3-Way Skirt/Dress Tutorial



 I fell in love....


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Super-stretchy knit, with silky-soft ruffles already sewn in, in lots of colors. Amazing.
I was sent some to try out, and I made this tube dress:



Which also doubles as a maxi skirt(my favorite way to wear it!).




You can also wear it high waisted...although it's not the most flattering on me. But I like the sailboat. :O)


I'm pretty sure someone invented this fabric just for me.

So here's the tutorial!
It's a skirt, it's a dress. 
It's the easiest thing you'll ever make.



You only need two things for this skirt: elastic in your desired width(mine was 2.5"), and 1-2 yards of ruffle fabric. I made mine with less than a yard!

  • Cut your fabric to the length you'd like your skirt to be. Then wrap the fabric around your hips and mark it with a pin. Pin the rest of the way down (right sides facing) and trim the excess to make a long tube-OR-sew before trimming and try it on to be sure if fits, then trim off the excess. *Note: try to make sure that your ruffles are lying flat as you're pinning it.


  • Wrap your elastic around yourself and mark the length you need with a pin. Be sure that it stretches comfortably both on your hips and around the top of your chest.
  • Sew the ends of your elastic together, to make a circle, then pin the top of your skirt to your elastic in four evenly spaced places. The fabric will probably be a little larger than your elastic, which is fine. Just stretch the elastic slightly until they match up as you sew them together with a zig-zag stitch, right sides facing.


Bam, you're done! No need to even hem the bottom. 

BUT....if ya wanna.....
You can make it convert into a half-length skirt, too!
  • Sew a few (6-8) smallish buttons to the top of the skirt on the inside. (Make sure to sew only through the knit, not the ruffles)
  • Then cut an itty-bitty, tiny, little hole directly below the button, on the bottom of the skirt. (Again, just through the knit. The ruffles will cover it.)


Then you can bring the bottom of the skirt under and "button up" occasionally and have a half-length skirt!
Here's my uncomfortable face:

I really hope you're able to try this one, it makes me so happy. I want to wear it every day. It's so comfy! So unbelievably soft.
I'm not sure if you can find Ruffle Fabric in stores, since I don't have fabric stores around me. But I know you can buy it here! I have a little leftover that I'm planning on making some fun things with later. I think I could really cover my whole house in this!

Hope you enjoy the tutorial!
-Disney



And...because a post is not a post without this pretty face:
And don't forget to enter our super cute Ricebabies Doll Giveaway here!

Comments

  1. Paige is so cute!!! I love that your skirt is also a dress. It looks like it belongs in a fancy store! I saw another ruffle fabric skirt here: http://thedillspiel.blogspot.com/2010/09/coastal-curtsy-skirt-tutorial.html

    -Ponytails

    http://mypassionsforfashions.blogspot.com

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  2. I adore the ruffles. Gorgeous skirt. Paige is adorable.

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  3. Oh that one is gorgeous!! I just checked it out. Hmm...mine feels a little silly now. Oh well! It is was it is! :o)

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  4. This is super cute! LOVE that fabric!

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  5. Love the dress/skirt. Have not seen the fabric here yet, but will keep my eyes open. LOVE ruffles too.

    Hugs from Marian

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  6. I love it, I love it, I LOVE IT! Personally, my favorite way is as the tube dress. So feminine and flattering. I will definitely be trying this. Gorgeous!

    Coffee & Inspiration

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  7. I love it! The fabric is so beautiful and IS so you! Now I just need some to be sent to me so I can use it:).

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  8. The half-length skirt conversion is so cool! thanks for the fab and easy tutorial, even I might be able to do this! MIGHT.

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  9. I'm sure an adventurous DIY hipster bride would LOVE to tackle this project! I would love to tackle it :)

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  10. The ruffles are just beautiful. I seriously need to get some of this fabric:>

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  11. Thank you so much for sharing, Disney! It's really cute, girly and versatile. I can't wait to see what else you can do with that fabric.
    Paige is so cute, you couldn't leave her out of the post!

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  12. I love this and I am so going to make this !!! Where did you find your ruffled fabric?

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  13. You are so pretty! I love the way you used your one yard three ways! :)

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  14. Will Paige be getting a matching dress too!??!!? =D

    Just Better Together
    come check out The Vintage Scarf Giveaway

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  15. You've done it again Disney. The dress is gorgeous (and the wear it three ways is genius too). I must get my hands on some of that fabric!

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  16. Oh Disney, you truly are so beautiful!

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  17. So pretty! I'm not sure I could carry it off as well as you but I know a little girl who would adore it. :)

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  18. I truly think my heart stopped for a couple of seconds. That's soooooooooooooooocute! I'm making one too!!! Thanks for sharing! :D

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  19. Thank you so much for the tutorial and the link to find the fabric.....very nice! I am seeing ruffles for the granddaughters!

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  20. Adorable! love the dress, it's perfect!

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  21. Goodness I love it. Personally, I am a curvy size 8 & 5'2"...NOT so flattering on me-I would bet money. My sisters would love it though.

    PS I just caught that you don't have fabric stores around you-OH the sadness!!! Do you order fabric!? Have people send it to you? ; )Rummage a thriftstore?

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  22. LOVE IT!!!, so easy and so cute!!!!

