BEGINNER PROJECTS : KIDS SKIRTS

UPDATE MAY 2014:

 I have been busy making many skirts. Here are a few:  SKIRT MANIA

These are my first set of children's clothes I have made and whilst they may not be perfect I am proud of them. Thankfully my niece gave me a few minutes to model them for me.

It is good practise for a beginner sewist to start with simple skirts. There are tonnes of them on the internet, so just pic your choice. I especially liked  A SIMPLE SKIRT by MADE.

First up is a royal blue matte linen skirt with a floral polyster trim. The ribbon at the waist is a faux / fake drawstring, but helps the child to determine where is the front and back. This is a size 3T.

This elastic waist skirt is made from matte linen, with a polyester trim.

I also made a grey coloured skirt from matte linen as well. I made an exposed elastic waist and my first applique flower held on by a button. The edge of the skirt was serged but I think I will hem it up.  This skirt is also a size 3T. For this skirt I chose The "Make it and Love It" tutorial

Next I made another skirt out of the grey matte linen with a fabric flower held on by a button.

Next, I made a floral skirt - same thing different fabric:

 

The above skirt is a simple one with an elastic waist. I also added a piece of lace to the bottom as frill. This is the same fabric (matte linen in grey) 

GIRLS TOP TUTORIAL : THE "LOVE ME ORANGE TOP "

Though not perfect I am really proud of my latest achievement. It is as simple as breathing but it took me two hours (lol!)
Anyway let me share it with you:

I made it on Saturday June 1 2013.
The fabric used is cotton (we call it dacron and cotton) :

I got the two pieces of fabric (show below)  from a seamstress who obviously decided to abandon the project.

I decided to make a size  3T top.
My measurements used were :
CHEST 21
my aim is my top to have a finished length (including straps) of 15 1/2 inches

The fabric is actually a top gone bad. Its size is about 12 inches long starting from the cut neckline on the orange piece and about 12 inches wide) .

So, the first thing I did was even up my squares. I ended up with 12 x 12 squares

Then,  I sewed cut a piece of white about 2W x 24L .

 

Then, I sewed the orange pieces together and then stitched the white to the bottom.

Next, I folded the white to the wrong side of the orange fabric to cover the raw edges of the orange piece. So it should look like this when done.This added another 1 1/2 inches to the length.

I then stitched a one inch tube at the top of the blouse to fit in the elastic. remember to leave out a gap to insert the elastic through.

I then made straps one inch wide by 10 inches long when done. You can adjust the strap length so that it is
 3 -4 inches when stitched on.

I decided to be a little creative and add the strap on the outside of the top instead. I sewed a box just below the stitch line where i made the tube for the elastic. The straps were sewn 2 1/2 inches in from the border and one inch down from the top as demonstrated below. for the straps on the back I sewed them inside as normal(picture not show yet)

Sew the other side of the top together . You should now have this (front view)

Back view :

Cut the elastic one inch shorter than the chest measurement (i.e 20 inches) and insert elastic through the tube . Stitch the ends together and close your casing .

I recently started to learn how to applique - please ignore the wonky heart. But what I did was draw a heart shape on the paper side of the iron on interfacing then I placed my fabric on the shiny side. ironed it . Then I cut it out and stitched it on my top with a straight stitch.

And that's it!
 I don't have any children to fit it on to give you a better idea but I hope you have a little one to make one for and let me see how it looks.