So, I went ahead and did it. It only took about 1/2-hour, and used up 1/4 of a sheet I had thrifted for $4. Quick and inexpensive – just the way I like it 😀
Would you like to know how to make your own fun and full Spring skirt? It’s pretty easy.
Here’s what you need:
- twin-size flat sheet (72″x104″)
- yard stick
- washout cloth marker
- scissors
- sewing machine
- thread to coordinate with the sheet
- iron
- 1/2-inch or 1/4-inch elastic to fit comfortably around your waist
Cut out the fabric:
Determine how long you want your skirt to be, and add 1.5 inches to that number. Mine was 21 inches, but let’s refer to that number as X.
Fold the sheet in half lengthwise and spread it out. We will be using the hemmed edge of the sheet as our skirt hem, saving us the trouble of doing it ourselves. Measuring from that hem, use the yard stick to mark off X inches in several places along the length of the hem. Connect the marked dots, and cut along them.
You should now have a single piece of cloth, 72″ x X”.
Sew it together:
Fold in half, right sides together, so the two selvage edges meet. Stitch together along the selvages, leaving a 1/2-inch seam allowance. You should now have a tube with a 71″ circumference.
Make the elastic casing:
Fold the raw edge at the top of the tube over 3/4″ and press. Fold down another 3/4″ and press again.
Stitch along the inner edge of the fold all the way around the top of the skirt, leaving about a 1-inch opening near the seam.
Thread the elastic into the opening, through the casing, and back out the opening again. Stitch the elastic together and close the opening in the casing.
Enjoy:
Try on your skirt, pose for a picture, and tell everybody you know that this skirt only cost you $1 and a half-hour of your time 🙂
Things to note:
- This makes a very full skirt. If you prefer something less full, you can always cut thirty to forty inches off of the width.
- I’ve never tried to explain how to sew anything before, so there may be some confusing bits. If so, please let me know and I’ll do my best to clarify!
2013 Update:
It’s been five years since I wrote this little tutorial, and it’s still one of the most popular posts on my blog! I’ve gained a lot of sewing (and photography!) experience since then, and so I’ve decided to put it to good use. If you would like to see this tutorial fully-illustrated with step-by-step photos and additional instructions (how to make a more fitted version, how to deal with fabrics that don’t have a built-in hem, etc.) then you might like this downloadable PDF pattern. You can order below, or get more details here. Thanks, and enjoy!
Great Skirt! I haven’t made a skirt in probably 15 years – this seems so easy I might just have to go do it!
You totally should! And if it doesn’t work out, what have you really lost?
great job lisa! it’s wonderful
Thanks, Erin! Welcome back from your vacation. It sounded so nice.
Too dang cute. Now I want to go thriftshopping…. but then, I pretty much always want to go thriftshopping.
Heh, yeah, that’s true! Didn’t you say Nell was learning to sew? I bet she’d have a blast making herself a bunch of skirts. And at her size, she could pretty much just cut the tops off of pillowcases and make them that way!
Bought a sheet today–bright yellow dandelion motif. Just looking at the sheet makes me smile, so I hope the skirt works out…
Oh, that sounds like fun. And the great thing about sheets is that there’s so much material. If you screw up the first project, there’s usually enough left for a second 😉
I have the perfect sheet for this! I was just lamenting that the fitted sheet from the set has a hole…
Not that I’ve sewed a dang thing since high school but hey, I’ll worry about that later.
And when you started in with let the length = X I broke out laughing.
See what Elaine has been blogging about: Upcoming Shows!
Well, you can take the girl out of algebra class, but you can’t take the algebra out of the girl, apparently 😀
Love this! You have inspired me to 1) go thrifting AND 2) dig out my sewing machine and fix the tension AND 3) make myself some skirts for Spring 🙂
We’ll see how my time pans out this week and how many of those things I actually get to. I may just get to the planning stage…
That pattern is really fun and springy! Thanks for sharing.
See what MelissaS has been blogging about: Hoppy Birthday!
Well, I’m glad you were inspired, even if you don’t actually manage to act on the inspiration (and believe me, I know that phenomenon all too well, LOL!)
I love this tutorial! I don’t have any thrifted sheets, but you’re giving me the urge to go to goodwill. =] I’ve tried to follow the fitted skirt directions in the Sew What Skirts! book without much luck, but I suspect that’s partly because it’s difficult to make a ‘full’ fitted aline. Clearly, this is the skirt I’ve secretly been wanting to make, before even knowing it existed!
Also, I love using the hem of the sheet as the hem of the skirt. It’s a silly little thing that, yes, saves time, but also makes it look just that much more awesome. I can’t wait to make one!
See what Lia has been blogging about: 2-at-a-time review! part 1
Yeah, I’m not really sure how you would go about making a full fitted a-line. Seems to me it would just end up being super triangular. Of course, the fabric makes a lot of difference. Quilting cotton makes a nice “crisp” skirt, but a sheet drapes so much more nicely, and definitely does “flowy” better.
Very nice Lisa. SImple and clear (to me) tute on how to make a skirt. I have a feeling there is going to be a run on sheets at thrift stores.
Thanks – I’m glad it made some sense!
i swear i had this pattern in my bedroom in the 70s!! :^D
LOL, yeah, it’s great in the hideous way that only a relic of the 1970’s could be 😀
Yeah! I know how to make this type of skirt. I’m going to whip up some cute ones for my girls for the summer. thanks for the inspiration! (I’ve made a ton of these in a tiny version for dolls.)
My pleasure! Wish I had a girl to make some skirts for. For some reason my boys don’t want me to make them anything out of the rest of this sheet 😀
[…] to point you to an idea I had last night. Penny emailed me a picture of the skirt she made using the tutorial I wrote, and it occurred to me that if we shared bits of our sheets with each other, we could each have a […]
[…] I Like My Skirts Fast and Cheap ~ Lisa […]
Your skirt is simply to good to be true! I’m away to strip the bed – don’t know what we’ll sleep in tonight but need to try it!! LOL!
Oh, you are funny! I read this comment to my husband and his response to me was a very dry, “I can see you doing that.” Heh.
I hope you make a lovely skirt, and that you don’t end up sleeping on a bare mattress as a result, LOL!
I love this…bookmarking it! I cannot wait to try it out!
Good luck with it! I’d love to hear how it goes 🙂
I love the title of your tutorial…
(and your tutorial, too!)
Heh. Thanks.
I love this skirt. I’m a fan of ‘full’ skirts like this, and I wanted to sew one, but lack of good tuts, I couldn’t. Yours looks like the one for me! Thanks for sharing!
Oh, good! I’m glad it found you 🙂 This is the first full one like this that I have made, but I think there may be more in my future! Have fun.
[…] I found this GREAT tutorial for a cheap, quick skirt. Check it […]
I have this VERY sheet and FROM a thrift shop…
Maybe you are me….. hmmmmmmm
Great tute! I’m writing one too for SMS. Good luck!
Oh, how funny! I love it – it’s hideous in a really cool kind of way, I think 😀
I would love to join the swap this sounds like so much fun! I wear skirts every single day so I could always use a few more.
I wear skirts an awful lot in the nice weather, myself, so this is going to be great for me, too!
I love this! So easy and so many possibilities! Since I am a pear my first thought was I would do inverted pleats to take in some of the fullness at the waistline – thanks for the tutorial and inspiration! I need to find a good thrift store now.
(@Beth – I am working my way up to this! I want to do my own skirt/dress every day challenge.)
See what Lorraine has been blogging about: Skirts. 2 of them. Both black.
I’m such an inexperienced sewer, I wouldn’t know the first thing about making inverted pleats – I’d be interested to see what you come up with!
