First, the circle skirt is very easy. Basically I did the first four steps Steph shows for the pavlova. I used fabric instead of the tracing medium and the Tiramisu skirt pattern. I just made sure the edges of my waist sides were touching and cut the circle out of the center of my fabric.
| The Tira skirt is shaped differently from the Pavlova so you cannot line it up on the edges like in Steph's illustration. The whole point is to have a circle/oval cut from the center. |
| I staggered the two layers so you have no Angelina Jolie leg moments while wearing the square skirts. This is why semi sheers work well with this design. |
Gathering/ Ruching Technique
I have three different ways I gather fabric depending on it's type and how it will behave. This is the one I decided to use on the Tira skirt since it is so full and there isn't a lot of pulling on it to pop the stitches.
| First I wore it around the house with a safety pin holding the gathers. When it didn't pop or pull with wear I decided it could be safely hand sewn. |
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| Tada! You're done! |
That's it. Two super simple little twists to add some fun to a project. Go and make a handkerchief hem skirt for whatever weather is headed your way. It's sure to be twirly!
Have you ever made a handkerchief hem skirt before? Do you love twirly skirts?

4 comments:
Way to be creative, and informative! :) I like the twirly skirts, but am not on a path to make one any time soon!
Thanks! Glad it made sense to you!
Thanks for the how-to! I'm curious: without the gathers, do the points of your rectangle drag on the floor?
I do like full skirts (I don't twirl in them, generally), especially in the summer. I'm experimenting with less-than-full skirts, though, as part of my Wardrobe Improvement Project, mostly because I want to try the variety and I think straighter skirts might looks a little more polished.
Oh, and in case I didn't include it last time, here's the link to the one handkerchief hem skirt I've made:
http://journal.dolcideleria.com/2011/07/birthday-skirts-and-making-do.html
My daughter loves the twirly!
Hi Christina,
The tips of the rectangles touch the floor which is how I kind of planned them to be. I may go back in and trim the points tapering up the sides so the skirt stays long in the "short dips". I only gathered in that one spot so it didn't affect most of the points.
I don't think there's much classer than a well fitted pencil skirt although nothing beats the easy wear of a full skirt!
I like your skirt! I think that's a cute design. Glad your daughter loves the twirlyness! You're only young once!
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