Adult Skirt to Toddler Dress Sewing Tutorial

Skill level: Easy

Materials:

1 adult skirt

coordinating 1.5-2" wide ribbon

2 pieces of elastic no wider than 1" (18" and 20" long for size 2T)

coordinating thread

sewing machine

For this tutorial I found a very full adult skirt with extra layers of fabric, so it would make a pretty and full little dress.

1. Cut off the elastic around the top.

2. Measure two pieces of elastic. One is for the chest and the other is for the middle. For a size 2T-3T, like the one I made cut one piece 18" and the other 20"

3. Serge around the top. (where you cut off the elastic) If you don't have a serger, iron down 1/4" Then iron it down again to make a casing for your elastic. Ex. If you are using 1" elastic iron it down 1 and 1/4" so the elastic easily fits through. Then sew down your casing, leaving a 1" spot open, where you will eventually put the elastic through.

4. Measure the width around the skirt where you want the waist to be. Take that measurement and add 1/2" for overlapping, and cut a piece of ribbon that length.

5. Pin the ribbon around the area where you want the waist of the dress to be. Sew the ribbon edges right sides together at the side seam of the skirt, so you don't have to worry about fraying. If this part is too tricky just overlap the ribbon edges at the side seam.

6. Sew the ribbon all the way around the waist of the skirt on both the top and bottom of the ribbon, leaving a 1" spot when you are sewing the bottom of the ribbon, to put the elastic through. Make sure you sew the top and bottom stitches around the ribbon far enough apart to fit your elastic through.

7. Time to string your elastc through both of your casings (the one at the very top of the skirt and the ribbon) using a safety pin to push it all the way around.

8. Once you get it all the way around, overlap the elastic ends and sew a couple zig zag stitches to keep them together.

9. Sew your casings closed (the 1" spot you originally left open to put your elastic through.)

10. Cut two pieces of ribbon for the straps. Mine were 9" but yours may need to be longer or shorter depending on the size of your child. Pin them on your dress where you like them. You may need to do this while your child tries it on to make sure the straps are where you want them. Be careful not to poke her with a pin! Sew your straps on and you're done!