Thank you so much for a wonderful tutorial. I have been wanting some inexpensive skirts so badly and just hadn’t had the time to figure out a pattern. Bless you!
Hope it works nicely for you! I’m off to a new thrift shop this morning – I hope I can find another really nifty sheet to try this with!
I have made skirts like this before for little girls, but never made one for myself because I could picture it looking right. Thanks for showing that it does!
I am going to use regular fabric though. No sheets Julie Andrews!
The only potential problem I would see with regular fabric is in the drape. I’d be afraid that it would be too stiff and turn out somewhat “triangular.” I like the sheets because they are soft and “flowy.” I’d love to see how it turns out, if you do try it – particularly if I’ve got it all wrong 😉
This is so simple and fabulous! Thank you!
My pleasure – enjoy!
Hi Lisa,
I tried your skirt idea! I posted a picture here:
http://lorrwill.blogspot.com/2008/04/lisas-fast-and-cheap-skirt.html
Thanks for the tutorial!!!
[…] change in my pocket) I decided to head over to a local thrift store for some sheets (yes, I had this tutorial from the tutorial contest over at SMS in mind and can’t wait to try it out). When we got to […]
I made this skirt tonight! I started about an hour ago and now I’m sitting here typing away while wearing it. This is the first thing I’ve ever sewn for myself, and only the second piece of clothing ever (the first one fell apart in the wash) so I am extremely proud!
One thing I wish I’d done was taken the advice to cut away some of the width. This is a really, really full skirt. At first I didn’t like it very much, but then I took some pictures and and fell in love with it. (They’ll be posted on my blog as soon as wordpress lets me put pictures up again, grrr.) Also, my elastic waist is a little too big, since I just kinda guesstimated, but it shouldn’t be too hard to fix later. For right now I’m leaving it alone.
The only thing I did differently was I finished the long seam by using my pinking shears on it (I don’t have a serger so this is how I finish all my seams). Thanks for the brilliant tutorial, I can’t wait to find some more sheets and try again!!
See what BethieB has been blogging about: If I wasn’t so lazy…
Sounds great! It *is* quite full. I don’t think it works on every sheet, but the older, really soft ones are perfect for this. I’m looking forward to seeing your picture!
Hi Lisa!
I just blogged about your skirt tutorial and showed my new skirt!! It is the first article of clothing that I have ever made and fear that I am now addicted to skirt making!! I may give you a run for your money with the number of skirts you make!! Thank you so much for the easy and inspiring tutorial!!
http://welovethethingswelove.blogspot.com/
Thanks!!
Kelsi
See what Kelsi has been blogging about: Spring Skirt
I love it! And yes, skirt-making is *totally* addicting. I now wear a skirt any time I would normally have worn a pair of shorts 🙂
[…] purchased at the thrift store. It’s my new favorite skirt! Seriously. I followed this tutorial to make […]
Hi there.
I saw your tutorial over at Sew Mama Sew! and decided I just had to make my own skirt. I posted the pictures at my blog: http://sarahsews.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the great tutorial!! It really was fast and inexpensive. What’s not to love!?
See what Sarah has been blogging about: On Being Green
I’m so glad you liked it! Your skirt looks very nice, and it’s fun to see what kinds of thrifted linens other than sheets can also be used successfully 🙂
[…] here’s the whole thing! Isn’t it great? This tutorial was awesome. Easy instructions, easy idea, and so fast it’s not funny. I whipped this thing up […]
I was able to put pictures up!! Yay!
Oh my goodness, that is so cute! I would have walked right by that sheet in the thrift shop but I absolutely love the skirt! I’ll have to give it a try.
I LOVE skirts like this! I usually use a wider elastic, because it’s comfy for me. Yours turned out so cute!
Dude….. ugliest skirt ever.
That’s pretty amazing. You can’t get much for $1 these days! Not even a litre of gas for your car.
