Little Girls' Cheerleading Skirt

A couple of years ago, we moved to a new, football-obsessed city.  Every Friday when the local team plays, all the school children dress up in the team colors.  The boys wear jerseys and all of the girls wear cheerleading uniforms.  We don't follow sports, but when my little girl begged for a cheerleading uniform, I wanted to get one for her.  Unfortunately, the official uniforms cost more than $30 each--a little steep for an outfit only worn on game days.  After looking at a few of the skirts in the shops, I decided I could make one myself.

Here is how to make a great little cheer skirt for girls.  It's a wonderful way to show team spirit or would make a great costume.  I've also made a couple for her to wear as little summer skirts.

So, to do this you will need
Fabric in the dominant color—twill or poplin are recommended; lightweight cotton and cotton blends work, though do not hang as well.
Fabric in the flash color—use the same type of fabric as the dominant color
Half a yard of each color fabric is plenty for most younger girls
Matching thread
Zipper (in the example, a 7” zipper is used and cut down to size)
¾” Button
Medium-weight, iron-on interfacing

Necessary Measurements:
Waist size
Desired skirt length
Length from the waist to mid-buttock

Step 1 Taking measurements

Since this is done without a pattern, we need a few measurements to get it to fit.

1) Begin by taking measurements of the wearer’s waist.
 
For our example, we will assume a waist size of 22”, approximately a toddler’s size 5.     

Divide this number by 6.
 
22  6 = 3.66666.  I will round this to 3.6”.     

2) Add 1” to the answer in order to create a ½” seam allowance on either side.  This is to be the width of your panels.
 
3.6” + 1” =  4.6”     

3) Measure the desired length of the skirt.

For our example, we will use a length of 8”, again approximately a toddler size 5.

Add 1 ½” for seam allowance and hem. This will be the length of your panels.

8” + 1 ½” = 9 ½”


 

Comments

[okeydoke]

My mother-in-law just got done making this and it was too small?!? We got to thinking about it and if her waist is 23, then how is the skirt going to fit 25 inch hips? Had to take it apart and add another panel.....just wondering what went wrong.

[vinasu]

This pattern really only works for little girls who don't have a waist yet. If you have an older girl, you can modify the pattern by using the hip measurement instead of the waist and following the directions. Then, before you add the waistband, take the difference between the waist and hip measurements, divide by six, and make a dart along all six seams that gradually removes that much fabric. Then add the waistband. Maybe later this spring I will do a new one for older girls. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you!

[junerosie321]

Great tutorial, and she is so cute!!![: