by Judy Roberson
I’ve been in the process of re-doing my sewing room. I knew I had to get rid of some of my left over fabric scraps. Like many of you, I have lots of fabric, in fact I’m obsessed with fabrics. I love the different colors and textures and the feel of the fabrics. I craft & sew many different things, which means I have a lot of left over scraps. Time doesn’t allow me to make quilts, but all those scrap pieces are just too pretty to throw away. As each of us fabric collectors know, this problem plagues many of us. I began to think of something to do with all my beautiful scraps of fabric.
While surfing the Internet, I noticed strip skirts, dresses, etc. They’re just cute as they can be. I was inspired by what others were making, and while those sources suggested buying this or that new fabric, my own ideas began to form in my head and I knew I’d found a solution for using my own beautiful scraps. I decided to make a little skirt and want to share how I did it with you. This little skirt is so simple, it needs no pattern, just follow the simple instructions I’ve provided and you can make one too.
1) Look through your scrap stash and find several good sized scraps of fabric that coordinate well together. Length and width of your scraps can only be determined by the person who will wear the skirt, but as you read on you’ll begin to understand how this will all come together. NOTE: Remember this is a strip skirt, so you can always just add more strips if necessary.
2) Lay out your strips and decide which order you want them in.
3) Measure the soon to be owner of the skirt from their waist to the knee (in my case, this person was my little granddaughter) now to that measurement, whatever it is, add 1.5″ to allow for a hem (make note of this final measurement, you will need it to cut the strips).
4) You may have to make some adjustments as to how many strips you need here, but as an example, for my granddaughter’s skirt, I cut out 6 strips that were 7 inches wide x the final measurement in step 3. I tapered the top of each strip a small amount, so the skirt would be a-lined (note: this is optional also, just cut straight strips if you wish).
5) Right sides together, sew the strips together. (corrected 6/16)
6) Now it’s time to make the waistband. For this cut a strip long enough to accommodate the waist of the wearer that is also approximately 3″ wide.
7) Right sides together, sew the band to the top of the skirt. Now you’ll need to make a casing (for elastic) everyone has different ways of finishing their edges, use what works best for you on the top edge, then fold the waist band in on itself and stitch along the edge on the wrong side of the skirt to make your casing, making sure to leave the ends open so you can insert the elastic (the length of which you will measure against the waist of the wearer). Note: a simple way to insert elastic is just to attach a large safety pin to one end of the elastic and gradually feed that through the casing, then adjust to fit.
8) At this point, there is only one seam to sew the skirt together, once that is done, hem using your favorite method.
9) Time for the fun part now. Select an embroidery design and embroider on your skirt wherever you wish to. For my granddaughter’s skirt I selected a design from a set at Designs by SiCK called “DD Cute Ladybugs” http://www.designsbysick.com/details/cuteladybugs and added the words “Cute as a Bug” below the design.
We were not disappointed, as this adorable little strip skirt from my scrap bag was a big hit! My granddaughter just loves it. So, the lesson for today is: Never throw those beautiful scraps away because, there is always a cute project waiting to be sewn just for them.
Adorable!!! I have a grand daughter too, so I will be checking out my scrap stash.
That skirt is, well, cute as a bug!
That is just so cute. I’m going to do a couple for my GD’s Thanks
Cute. I did something similar. I cut squares and sewed them together like a crazy quilt to make a skirt for a grand daughter. Also have opened old men’s ties and sewed them together for a skirt.
For goodness sake, your title caught my eye. I had to read whatever might be as cute as a bug skirt. I had never seen or heard about a bug skirt before. What a picture in my mind. I guess a lady bug might want one. Trouble is, she doesn’t have much of a waist!!!!!!! Sorry!!!!!
How cute… I have 8 yr old twin grandaughters that I am teaching to sew this summer…Looks easy enough for them to do…what a great idea.
Julie: It is as cute as a bug in a rug. I’m so glad you posted a picture, as I was imagining it in diagonal strips. You are an inspiration. I can visualize the strips in a pair of shorts or pants. Thank you so much. Frances
Adorable!!
This is darling. We sew for the Salvation Army and Homeless children. I will share with my ASG ladies and get to work.
Thanks
Hi Judy
So very cute makes me wish my girls were little again!!
That is sooo cute! You did a great job! I am taking notes for my grand-daughter is 2 months old.
Thanks a bunch – I think I just found the next project for the great nieces birthdays. Very cute, in deed.
are the seams supposed to be raw on the outside? the picture looks like the seams are on the inside of the skirt. that does not happen when wrong sides are together before stitching. the idea is real cute. a great use of the scraps that we all have.
I think this is “Cute as a Bug”. So easy and unique.
ahhh…. so cute! Thanks
Your skirt is adorable. I wish I had your talent.
I love the skirt! My neices are partial to the cloths I make them, so this idea will be great for summer with all my scraps
This is a very good idea and I would like to give it a try. One Question tho–Why do you sew the strips WRONG sides together? Wouldn’t this give you a inside out appearance to the finished skirt?
Judy
cute idea……but “wrong sides together”? the photo does not look like it was assembled ‘wrong sides’ together…….
Adorable… Great idea…
very cute and Thanks for another way to get those scraps widdled down
cute!! If you might be interested in quilting, check out this website. It’s a charity site that makes quilts out of strips and would be great for scraps that might be too narrow for a cute skirt like the one you made. Enjoy
http://heartstringsquiltproject.com/
This is so cute. I have 8 granddaughters that I know will love this skirt. I know that I will have lots of fun putting these skirts together! Thank you for sharing this idea. I love this site!