Very creative. Thank you for sharing your idea=)
lovely! i have that sheet somewhere!
The best thing about this is that there’s no need to measure your hips! That’s always a painful situation…
LOL, you’ve got that right!
FINALLY…. a skirt I can actually make and love. This is so clever and cute. Thanks so much for sharing.
Very cute! I will definetly have to give this one a try! Thank you so much for this tutorial!
[…] I like my skirts fast and cheap (I’ll buy enough fabric for both of us if someone makes one for me!) […]
Just found your blog via Craft Magazine. Thanks for the tutorial.
I love this! S’cuse me while I go rifle through my closet…
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’m usually a jeans and t-shirt girl, but it’s mostly because I have a really hard time finding skirts that fit that perfect combination of length, pattern, and price. I’m a little intimidated by sewing, but this looks like something even I could accomplish.
I can’t wait to try it!
This is way beyond cute. I’m inspired. sigh. Now to find TIME! (But I will, lol.)
[…] use flour paste to achieve a batik-like effect on fabric. (via craft:) -polka dot creations shows how to transform an old sheet into a funky new skirt (also via […]
[…] just started sewing. I made these two skirts last week: Polka Dot Creations
Thanks for such an awesome tutorial! I’ve made 2 skirts already using your technique and they turned out really cool! I linked your blog with mine in case anyone else wants a really quick and easy skirt tutorial. Thanks again!
This is a great tut…I’ve never sewn clothes before, only bibs, blankets, & quilts. I this will be great for my 11 yr old daughter for some new one of a kind skirts for school this next year!!! (*She’s tall and store skirts can be to short if bought from the store*) I’m so excited! YAYYY!!! 🙂
DOH I could kick myself as this is such a simple and effective way to make a simple skirt and I forgot all about it. I’m going to show this to my daughter and she can finally make herself the sort of skirt she wants.
PS I love your simple aprons as well I’ve already got the material for making myself some. I think theres going to be a fight over the sewing machine soon.
But how will I ever find such a cute sheet????
See what brenda has been blogging about: Fitness Friday: The Add and Subtract Edition
Good question! I totally lucked-out with this one. Usually my local thrift shop has less-than-exciting choices.
just approached by a company who wants to publish my sheet skirt project in their 2010 sewing calendar! http://tinyurl.com/925kgs
[…] to have made something to show. So now I’m going to! Spring is here; when better to try it. Polka Dot Cottage’s I like my skirts fast and cheap tutorial is calling my name and I have just the thrift […]
Hi,
Great tutorial! I’m totally making one of these. I already have the sheet, but it is a queen so I’ll have more cutting to do. 🙂 I just wanted to let you know that I’ve added this tutorial and a link to your page on my blog, The Handmade Experiment. I saw that new film, Handmade Nation last night. It was so awesome I felt inspired to write a Must Make Monday list. Check it out at http://emilyflippinmaruna.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/must-make-monday/#more-213
Thanks!
Emily
See what Emily Flippin Maruna has been blogging about: Must MAKE Monday
[…] I like my skirts fast and cheap: a tutorial by Lisa at Polka Dot Cottage […]
Wow! I’ve not sewn a skirt before because I have a weird-shaped body (super small top until you hit my gigantor butt and thighs) so this looks perfect! And so easy! I can’t wait to give it a try. I’ll have to splurge for a sheet, though, unless I want to use SpiderMan or Thomas the Tank Engine. (Yes, I’m a momma to boys!)
See what Mary Anna has been blogging about: Eggstra Cute!
I sympathize – I’ve got boys, too! 🙂
If you’re kind of big on the bottom, you might want to cut off some of the width of the sheet. The tutorial as written makes a skirt with a lot of gathers, and it may end up accentuating things you’d rather not draw attention to (I speak from experience, LOL!)
