This is a pattern I drafted for daughter #1, but is easily adaped to any waist size. The pattern is assembled with 3" wide pieces of fabric, and sewn with a serged seam (you can zigzag if you don't have a serger) on the outside as part of the design details.
You can use fat quarters (approx. 18" x 21" each.) or regular fabric cuts.
Sew on a waistband, add elastic, hem or serge with a rolled hem and you're done. This is a simple pattern with big boutique-appeal. The pattern pieces are here:
Piece "B"
Instructions for the Child's Petal Skirt
1. Check the chart on pattern piece A for the number of pieces you need to cut, based on the child's waist size. Cut those pieces of the same, or coordinating fabrics as you see here.
2. Sew the pieces together using 1/8" seam allowance. I used the rolled hem stitch of a serger, but you can straight stitch or zigzag if you don't have a serger.
3. Cut a waistband measuring [1" + waist size] x 3" wide. For a 21" waist, 21" + 1" = 22" long x 3" wide. Sew short ends together using 1/2" seam allowance to make a tube. Sew one long edge of waistband to skirt top. Fold down 1/4" and iron on remaining long edge. Fold waistband down just below seam attaching waistband to skirt and pin in place. Stitch "in the ditch" (on top of the seam) to close waistband, but leave about 2" open to feed elastic through. Cut a piece of 1" elastic to 1 1/2" larger than child's waist. Feed elastic through using a large safety pin or special elastic feeding tool. Pin elastic ends together and try on the child. Adjust the pin for the right fit. Stitch the ends of elastic together and slip back into waistband. Close the gap you left for feeding elastic through (on machine or by hand.
4. Hem. Again, I used a rolled hem from a serger, but you can do the standard 1/4" fold, iron, 1/4" fold and iron again, and a straight stitch hem. Or, you can zigzag the raw edges, press up 1/2" and hem with the stitch of your choice.
Voila!
Would you like to email me pics of your skirt? I'd love to see what you've done, and if you'd like, I'll publish it here. :)
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