Sheet to Skirt
Intro: Sheet to Skirt
I love circle skirts, they are so fun to wear and dance in. I made these from bedsheets I found in the seemingly bottomless linens closet.
My answers to the Make-To-Learn contest:
What did you make?
I made a 1950's-style full circle skirt. I really wanted to sew something, but I didn't have any fabric. So, I used a sheet! I also used some interfacing to stiffen the waist band and a zipper in the back. I wanted a skirt that I could easily dance in, and this one does wonderfully!
How did you make it?
First I had to clean my room so I could lay the sheet on the floor. I had to do a bit of math as well to figure out how large to cut the hole for my waist and how long to make it. Sewing it was pretty fun, since it's a full circle all I had to do was sew on the waist band and sew in the zipper. The hem was a real patience tester though.
Where did you make it?
In my bedroom! I recently got my own sewing machine, so I set up a table for it in one corner. I was able to make the entire skirt by myself, from the pattern making to the finishing touches.
What did you learn?
So many things! I learned how to use your measurements to create a pattern. This can be pretty difficult, if you cut it wrong, you can end up wasting your fabric. (I ended up doing that, but thankfully I had a large sheet so there was enough room to make another one. Lesson learned = you can sew it smaller but you can't sew it bigger!)
I also learned how to make do with what I had. I didn't have to go out and buy anything, which I was fairly proud of. Never let your lack of supplies stop your creativity!
My answers to the Make-To-Learn contest:
What did you make?
I made a 1950's-style full circle skirt. I really wanted to sew something, but I didn't have any fabric. So, I used a sheet! I also used some interfacing to stiffen the waist band and a zipper in the back. I wanted a skirt that I could easily dance in, and this one does wonderfully!
How did you make it?
First I had to clean my room so I could lay the sheet on the floor. I had to do a bit of math as well to figure out how large to cut the hole for my waist and how long to make it. Sewing it was pretty fun, since it's a full circle all I had to do was sew on the waist band and sew in the zipper. The hem was a real patience tester though.
Where did you make it?
In my bedroom! I recently got my own sewing machine, so I set up a table for it in one corner. I was able to make the entire skirt by myself, from the pattern making to the finishing touches.
What did you learn?
So many things! I learned how to use your measurements to create a pattern. This can be pretty difficult, if you cut it wrong, you can end up wasting your fabric. (I ended up doing that, but thankfully I had a large sheet so there was enough room to make another one. Lesson learned = you can sew it smaller but you can't sew it bigger!)
I also learned how to make do with what I had. I didn't have to go out and buy anything, which I was fairly proud of. Never let your lack of supplies stop your creativity!
STEP 1: Supplies
To make one, you will need:
-A flat bed sheet (Twin size worked for me, but if you are tall or you want it longer, you might want to get a larger size)
-An invisible zipper that matches
-Interfacing - a rectangle 5 inches x the circumference of your waist
-String, ruler and fabric marker
-Iron and Ironing board
-Sewing machine and tools
-A flat bed sheet (Twin size worked for me, but if you are tall or you want it longer, you might want to get a larger size)
-An invisible zipper that matches
-Interfacing - a rectangle 5 inches x the circumference of your waist
-String, ruler and fabric marker
-Iron and Ironing board
-Sewing machine and tools
STEP 2: The Skirt
Lay your sheet out flat and fold it into quarters. I used a yardstick to smooth it out so there weren't any large wrinkles.
Now you are going to have to do some math. To find how big to make the hole at the top, you have to find the radius of your waist. Just divide the circumference of your waist by pi and then divide that by two. It will look like this:
Circumference/ 3.14 = Diameter/2 = Radius
For me that was 25/3.14 = 8/2 = 4
The easiest way to measure your skirt is with a string compass. Just pin a string to the corner of the sheet, and hold a marker four inches up the string. (Or whatever your radius was). Swing the marker across the sheet, drawing the perimeter of the circle.
To get the length, measure from your natural waistline to wherever you want the skirt to fall and then add one inch. This was 26 inches for me. Do the same thing with the string compass to draw the circle.
Cut out your skirt.
Now you are going to have to do some math. To find how big to make the hole at the top, you have to find the radius of your waist. Just divide the circumference of your waist by pi and then divide that by two. It will look like this:
Circumference/ 3.14 = Diameter/2 = Radius
For me that was 25/3.14 = 8/2 = 4
The easiest way to measure your skirt is with a string compass. Just pin a string to the corner of the sheet, and hold a marker four inches up the string. (Or whatever your radius was). Swing the marker across the sheet, drawing the perimeter of the circle.