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  23. I love it! I need to find some, it would make adorable Easter dresses for my 2 little girls.

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  24. I LOVE this! Thanks so much for sharing the instructions.

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  25. Just so you know: They have the ruffle fabric at Hancock Fabrics. I found some for me the other day. (Woo woo, in the remnants bin, so i have enough to make my skirt, as soon as I get home from vacation, and it was 1/2 off because it was a remnant.)

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  26. I don't know how to sew. BUT this skirt has made me decdide that I need to learn NOW!! It is so cute and airy looking.....perfect for spring! I gotta get my hands on some of that material!

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  27. ~ * ♥ * ~

    Cute skirt Disney ~ you have done such a neat job with it. I really like it as a dress on you; it looks great!

    xox,
    bonita of Depict This!
    ~ * ♥ * ~

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  28. I'm always excited to see what you've been working on Disney! I need to try that ruffle fabric!

    Hope you are having a great week! XOXO

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  29. I just love the skirt you made! And long skirts are so hard to find! Just wondering though, is that the 1" or 2" ruffled fabric?

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  30. ahh, so pretty. i wish you sold them!!

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  31. Love it!! I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-3-way-ruffle-skirt-and-dress/2011/03/18/

    --Anne

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  32. I have never commented before, but I LOVE your blog. Glad you're still posting great ideas.

    Thank you for the ruffle fabric link. Most importantly, that site has COLORED ELASTIC. I have been looking for it- No success. Tried dyeing elastic- moderate success. This find has made my day!!

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  33. So glad I found your post today. I was looking for something just like this for my daughter and didn't really know where to start. I've now ordered my fabric. Can't wait to see if it turns out as lovely as your version! Thanks!!!

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  34. great dress... or skirt, or ... whatever
    it looks amazing

    http://urbanprettygirl.blogspot.com/

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  35. REALLY pretty. Awesome job. The dress is my favorite way you wear it.

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  36. I love as a dress! Very cute! I love how versatile you made it!

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  37. So, so pretty. That fabric screams spring. Thanks for sharing!

    BTW...your daughter is adorable.

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  38. I love it! I am having a beachy wedding in Jamaica and I am about to ditch the traditional dress for this since it's so cute...or maybe I will do a change off. Then again I do need to learn to sew first but I have time =)

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  39. Where can I buy this fabric!!! Love it! I think it was actually made for me. Lol!

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  40. Very pretty. I have never attempted anything like this but I am big fan of something you can wear different ways.

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  41. What a great idea! Did you use the site you listed to buy your fabric? If so, do you have any issues with it being see-through? I'd hate to give a surprise "peek-a-boo" without seeing it in person.

    Thanks!
    Kristin

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  42. Oh wow!! How pretty!! Thanks for sharing!

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  43. LOL Goofy Paige. Cute! :D I like the tube dress :)

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  44. I just finished making my own ruffle skirt and I love it!!! I'm posting pictures and a link on my blog if you don't mind :) I was lucky enough to find ruffle fabric in a store by me, but it was only carried in one store! Thanks so much for the idea!

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  45. Sorry about that last comment it wasn't meant to be posted to that account :) Here's my real blog account :)

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  46. This is really useful and AWESOME and you're gorgeous in that no matter how you wear it!

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  47. Love you, Love your blog (in the non-creepy fan way :))

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  48. You did it again...it's like you read my mind. I was just sitting here today designing a ruffle flower girl basket/purse for my daughter and this fabric would be PERFECT!
    Thanks.

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  49. Love your dress/skirt!!! I bought some ruffled fabric off of Ebay and it seems a little see through...did you put a lining in yours?

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  50. Oh! i love ruffles, i want make a dress...:D but this is great tutorial and i dont know what I want! dress or sckirt or all!!! :D

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  51. Hello
    I loved your blog
    I made a dress with the same fabric as you did yours.
    then go to my blog to give
    I'm following
    Kisses

    http://munamo.blogspot.com/

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  52. I want one! LOVE IT!

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  53. That is just adorable on you!!! I have not seen this ruffle fabric anywhere, so I don't think it is available in our area yet.
    Hugs, Cindy

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  54. What an adorable skirt(s)!! I love the shots of you with the little ship! Love the ruffles!

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  55. What color fabric did you use? It looks like either the ivory or blush.

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    Replies
    1. It's the ivory. I have the blush, too and I love it!

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  56. Disney, where did you get your elastic (with the adorable ruffle)?

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  57. Love this fabric! I need to find me some because I would totally wear the life out of a skirt like that!!

    Helen
    Blue Eyed Beauty Blog

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  58. do i sew ruffle to an already completed skirt?

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    Replies
    1. Hmm, I'm not sure I'm quite understanding your question...if you're wondering about the rows of ruffles on the skirt, that is just the fabric I used.

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  59. Can it be found in black ?

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  60. amazing - i found this same ruffle material in grey a few weeks ago and this morning started searching for a pattern to use to make a skirt....didn't even search using "ruffle" and i miraculously came upon this page! thank you to the google fairy who brought me here, and thank you for the simple, wonderful instructions!

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  61. Beautiful! I love it! Great tutorial too! Thanks for sharing. I love ruffles too! I think maybe a blouse! I'd love to give it a go!

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