I have made several of these for my nieces and they absolutely loved them! They are so easy to make too! You can do them in all one fabric or use several different colored fabrics--different for each tier even.
READ THROUGH ALL DIRECTIONS AND HINTS BEFORE STARTING THIS PROJECT. IT WILL SAVE FOR LESS HASSLE.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
1. sewing machine
2. thread to match your fabric
3. Several yards of fabric---depends on who you are making it
for and how full you want the skirt to be---BASE THE
YARDAGE/METERS ON THE MEASUREMENTS YOU WILL TAKE BELOW.
4. measure and cut elastic for waistband to fit easily around
your waist (or whoever you are making this skirt for) plus a bit
for tying it or stitching the ends of the elastic together after
threading it thru the waistband.
5. scissors and/or rotary cutter and cutting board (whichever
you find easiest to use for cutting)
6. measuring tape (flexible sewing tapes are best)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Measure your hip measurement and add 7-10 inches/18-25 cm (or
more if you want a fuller skirt) to that measurement. This will
be the width of fabric you will need to cut for the first tier.
2. For the length of the first tier: for an adult make it about
6.5 inches to 10 or 12 inches/16.5 cm to 25-31 cm depending on
where you want that tier to end (ie, like at your hip exactly or
below your hip). Remember: part of the fabric will be used in
the seams and in the waistband for this first tier.
3. Make this first tier into a tube by sewing the ends of the
strip of fabric for the first tier together
4. FOR THE ADDITIONAL TIERS:
---add about 20 to 30 inches/51-70 cm to the width of each
subsequent tier and about 2-3 inches/5-8 cm in length (making
each tier wider/fuller and longer than the previous one).
---sew into tubes by sewing the ends of the fabric together
---gather the top of each tier with your machine set to the
longest stitch (don't knot or backstitch the thread--just leave
a long "tail" for gathering at either end) and sew about 1/4
inch from the top straight across. Then gently start pulling
the thread (one of the threads will pull--either the top or
bottom thread) and slide the fabric where it is bunching up and
gathering until it fits the same size as the bottom of the
previous tier.
HINT: Make sure the gathers are evenly spaced before
sewing it to the bottom of the previous tier.
5. TO SEW THE TIERS TOGETHER:
---Mark the front and back lining up the seams of each of the tiers with pins.
---flip the second tier to where the right side of it and
the right side of the first tier are together (wrong side facing
out) and the top of the second tier is matched up with the
bottom of the first tier. Make sure the seams are lined up. Stitch these two together.
---do the same to each subsequent tier ---matching up the
bottom of the previous tier with the top of the next tier and
the right sides facing together, seam sides (wrong sides facing
out at you) and stitch them together.
6. Hem the bottom tier by folding it under twice and stitching
across it ---try to make it as small as possible so you have a
neat small hem at the bottom.
7. At the top of the skirt, sew a casing for the elastic. Leave
a small spot open and not sewn so you can insert the elastic and
thread it thru the waistband. Then either knot or stitch the
elastic together and then stitch up the little opening to finish
it off.
OPTIONS & HINTS:
- You can add a ruffle at the bottom by doubling the width of
the last tier and making the length of the ruffle however you
want (usually only 2-4 inches/ 5-10 cm). Gather the ruffle like
you did the tops of the tiers and then sew it to the bottom
tier.
- You can use all sorts of fun fabrics and make the skirt out
of several fabrics and colors for a more interesting look.
- There is one rule to follow when considering the number of
tiers: odd numbers of tiers are much more interesting
to look at than even numbers of tiers.
- You can make all of the tiers the same length but if they
are different lengths (like in the directions) the skirt has a
more interesting look to it.
- Always prewash your fabrics since they may shrink which
would affect the fit of the skirt.
- You can also make this skirt much fuller into what is considered more of a circle skirt---it will take a lot
of yardage for it though!
Happy sewing!!!!
Ma'salaama!
-Melissa
Abu Musa, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Giving charity is obligatory upon each Muslim. It was asked: What do you say of him who does not find (the means) to do so? He said: Let him do manual work, thus doing benefit to himself and give charity. It was asked: What about one who does not have (the means) to do so? He said: Then let him assist the needy, the aggrieved. It was asked: What do you say of one who cannot even do this? He said: Then he should enjoin what is reputable or what is good. He asked: What if he cannot do that? He (the Holy Prophet) said: He should then abstain from evil, for verily that is charity on his behalf.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 1676