To get the length, measure from your natural waistline to wherever you want the skirt to fall and then add one inch. This was 26 inches for me. Do the same thing with the string compass to draw the circle.
Cut out your skirt.
STEP 3: The Waistband
Next we have the waistband! This is pretty simple, its just a large rectangle you will be folding in half. Use the circumference of your waist, adding about an inch for the zipper seams. Mine was 5½ by 13 inches. Cut one of your fabric and one of interfacing.
Iron the interfacing on the wrong side of fabric. Fold the waist band in half lengthwise and iron flat.
Iron the interfacing on the wrong side of fabric. Fold the waist band in half lengthwise and iron flat.
STEP 4: Attaching the Waistband
Now you will attach the waistband to the skirt. Fold the skirt in half and cut about 6 inches towards the bottom. Try it on and make sure you can easily get the skirt over your hips.
Lay the skirt out flat and line the waistband with one of the edges of the slit you just cut. Pin every few inches with right sides together. If it doesn't quite match up you can make a few small pleats in the back. Sew all the way around.
Lay the skirt out flat and line the waistband with one of the edges of the slit you just cut. Pin every few inches with right sides together. If it doesn't quite match up you can make a few small pleats in the back. Sew all the way around.
STEP 5: Adding the Zipper
This is the most difficult part: inserting the zipper. I never really follow the directions for these, so I can't really tell you how. They should have instructions on the pack they came in though. If you have the invisible zipper foot in makes things a lot easier, but I have done it without one.
Once you've added the zipper, try it on and make sure it fits! Test to make sure you like the length too.
Once you've added the zipper, try it on and make sure it fits! Test to make sure you like the length too.
STEP 6: Hemming
This is last and most patience-testing step. Though it's not difficult, hemming a circle skirt is a long process.
Select a zigzag overcasting stitch on your sewing machine and change out the foot. This was stitch number 7 on my machine. Sew all the way around the bottom of the skirt. Remember to back-stitch to secure the stitching when you are finished. Switch back to your normal stitch. (Don't forget to change the foot out again!) Fold the edge up about a quarter of an inch and sew all the way around.
If your machine doesn't have an overcasting stitch, you can hem it by folding the edge up twice and just sewing around.
Select a zigzag overcasting stitch on your sewing machine and change out the foot. This was stitch number 7 on my machine. Sew all the way around the bottom of the skirt. Remember to back-stitch to secure the stitching when you are finished. Switch back to your normal stitch. (Don't forget to change the foot out again!) Fold the edge up about a quarter of an inch and sew all the way around.
If your machine doesn't have an overcasting stitch, you can hem it by folding the edge up twice and just sewing around.
STEP 7: Wear It!
You are done! Enjoy wearing your beautiful sheet skirt!
Or-- you can add a nice big bow to the back. I made longs ties as wide as the waist band and attached them to the sides. It easily covers the zipper and looks cute!
Or-- you can add a nice big bow to the back. I made longs ties as wide as the waist band and attached them to the sides. It easily covers the zipper and looks cute!
22 Comments
wasabipeas 4 years ago
pie popper 4 years ago
That Redhead 6 years ago
I used this to make my costume this year! LOVE LOVE LOVE!
haleydimock2 6 years ago
blueangelical 11 years ago
pie popper 11 years ago
Get the shape of the front by setting it down and drawing around the edge onto your fabric. Cut 2 of this outline out about an inch or two larger than the cage (for starters).
The third piece you would need is for the sides and top. I would do this out of all one strip if possible. Simply measure from the bottom all the way up the top and down to the bottom on the other side. Make a big rectangle of this measurement and the width of the cage.
Then all you would have to do is sew the three pieces together.
Not sure if this would work. But if I had to tackle this, this is how I would start out :)
blueangelical 10 years ago
kangel1 10 years ago
blueangelical 10 years ago
saosport 10 years ago
NOODLE! 10 years ago
NOODLE! 10 years ago
kangel1 10 years ago
786Ayesha 11 years ago
water rat 11 years ago
kylara70 11 years ago
HollyMann 11 years ago
fruitysnacklove 11 years ago
donedirtcheap 11 years ago
I have the same machine. I'll try your i'ble and post what I come up with.
Lovely,
DDC
porcupinemamma 11 years ago