Bubble Skirt with Ruffle Tank Tutorial

The bubble skirt may be one of the easiest and cutest things I've ever made. Making the skirt and the ruffle tank was a lot easier than trying to get a picture with my daughter wearing them.

Supplies:

Fabric for exterior and interior (I made 18 months and only needed 1/2 yard. You may need more if making for an older child.)

Elastic 1" width for waistband, and 1/4" width about 30" length for bottom of skirt.

Thread, scissors, iron, measuring tape or ruler.

You will need to measure your child from the waist to the knee. Add 1 1/2" to this and that will be what you need for the interior fabric, and add 3 1/2" for the amount of exterior fabric you will need. You will also need the waist measurement for your elastic waistband. Now you have your measurements and are ready to cut your fabric.



After cutting your two pieces of fabric with your measurement you should end up with two large rectangles.



With right sides of fabric together, line up your short raw edges and sew 1/2" seam, back stitching at the beginning and end. Repeat with other fabric. You will now press the seam open on both, and have two tubes.



Insert the larger tube inside the smaller one with right sides facing each other.



Line up and pin the bottom edges all the way around. Sew close to the edge 1/4" in. Sew your second seam about 1/2" in from first seam. Don't forget to leave an opening to feed your 30" of elastic through.



Now attach a safety pin to your elastic to help guide it through the casing you have made. When finished with that sew your elastic together, and tuck in. Sew your casing closed. Now the bottom of your skirt is finished.



Now flip your skirt right side out and it should look like the above picture. Take the edge and fold it in about a 1/2" and press. Then take your pressed edge and fold it over to cover the lining fabric and press. Stitch close to the edge to make a casing for your elastic. Feed your elastic through just as you did for the bottom of the skirt. Finish by sewing the elastic and the casing closed. Now your skirt if done.

Ruffle Tank:

I made this with a 18 month tank to so the ribbon was measured accordingly. You may want to measure if you are making for a smaller child or older child.

I measured the tank from the neckline to the bottom of the tank, and doubled it to allow for the ruffle. My bottom ribbon was 1 1/2" and the top ribbon was 1".





Pin your ribbon together. Don't forget to loosen the tension on your sewing machine to 0. Sew down the middle to the ribbon.



To make your ruffle pull the bottom thread as much or as little as you like, to make your ruffle.



Now you pin the ruffle on the tank, and sew. I decided to only sew the top, middle, and bottom of the ribbon on. Now you have a sweet skirt with a little ruffle flare for your little one.