Bubble Skirt From Tights Scraps


Don't you just hate to waste things? When I was making the last post with the knee-highs, I had a bunch of tops of little tights on my hands, and I didn't want to just throw them away, so I thought to make these little bubble skirts out of them! It works really well, and I may have over-complicated the directions a little bit, but it's actually very easy!

1) First you want to decide on how long you want your skirt to be. Then measure from the waistband to the desired length, and then back to the bottom of the tights. Add an inch or so for seams.

2) Then cut your fabric the length that you figured out in the first step.For the width, measure the length of the bottom of skirt that you have on hand in your daughter's size. For example, my daughter had a nice full skirt that was 40" around the bottom, so I cut my fabric 15"x4o" (which makes about a size 24m-2T)


3) Sew a gathering stitch on each of the longer sides of your fabric. (Fold over the fabric for the hem on one side, before you sew it, for the bottom of the skirt.)


4) Gather the top until it is the size of the waistband (don't worry, it will stretch out later!).


5) Then sew the short sides together, with right sides facing each other.


6) place the waistband (right side out) inside the skirt (right side in), until the ruffled edge is just below the waistband. Pin well, and sew on with a zig-zag stitch. This takes a little care and maneuvering, so that you don't sew the tights to themselves. :o)


7) Gather the bottom of the skirt until it's the same size as the bottom of your tights, and sew to the bottom of your tights, right sides facing each other, with a zig-zag stitch, the same way you did the top.


The underside of your skirt should look like this:


Then take out your gathering stitches (my fancy and professional way of doing this is to just stretch the waistband until the thread breaks. It won't break your zig-zag stitches!)
And your done!





My pictures aren't selling this project the way they should, because the skirts actually look completely darling in real life! They are super puffy, Paige looks like a little ballerina in hers :o)

Comments

  1. I love the idea, it is really a great and pretty skirt! I didn't understand how you got your measurement of 15x40 (I got the 15" because of your picture), but I can try and guess it. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your day with your daughter!

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  2. I love your blog!!! You are soo talented and inspiring! Thanks for all of your wonderful ideas. I was wondering how you would use the top half of the tights, brilliant! I have made the knee-highs(which are super cute and super easy) so now I will have to make a bubble skirt to match! Thanks again!

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  3. This is DARLING! I just made a skirt out of eyelet and tulle and I love how it poofs. This bubble skirt has the same effect and I adore it. Great post!

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  4. And a very "green" use of supplies as well!

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  5. So cute! I was convinced that you were going to make underwear out of them! These are SO much better ;-)

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  6. I just came across your blog and am in love!!! So gorgeous all of your designs!!! I am just getting into sewing and refashions and am so inspired by your designs!

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  7. Just want to let you know how much I LOVE your blog. Please don't stop posting your creations.

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  8. Dang cute! How stylin is your lucky little girl:) p.s. her brown boots are DAR-LING! Where did you find them?

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  9. Precious!Love the idea and that you used everything instead of waisting a thing.
    Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge

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  10. I love the idea of not wasting a thing and this skirt is just fabulous! Loved the knee socks too!

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  11. This skirt is just adorable. I wish I had a little girl to make this for. My daughter is 21 but she is tiny still I don't think she could wear a skirt made out of baby tights. You have such clever ideas.

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  12. She's too cute! (so is the skirt too :)

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  13. You amaze me, and your daughter is so cute and looks so hip in your creations! You are the reason my house is a mess right now - I'm so inspired by your creativity that I have no time to clean!

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  14. These skirts are adorable! Do you think it would be possible to make a skirt like this for an adult with the same concepts but more fabric and larger tights? I love all of your ideas.

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  15. Heyley: I was wondering that myself...I'm sure it would work in concept, I'm just not sure how the waistband would look on an adult. Kids can get away with so much more! :o)

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  16. Hey, I'm your newest and maybe biggest fan aaaaallll the way from Finland. I love your blog and I had a hard time getting any work done yesterday. I spend my day at the office reading all your old posts.

    My blog can be found here http://kummitustalossa.blogspot.com/ but I'm sorry... I write in code language (Finnish)

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  17. You are amazing, Disney!! I wish you and your family a very happy and crafty New Year, from Spain!!

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  18. So cute. My younger daughter just out grew a few pairs so I'm excited my older daughter will get to wear them AGAIN but in totally different ways! Amazing!

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  19. You are the cleverest girl! I love this. That back and white skirt with the bow is TO DIE!! Thank you for another inspiring idea!

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  20. Well I kind of wish I hadn't found your blog today because now I have another long list of things I'd like to make. So many cute ideas!

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  21. I am not even sure HOW I came upon your inspired blog; but I am so incredibly happy I found it and these wonderful ideas! Thanks for sharing your creativity!!! Happy New Year!

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  22. I just found your blog a few days ago via Lil Blue Boo, and I can't stop checking in to see what you'll do next! I can't wait to try some of these ideas...

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  23. OH, bless it. That is too adorable for words!! I neeeeeeed to make this for my daughter.

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  24. I just wanted to say that I love your blog. I have been a reader/follower for a while and just love it! I had to post the link on my blog to share with others so they too can find it!

    Thanks for posting your tutorials....they are just awesome!

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  25. LOVE LOVE LOVE This! Great idea!

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  26. It’s a marvelous way to take advantage of the old tights, actually I copied your work on your daughter's tights on my local forum and the viewers adored it, I will see what they are going to do to see the second version of the original post….love yah you are my inspirer,,,

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  27. I absolutely love this idea and ran to my sewing machine right away. However, my daughter saw me cutting her too tiny tights and was devastated, oops! Running to the store for elastic asap to create the socks to go with the skirt:)

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  28. Such great ideas! My daughter refused to wear pants for the longest time, so we have tons of cute tights. She has recently decided to be a jeans girl, so I love the idea of making her tights into socks. I will also try to convince her to wear the cute skirt from the top of the tights.

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  29. Love your pictures and ideas!! I think i am going to try this after i make the knee socks!

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  30. Thank you! My little toddler is well outfitted for Valentine's Day with her new bubble skirt. I've got a picture on my blog. Thanks again.

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  31. This is so cute! I linked in the sidebar on my Treasures for Tots blog!
    http://treasuresfortots.blogspot.com/

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  32. I just made this skirt and I am in love with it. I have a ton of leftover tights from this winter and I am going to make a ton of summer skirts with them. Thanks so much for sharing. I love your blog!!

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  33. gosh your daughter is sooo cute!!

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  34. Disney! I used your tutorial and linked to you here: http://taidyeoriginal.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-outfits.html

    Thanks for the inspiration! tai @ taidye original

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  35. I made this for my little 10 month old. I didn't, however, compensate for the fact that she has a relatively large bottom, so its a little short back there but some bloomers will take care of that. I loved it so much that I thought that me and my daughter should look like twins so I made me one also lol. But I made mine a high-waisted skirt. So adorable tho. Thank you for the tutorial : )

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  36. FABULOUS!!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING!

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