Thanks for reminding me how to do this – I knew I was saving that weirdly printed black sheet for something! A skirt to wear about the house during summer, should keep things cool around here, maybe…
Cheap and Fast Skirt Tutorial http://tinyurl.com/925kgs
How cool are you? And why am I just finding this bit of your world? Congrats on the skirt success(es). Enjoy making pretty things just for you.
Your picts help me get out of the box in terms of adult fabric choice. For kids it is so easy, me… well. But now, I’m off to make me a loud and proud cutey skirt.
Thanks!
Glad you found me. And I have the opposite problem… all I seem to do sometimes is make things for ME!
I seen your skirt over on Sew,Mama,Sew and thought I’d come tell you how much I loved yours!! Thanks for sharing this great pattern.
See what Donna has been blogging about: I’ve gotten behind
This is the tutorial I used for my skirt – “I like my skirts fast and cheap: a tutorial” – http://tinyurl.com/925kgs
Wow. I also found you at sew, mama, sew – I have this EXACT same sheet, I’ve had it since I was a kid. Like from birth I think. I LOVE this skirt tutorial, I am now inspired. Dare I use the sheet? Hmmm…
See what chasmyn has been blogging about: vancouver aquarium
I love that funky sheet! I also made pajama pants out of it (which I am wearing right now) 🙂
[…] 5-Minuten-Rock […]
Love Love love the skirt.
I just recently bought vintage sheets to make PJ”s and skits from, inspired by “SouleMama”
I stumbled across your blog by searching for the Built by Wendy shirt/mini dress pattern–I’m about to start that also.
🙂
See what Ann-Marie MacKay has been blogging about: Bread
Just wanted you to know…I have a matching pillowcase 🙂
Really?? How cool! I made pajama bottoms out of the rest of the sheet, and I honestly wear them a lot more than the skirt. Wish I’d found the pillowcase along with the sheets when I got them at the thrift shop!
I wish I’d found a sheet with my pillowcase 🙁 I’m not really sure what to make with so little material, so I’m saving it for somethin’ special!
I have a strong urge to try sewing something, preferably a skirt. This looks easy enough, right? http://tinyurl.com/925kgs
[…] Lisa at Polka Dot Cottage posted a fast and cheap skirt tutorial […]
i love this pattern! i used an old piece of fabric that i had that was sufficiently big enough. it turned out well enough (its the second skirt i ever made) but its a bit heavier than a sheet is. i totally can’t wait to try this with an actual sheet. i think it will turn out so much better! thanks so much!
Thank you for sharing your skirt tutorial! I’ve been wanting to make some cute skirts and I like them fuller than what I’ve seen elsewhere, so this is perfect!
I totally made this skirt. I used a vintage Raggedy Ann sheet for mine. Thank you so much for the reminder of how to make an easier skirt. I also have your printed sheet you used to make yours. Your blog rocks the socks! XOXO
http://anniescupboard.blogspot.com/2009/06/vintage-raggedy-ann-sheet-repurposed.html
[…] found this tutorial on how to turn a bed sheet into a simple skirt in around half an hour. It was exactly what I was […]
[…] day today. I decided to go to the thrift store this morning to look for sheets. I saw a really cute skirt tutorial where the skirt is made from a sheet. The biggest bonus…no hemming! I knew I had to make this skirt. I managed to find two […]
[…] also worked on two skirts. The first is one that I made over a year ago, but I have never been happy with how full it was. While I liked the “flowy” look, I […]
It looks so pretty and hangs perfectly. Thanks for this, I think I’m off to hunt out a nice sheet.
.-= See Steph’s latest blog post: Embroidery transfer freebies =-.
That is a really pretty skirt. Could you make another tutorial but with pictures? I `m not that great at sewing but this looks like a very easy project.
wow! so easy! i just made a skirt that looks great! I cant wait for spring to wear it. Thanks for posting this.
if you ever decide to have another thrifted sheet swap, im all over it!!
