Tutorial: Hi-Low Ruffled Pencil Skirt

If you like my mermaid inspired skirt, then get excited because I made a little tutorial for you so you can make one as well!

While it seemed to suit me perfectly for my mermaid endeavors at the beach, it's a fun and comfortable skirt to wear out in general - best of all, it only took me a few hours on my serger!

If you don't have a serger, you can still make this with a regular sewing machine. I would recommend a zig-zag stitch for the seams and your choice for the gathers. (My usual method is here, but I think this new way looks fun to try!)

Supplies 
2-3 yards of stretchy jersey fabric - more if you're a larger size or want to line it
matching thread
serger or sewing machine (or needle and thread!)
scissors
chalk
sewing pins

Directions
1. Measure your waist and subtract 1.5 inches - it's jersey so you'll want negative ease. Cut out 2 long, rectangular pieces with this new measurement in length and 4.5" in width. (For example, someone with a 28" waist will cut out 2 rectangles that measures 26.5" x 4.5")

2. With right sides together, serge one of the long edges together. Turn and press. With RST, serge the two ends together with a half inch seam allowance to create the waist band.

3. Using the below picture as a guide, cut out your main pieces for the front and back sections of the skirt. The widest part of the skirt should be 1.5" less than your hip measurement. Using your waistband as a guide, grade the top of the skirt until it reaches your hip measurement - because jersey is stretchy, you don't need accurate measurements here. From the top to the side hem (not including the waistband), I have 16" and you can see the adjustments for the front and back piece. With the adjustments for the front piece, the center measures (not including the waistband) 14" in length. The center back (not including the waistband) measures 18" in length.

4. Sew the two sides together with a half inch seam allowance. Attach the waistband.

5. Measure around the bottom of your skirt to find the ruffle length and multiple that by 3.19. For example, if your bottom hem measures 48" all around, cut out strips for your ruffle at approximately 153" in length, with 4.5" in width. I like to ruffle on my serger - though if you prefer to gather by sewing machine you may. Gather until have the proper length of your ruffle.

6. Pin your ruffle into place and serge the ruffle onto the bottom of your skirt with a half inch seam allowance. You can finish the seams if you want, but jersey doesn't unravel so I left mine unfinished.

Finished: Mermaid Inspired Skirt!

Once a year, every June, something magical happens in Coney Island...

Maybe not exactly magical, but a group of people have decided that mermaids and sea creatures and other mythological beings (which the streets in Coney Island are named after) should have their own themed parade and thus, the Mermaid Parade was born.

Via Instagram

I recommend googling the parade to check out some of the costumes because my pictures do NOT do these costumes justice, but only do so at home as it's legal to be topless in NYC and a lot of the women exercise that right. Also a lot of the men barely cover themselves as well. Either way, google at home.

So I wanted to dress up, but since I didn't want to go all out and/or buy new fabric, I was at a bit of a loss. In fact, I was a bit down in the dumps and even uttered that I might not dress up after all... 

That terrible idea was quickly thrown out but since I only had one free day to sew, I needed something quick and instead of it being mermaid, it needed to be mermaid inspired.

As I only had a day, I decided to forgo making a top and just wear my swimsuit. I had some icky brown jersey in the shape of a long rectangle that I decided I could work with for the bottom. I envisioned a mermaid skirt, but shorter. And high waisted since I'm terrified of cropped tops.

Anyway, after 3 hours on my serger, I think I ended up with something pretty fantastic! I cut two squares out of the rectangle and angled them a bit so they would fit my waist. I cut out two strips to create a waistband. I was worried about the ruffles, especially since I didn't want to switch to my sewing machine AND switch out the thread color. (Yes, I'm that lazy.)

Luckily I figured out how you can make ruffles on your serger and then suddenly it was done!

I was going to do my hair and make-up like I did in these photos, but my hair wouldn't cooperate in time for me to leave. I was then planning on doing my hair in the bathroom after brunch on the boardwalk, but the wind was killer that day so I just pulled it back.

I went with Naomi and she scored us these awesome seats so we were shaded the whole time and had the best view. (Hint: In case you can't spot us, try looking on top of the ticket booth.)

Via Tristan Lamour

I've never made anything this quickly before, and I'm generally pleased with how it came out. In fact, I'll have a tutorial up on it soon - so keep an eye out if you're interested in making one of your own!

My tutorial is now up - check it out and let me know what you think!