Lined Handkerchief Skirt {+ Matching Appliqued Shirt}

This skirt is probably one of the easiest skirts to make for your daughter. It is just like making this elastic waist skirt, but there's no hemming and this one is lined. The only seams you're sewing are side seams and around the waist and it's surprisingly simple! You can make an entire outfit for less than $10. Handmade. Monogrammed. It's never been easier. Are you ready to try it?

For this skirt, I bought 4 handkerchiefs from Hobby Lobby @ .99 cents/each. Two printed handkerchiefs and two white ones for the lining. There are many possibilities with handkerchiefs. I made this for my 5 1/2 year old daughter, but could probably still make skirts out of handkerchiefs for my very tall 8 year old and petite 10 year old. You only need at most 2 inches for folding over the top edge for the waist and there's no hemming so that leaves a good bit of fabric for the length. If the length is a problem, you could always add cute trim to the bottom.

Now that you've got the handkerchiefs, measure how long you'll need the skirt to be from waist to length. I leave the width as is. Elastic takes care of the width, so don't worry about cutting it down unless you're making this for a baby or young toddler. Check out this chart for more info on sizing and measurements.

Once you have your waist to hem measurement, mark and cut your handkerchief length, if necessary. This will be the only cut edge of the entire skirt. Do the same thing for the lining handkerchiefs. I kept mine the same length as the patterned handkerchiefs, but you can make the lining an inch or so shorter if you wish. {You could also do the lining piece longer than the patterned ones, for a layered look.}

Now, take your patterned pieces and lay them right sides together. Lining up the sides as best you can. Make sure the cut edges are lined up.

Pin the sides right sides together.

Sew each side seam. 5/8" is the standard seam allowance.

Repeat with the lining pieces.

Now, put the lining inside the patterned pieces as if it were finished. Note: the lining piece should have seams facing outward toward the patterned pieces' seams. This allows the inside of the lining that touches the body to be smooth. Basically, the lining appears insideout.

Once you have both the skirt and lining together, flip them together insideout so that the lining is now on the outside and the skirt in inside. Now, fold both rough edges (waist) over an 1.5 inches. Pin the rough edge to hold it in place.

Now, sew around the rough edge to make a seam. You will sew all the way around and leave about 3 inches unsewn so that you can thread the elastic through the waistband.

Once elastic is threaded through, sew the ends of the elastic together and then sew the 3 inch opening closed.

Flip the skirt right side out and you're done!

 

Make a matching shirt by using one of these methods for making an applique: I used my Silhouette Portrait to cut out my A with the heat n bond on the back. All I had to do was iron it onto my shirt and sew around the applique for reinforcement. You can still make this without a Silhouette - print out a letter in any font you like with your printer, cut it out and pin or trace it to your choice of fabric. Iron your fabric to Heat n Bond following package instructions. Cut out the fabric and then iron it to your shirt. Stitch around the edge to reinforce it.

Make it even more personal by embroidering the name next to the letter or by adding embellishments, etc. I added the name just to give it a little extra pizzazz! I love how it turned out and so does my sweet girly girl. {Pic of the finished product coming soon!}

Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you'll try this easy skirt and if you do, please come back and tell me how it went!