the colorwheel skirt

SUPPLIES:

3/4 inch elastic to fit waist, minus 2 inches

2/3rds yard each of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple fabrics (This skirt is sized to fit girls size 6-8. Adjust the length accordingly! If you are making a skirt for a toddler, I think you could adjust the dimensions of the pieces and use fat quarters.)

thread

yard stick

dressmaker’s chalk

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cut a 24″x30″ single-width square of one color of fabric. Fold this square in half lengthwise, with the 24″ ends together, and iron along the fold to mark the center.

2. Open out the fabric and mark 3″ in both directions from the center of one 30″ side.

3. Using a yard stick, use your chalk to draw a line from the mark to the bottom corner of the fabric. Repeat for the opposite side. Cut along both of these lines.

4. Use that first piece of fabric as a template to cut your remaining five pieces. Arrange the pieces in rainbow order.

5. Beginning with your red and orange fabrics, stitch the right side of the red to the left side of the orange, right sides together, with a 3/8-inch seam. Work your way around until you’ve completed the circle, at the end stitching together the purple and red. Press all seams to one side.

6.  Trim the corners where each two fabrics meet all along the bottom of the skirt. You’ll want to cut a gradual curve, beginning about 4-5 inches from the point on each side.

7. Hem the bottom of the skirt. Press up the bottom edge 1/4-inch, then press it up another 1/4-inch and stitch all the way around.

8. Before you move on, fold down the top edge of the skirt 1/4-inch and press all the way around. This help you in step 9! Set your elastic 1-1/2 inches from the top edge of the skirt on the wrong side of the fabric. Using a zig-zag stitch, sew the elastic directly to the skirt.  Begin with a few stitches to afix the elastic, then pull the elastic tightly toward you while you sew, using your other hand to guide the fabric. As you complete the circle, be sure to layer the last inch of elastic over the top of the first inch.

9. Now, fold down that top edge along the 1/4-inch crease you made in step 8. Then fold the waist again over the top of the elastic. Edge stitch along the folded edge, pulling taut the elastic as you sew.

Please remember that this tutorial is offered for your personal enjoyment. Please do not sell any products made or inspired by this tutorial.