Mocha
[…] 2. Fast and Cheap Skirt […]
I made this skirt in a shorter length. Looks great and was so easy to make! Thanks for the great tutorial!
I have a question. When you measure up from the bottom the length you want, do you cut strait accross or in a curve? Also, do you not measure your waist to make the top the right size or do you just measure the elastic and let the fabric bunch up? Thanks!
If you could post more pictures and link it to this blog that would be really helpful.
[…] made a skirt today from this *very* easy tutorial via Aux petits […]
I’m so confused. This tutorial wasn’t that clear. 🙁 Which is a shame because this is the EXACT skirt I’m looking to make! I guess I don’t understand where to cut or what to mark.
For the cutting and measuring, you basically want to decide the length you want your skirt to be, and then cut a strip off of the bottom of the sheet. You cut all the way across, so that you have a strip that is as wide as your sheet, and as long as you want your skirt to be plus 1.5 inches.
Does that clear it up any?
great upcycling: new skirt from thrifted sheets by @polkadotcottage http://lisaclarke.net/?p=478 #craftsocial
RT:@penguintrax: great upcycling: new skirt from thrifted sheets by @polkadotcottage http://lisaclarke.net/?p=478 #craftsocial – so cute
Oh, I love this too! RT@varouna: RT:@penguintrax: great upcycling new skirt from thrift by @polkadotcottage http://lisaclarke.net/?p=478
I just made my first skirt ever with this tutorial. I found a really pretty sheet at the thrift store and went to town. Everyone keeps complimenting me on the skirt and no one believes it’s from a sheet. 🙂 Thanks for this awesome tutorial, I will make many more skirts with it.
Isn’t that the best?! Glad you had fun with it!
Hello! Writing to thank you for the really great tutorial! I’ve just made this skirt, and it looks very pretty.
It took me about an hour to make it (bear in mind that I’m a beginner in sewing and that i had to stitch the steam at the bottom).
So, thanks thanks thanks!
p.s. BTW, I’m from Russia, just for you to know that your tutorial helps girls from different continents to have nice cheap skirts (:
That’s excellent! Thank you for telling me – I hope you enjoy your cheap skirts as much as I enjoy mine 🙂
RT @lclarke522: I like my skirts fast and cheap: a tutorial http://bit.ly/dcWQmv
[…] up on the lower right to receive posts via email. Thanks for visiting!A few weeks ago, I made the Fast and Cheap Skirt from the Polka Dot Cottage, which is now one of my absolute favorite garments. Not only was it […]
I love this tutorial. I can’t wait to try it out!
Thank you!
[…] Fast and cheep skirt tutorial from Polka Dot Cottage – love this one! http://lisaclarke.net/2008/04/14/i-like-my-skirts-fast-and-cheap-a-tutorial/ […]
Hey! I tried making this skirt this weekend, and love the way it looks on the hanger, but not on me. I’ve got serious hips, and this just makes me look about a mile wide. Any ideas on how to fix it? I already chopped a whole lot off the width. Is it the elastic?
Thanks so much for sharing this!!! I bought an arm load of sheets at a yard sale 2 days ago for $5 and now have an adorable spring skirt for literally pennies!!! Woo Hoo!!
That’s great! (The summer I wrote this tutorial, I made at least a dozen skirts out of thrifted sheets, so be careful – it’s addicting!)
I love the skirt 🙂 perfect for summer. With your tutorial here, even an amateur sewer like me can do this, thanks for the inspiration.
Anne
Glad to hear it! And if you do have a problem, come back soon because I have a more detailed tutorial in the works – one with step-by-step photos. I hope to get it posted within a few weeks.
So, I just made this skirt… well I made 3 of them: 1 for me and 1 for each of my girls… and did it in less than 30 minutes!! That’s my kind of skirt! <3
So this is my second attempt at the skirt, and again, it’s way too wide. I know you said to take width off, but 40 inches off? So, if you were to indicate measurements again, would you do around your hips plus 3 inches? or something?