Just wanted to tell you the skirt is cute as a bug on a rug!! Thank you once I get my llama projects done may have to make one with some of my large collection of scraps!
I just love it. I have 2 granddaughters to try it on. Can hardly wait to finish my current project so that I can make them.
Thanks
Adorable – can’t wait to make one for my granddaughter! Thanks so much for the idea.
Just love this article. Many, many years ago Mum made two skirts for my twin sister and myself, but unfortunatley in those days, the late fifties (1959) we were called by all the kids Cinderella. How cruel kids can be. But I am going to sew a skirt again like you have made and well done for giving me the faith again to sew such a lovely creation Thanks again. Cheers from Australia
I also have a love of fabric. Thanks for a wonderful idea and thinking “outside the box”. My brain is churning with new ways to use scraps.
glenda
My daughter has twingirls (2 years) and I have a lot of scraps and embroideryideas. Good mixture? Think so. I will begin just now.
Kåate
What a CLEVER project. . . proving that scraps are not just for quilters!
This is just adorable and gives me great ideas for my overflow of fabric. Thanks a million.
I can’t wait to make some strip skirts with my left over fabrics for my girls ! Thanks for the great idea! Gina R.
Judy, Thank you very much for sharing your idea and posting a photo of the darling skirt. I will be making one with my hunks of quilt left overs for my grand daughter. I really like the simplicity of your method and the idea to taper the strips a little bit at the top. Barbara Klink in Saint Louis
What a great idea! Thank you so much. Judy
I read and reread the instructions and I think I am missing something….you sew the wrong sides together?
Thanks, Judy, for sending in the Cute As A Bug skirt info. With just a couple of measurements of the child, I think we sewers/embroiderers can make many different clothing items without having to purchase expensive pre-made patterns. This new simpler clothing doesn’t have to be tailored, and lasts longer because the sizing is a bit adjustable. Bravo for the great idea of using up our fabric scraps. The kids think this is much more fun than a plain skirt! I’ll definitely make some for my granddaughters.
you sewed the strips WRONG sides together? Looks to me like it was sewn RIGHT sides together.
Very cute and so easy. I do quilt but always have strips of fabric or just not enough to do another entire quilt and you can only make so many crazy quilts LOL. My first GD is due in Aug and I just love this idea. Thank you for sharing it.
Michele in NH
Love the the little skirt and specially the idea. Needless to say I’ll be sewing up storm as I was in the process of cleaning my stash of fabric. Now I’ll put them to good use. Thanks a bunch.
Thank you for sharing this project. It really is such a great idea. I can’t wait to try it out. You’re a genius!
Best Wishes,
Regina
What a great idea. My granddaughter would love to have one of these. I was also thinking how cute it would be to take a cheap t-shirt, remove the neck ribbing and trim the neck with one or all of the fabrics in the skirt. Then decrease the ladybug in size and embroidery those around the neck.(they could be done in colors to co-ordinate with the skirt)
How cute is that. I love it.
Great Idea
cant wait to try it!
This is the cutest skirt and is such a wonderful way to use up scraps and do more embroidery designs. Can’t wait to try it!
Kay
Thankyou for this idea I have a large box full of those to die for materials (at time of purchase) still waiting for the right project and a grand daughter whose birthday is looming, so due to your inspiration problems solved.
It’s a cute skirt. You wrote to sew the seams wrong sides together. Does this mean you have exposed seams on the outside? It doesn’t look like it in the picture.
Congratulations. How lovely, and a wonderful idea.I’m sure any little girl would love it. Amazing what a little imagination can come up with.
What a creative and adorable way to use up our favorite scraps! Great job!
oh my that skirt is so cute! can’t wait to show my 10 year old grandaughte thanks so much for sharing.
I love it.
Cute as a bug says it all.
Judy – this skirt is precious! I am absoultely sure you little one loves it. Well Done!
Thank you so much for sharing your project. What an adorable skirt and a wonderful way to use up those scraps. And of course still embroider.
Judy,
I bet your grand daughter looks cute as a bug in this adorable skirt! What a great idea on using up your scraps.
Excellent job and thanks for sharing!
Hi! I’m another one who thinks the skirt is just too cute, but I’m also another one who doesn’t understand the directions. Did you really sew the WRONG sides together? Are the seams exposed with raw edges? That would be OK, but that’s not what the picture looks like. Or maybe they’re French seams; you know, wrong sides together, stitch, then right sides together and finish stitching. Hmmm.
Anyway, it sure looks cute.
JudyJudy
Sorry about the incorrect instructions on the “wrong sides together” those of you who have caught that.
You are correct in that it should be right sides together.
Very sorry for that.
Thoughtfully,
Charlotte
Hi, thankyou all.Have enjoyed reading each post.. You have given me great ideas too.Thanks..
So sorry for the typing error [oops]..You are correct.. You sew right sides together.. The directions have been fixed.
Hope you have as much fun as I did ,with your cute as a bug skirt..
Judy Roberson
SO CUTE!! But I only have GRANDSONS!!! Can someone come up with an idea for something “strippy” for a boy? They don’t wear skirts and I don’t think you could make strippy paints….any ideas out there?
Hi Karen,
I too have a grandson [and I have 4 grandaughters], but sewing for boys is such a challenge.. I am thinking on a strip something for boys??? mind is wondering. Will keep you posted ,if I come up with anything.Thankyou for reading the article. Judy