie a tight knot into your ribbon and slip it into one of the holes you created in the waistband. Work it all the way through to the other side and pull through so the ends are even. Slip the skirt on and tie it in a bow, gathering the waistband evenly.
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| Tada! A super cute, free, casual skirt! |
I realize my instructions might be confusing. Hopefully they make some sense to try to recreate!