(p.s. I have no problem with the skirt having fabric, but the elastic doesn’t pull it all in, therefore the skirt just falls off)
I wonder if maybe your problem is more with the elastic than with the amount of fabric in the skirt. If the elastic is pulled tightly enough, it should hold the skirt up, even with a large excess of fabric. You should try opening up the elastic casing, cutting off a few inches of elastic, and trying the skirt on again. See if that helps.
If you do need to cut off more fabric, 3-4 inches wider than your hip measurement should work, but it will result in a much less full, less swingy skirt.
thank you for your response! when i do the elastic, am i pulling it tight around me, to measure before i cut? maybe that’s my problem–i was just measuring around, normal (elastic not stretched) so maybe that was part of my problem. I did cut some width off and cut the elastic shorter–just need to finish the ends 🙂
Oh, definitely that is the problem – I’ve made that mistake, too 🙂 You need to pull it tightly. Not so tight that it cuts off your circulation, of course, but tight enough that it will stay put. It might take a little experimenting, which is why I suggested trying it on the existing skirt first 🙂 Hope this helps!
Holy moly…that was easy!!! I will be scouring my local Goodwill for more vintage sheets. If I find enough of them, I may wear nothing else this summer. Thanks so much for the fabulous idea!
P.S. – My husband said that he could have even made this skirt.
High praise from the husband! 🙂 So glad you had luck with the tutorial – hope you find more fabulous sheets to play with (I think finding good sheets is the hardest part of the whole thing!)
RT @lclarke522: I like my skirts fast and cheap: a tutorial http://t.co/guS2zDYE
hi lisa,
i love the pattern, i think i will sew a lot skirts this summer :).
greetings from munich!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing the link on your blog 🙂
Thanks heaps for this tutorial–I am making a skirt for a cosplay that doesn’t need to be ultra fancy as the top portion is covered by a corset, but needs to be full bodied and this is perfect!
I bought a sheet from the salvo’s the other day hoping I could whip something up on my own and you’ve saved me the time of having to think about how to do it.
Thanks a bunch!
That sounds perfect! Glad I could help 🙂
[…] wanted to try out this simple full skirt from a sheet tutorial I’d found online, so I took a thrifted sheet I’d only used part of and […]
Thanks for posting this. I used this tutorial to make a skirt the other day and it hardly took me thirty minutes! It was a little full for my taste, so I’m going to try again cutting some of the width out of the sheet.
Glad it worked for you! I had the same issue with fullness. In fact, the skirt that it is the photos here drove me crazy until I cut several inches off of it. I like it much better now 🙂
[…] can you not want to wear this skirt? Perfect for summer and so much less work than a whole dress! Lisa Clarke from Polka Dot Cottage created this gem and has a great tutorial so you can make it too!!! I’d kinda like to see it […]
Wow, this looks like it’s easy enough for me to make! I have a thrifted sheet in mind, will make this tomorrow! Thanks!
[…] Ihr hier nun also seht ist mein allererster, selbstgenähter Rock nach der megasimplen Anleitung von Lisa Clarke. Allerdings verwendet sie Baumwollstoff in ihrer Anleitung. Versucht mal Jersey umzubügeln, […]
You might try using a skirt you already own and like for shaping the new skirt. Fold the fave skirt in half lengthwise and put the fold where the fold is on the sheet. Then you can cut the selvage side to match the fave skirt before sewing. This will make the shape closer to how you want it if the typical tube shape seems too full for you.
You can do this with shirts too. I am going to try this with a dress but I’ll have to keep in mind that the width from the chest to the hips will have to be as big around as the chest to put the dress on without having to add a zipper to the side. I can stitch elastic to the inside around the waistline or wear a belt to define the waist.
Thanks for the tip! I used a favorite skirt to make a pattern a few years ago, and I love it – each skirt I make from it comes out fitting me perfectly.
Just realized I goofed in the directions. If you have a full size or queen size flat sheet and fold it lengthwise twice then you can follow my directions above. Otherwise you probably want to fold a twin sheet in half and then fold lengthwise (the dress will only be so long though). If you don’t do that first you’ll have only one side of a dress. I would recommend using a full or queen sheet and fold it lengthwise twice, then folding your fave dress in half lengthwise and place it on the sheet’s lengthwise fold before cutting it out. Make sure to leave a seam allowance when cutting. By using a larger sheet you get more choice on the length.
[…] http://lisaclarke.net/2008/04/14/i-like-my-skirts-fast-and-cheap-a-tutorial/ Like this:LikeBe the first to like this. This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Sewing. Bookmark the permalink. […]
[…] http://lisaclarke.net/2008/04/14/i-like-my-skirts-fast-and-cheap-a-tutorial/ Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. Leave a Comment by JRJ2015 on August 10, 2012 &nbsp;&bull;&nbsp; Permalink Posted in Sewing Projects […]
[…] hat . Und so habe ich – inspiriert durch Sari – die ziemlich einfache Anleitung von Lisa Clarke […]
[…] you been collecting vintage sheets for future projects? Well, this vintage sheet skirt can be made in 30 minutes! This is a fun spring project! Visit Lisa Clarke’s blog for more […]
Have you ever thought about publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other sites?
I have a blog based on the same ideas you
discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information.
I know my subscribers would enjoy your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
[…] can you not want to wear this skirt? Perfect for summer and so much less work than a whole dress! Lisa Clarke from Polka Dot Cottage created this gem and has a great tutorial so you can make it too!!! I’d kinda like to see it […]
[…] item that has been on my to-do list for the last two years: re-write, re-photograph, and re-package my most popular blog post into a handy-dandy ebook […]
Hi there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really
appreciate your content. Please let me know.
Thanks
[…] cool fabric decoupage….I have SO many items in my house I want to redo with this… 3. Beautiful skirt that I want to make! 4. Love these ornaments for next Christmas but I’ll have to start them soon or they’ll […]
Hi! Don’t have a blog nor a website. I’m an accomplished seamstress but like “fast-and-cheap.” Need a white skirt this weekend for a ceremony and this should fill the bill without breaking the retirement bank. Thanks
My pleasure!
[…] got the idea from here. Sorry, no pictures of me in it. I’ve got to start getting the hubby to take some in […]
[…] PDF File Name: I like my skirts fast and cheap: a tutorial | polka dot Source: http://www.lisaclarke.net » DOWNLOAD « […]
[…] Sommerrock von Polka Dot Cottage […]
Your blog caught my eye on Pinterest for 2 reasons: Simple and the color of the skirt. I had sheets almost like this in the 70s, a blue set and an orange set. I managed to save one of the orange sheets. And this evening I made your skirt out of my sheet, which I received as a wedding present back then. I took a picture but I don’t see a place to post it. Thanks so much for the great idea for my sheet!
[…] I like my skirts fast and cheap: a tutorial […]
[…] I like my skirts fast and cheap: a tutorial […]
[…] 5-Minuten-Rock […]
[…] Ihr hier nun also seht ist mein allererster, selbstgenähter Rock nach der megasimplen Anleitung von Lisa Clarke. Allerdings verwendet sie Baumwollstoff in ihrer Anleitung. Versucht mal Jersey umzubügeln, […]
[…] Image: lisaclarke.net […]
Hi! How do you figure in your waist measurement?
Hi, Marjorie. You don’t figure in your waist measurement at all! That’s part of what makes it so easy. The sheet should be wide enough to cover all waist sizes. The only thing you need to “measure” is your elastic, and you can do that by wrapping it around your waist and just cutting a length that feels comfortable to you.
If you want a more fitted option, you can check out the eBook version. I added a lot more details to that.
Happy sewing!