Dance Skirt Tutorial

I have another skirt tutorial that I'll post in a few days. Both of these skirts use yoga waistbands, and they're super easy to make! The difference is that this skirt is a circle skirt, and the other is an A-line.

Zee recently started taking a dance class, and the little dance skirts are so cute! But expensive! I paid $15 for her skirt, and upon inspection, I realized I could make one very easily. I got a yard of sequin-studded chiffon for $5 a the fabric store today, plus a quarter yard of cotton knit in a solid color for $2. So $7 total. I can do that.



What you need:

1 yard fabric of your choice
1/4 yard cotton knit fabric
Scissors
Sewing machine (or serger)
Thread
Ruler

Seriously, that's it.

So, to get started, measure your model's waist and the desired length of the skirt. You have to do a little math, but it's really simple.

So the waist measurement is the circumference, and you need the diameter. In case you have forgotten the equation, you divide the waist measurement by 3.14 (pi), and that is your diameter. You can subtract a half an inch from the diameter for seam allowance, but make sure you don't make the waist too small, otherwise the skirt won't fit. We'll call this measurement A.

When you measure the desired length, keep in mind that the yoga waistband will be two inches wide. Also keep add a little length if you will be hemming your skirt. This will be B.

Now, here's you next equation. 2B + A = C. C is the diameter you will be cutting from your fabric. All you need to cut is a large circle in that diameter. Or two large circles, if you're doubling up the fabric (which I am, because chiffon is very thin). I kind of short-cutted this step and folded my fabric in quarters and cut a quarter of a circle.



I measured the half the diameter from the corner, and traced a curved line around.

Now you have to cut a small circle in the center for the waist. The diameter of this circle is A (or half of A if you're doing it my way). I also did this with the folded fabric. Excuse the crooked lines, but those are where I cut. The lines are much straighter when I draw them on the fabric and not with the brush option on Photoshop!



And you end up with a large circle with a circle cut out of the middle. And, um, excuse the coloring on my self-healing mat. Zee got to it with a white crayon. It might be time to get a new mat....



Now it's time for the waistband. This is more subjective because the stretch may differ, depending on which fabric you use. So take it and stretch it around your model's waist, with the stretch going horizontally. Pull it fairly tight because you want it to stay put when she's wearing it. For example, Zee's waist measurement is 20", but our waistband measured 15".

Cut your waistband however wide you need it by 5 inches long.



Fold it in half, pin, and sew.







Now, fold the waistband over so that the wrong sides are facing each other. You'll have a circular band with one edge folded and the other edge will be "open", with both of the raw edges.



I then use pins to mark the waistband in eighths.



I do the same with the skirt. This way I can line up the waistband to the skirt so I sew them evenly.



Now pin them together by matching up the pins. Sew it right sides together. The waistband doesn't really have a right side once it's folded, so just make sure that the open end is lined up with the waist opening of the skirt.







And sew, making sure to stretch the waistband so that the skirt fabric and the waistband are even.



And hem, if needed.

And you have a twirly dance skirt!



I did a slight variation on this skirt and made a princess skirt for Mae. The only difference in making it is that I made two half circles rather than full circles, and I sewed them together, giving the skirt two side seams. I did this because I didn't have enough fabric to do the whole circle. I also made the waistband taller so I can fold it over on itself.



I hope you enjoy making this skirt! It's easy, takes about 20 minutes, and they're fun. Well, that's what my girlies think, anyway!

Checking In

It's Valentine's Day! Jay isn't much of a Hallmark holiday person, but I love to embrace any and all reasons to celebrate! So I surprised my loves by having little gifts ready for them today, and I also made some awesome cinnamon rolls, and I did a little cleaning...it's no fun to celebrate in a messy house, no? And now we're relaxing.

The days have been going by fast here. Jay got promoted last week, and I'm so proud of him. We're still mulling over the decision to reenlist or get out next year, but we have a few more months to make that choice. We're praying that God leads us to the right choice, but for now we're taking it a day at a time.



The girlies are growing so fast and learning so much. I finally found a roll of butcher paper, so they have been having a lot of fun doing arts and crafts at the "big table". Mae learned that paint doesn't taste very good but that it's fun to smear all over herself. Zee is just loving all of her art options. Paint, markers, crayons, pencils, stamps. And she has fallen in love with scissors. I have to keep my eye on that one!





I've been working on keeping up with the housework more. I'm a terrible housekeeper, so this is hard for me. But I thought about it a lot.... Jay goes to work each day, and he's gone for (usually) 12 hours a day. He deserves to come home to a clean house. I'm usually busy with the girls and errands, but I've decided to take an hour or two each morning and to really use that time to straighten up. Hopefully it will become a habit and not so forced in the future!

And way off topic, but I got a new lens for my camera! I'm not a photographer by any means, but I am trying to learn! I am loving this new lens...it takes beautiful pictures! Some of my favorites?







The last two were taken in the car to test out the lens. I couldn't wait to try it out! The top picture is in the parking lot of the Denver Children's Museum. (Note: the sweater Mae is wearing is made from my handspun yarn! So exciting for me!)

I just want to add that Zee does not like having her picture taken. So if you notice a shortage of Zee pictures...that is why. I try to get her to let me take them, but she generally makes funny faces or runs off.

Checklist

I was looking at the list I made in October, the list of crafts to do. I did finish about half of the items. That's pretty impressive as far as completing my lists go!

1. Hat for a little friend (done)



2. Hat for another little friend (done)



3. Baby quilt (done, and I love it!)



4. Pillowcase for Mae (I know this sounds simple, but I'm doing something a little more elaborate!) (done, and posted in an earlier post)
5. Waldorf doll for Zee...I finished Mae's earlier this year. Thank goodness for foresight! (done, and now I'm making several more for friends)

And that is what I've finished. And below, what I still need to do, if I ever get to it.

6. Hat for myself
7. Clothing to make for Zee from our new book
8. Doll house to put together...hopefully in time for Christmas!
9. Zee's quilt...that I started two years ago....


But add to that list....

10. Finish spinning my Zen Strings fiber. I've almost finished the singles, and I can't wait to see it plied! From this:



To this:



11. Lace Shawl. It's pretty good considering that it's my first lace! There are a few mistakes, but nothing major.
12. Far Away, So Close shawl. I'm still waiting on the wool for this one. This will be for me, and it will be the very first item I've ever knit for myself! I'm making this with Sugarbubbie superwash in the Chrisalis colorway. I'm so excited!
13. Spinning fiber I ordered from Nurturing Threads. Planning to make beautiful Ridinghood Sweaters for the girls for next Christmas (in Glitter for Zee and Ancient Grove for Mae).
14. Several more Waldorf dolls for friends. These are so much fun to make!




That list is in no particular order. I'm getting to each project as I find the time for it. Which is slow-going with my kidlings! But I like writing out a list to help keep me on track.

Oh, I forgot that I made Owlet sweaters for the girls for Christmas, and they were such a huge hit! So now I'm planning to knit them sweaters for each Christmas.

So there it is! A lot done but still a lot to do. And speaking of things to do, it's time to put the girlies down for naps!

Thankful for able hands, loving hearts, and happy girls.

A little more time....

In the Springs!



Yes, Jay has decided to extend his contract for a year.

Well, it wasn't so much that he wanted to, but he thinks it is the best decision for our family. You see, he was on the promotions list. But in order to actually get promoted, he has to have one year left in the Army. So he either had to extend for a year and get promoted, or decline the promotion...which would effectively end his Army career. Now that wouldn't be terrible in itself, but if something should come up in the next several months...we need to have the option for him to stay in. So promotion it is! I will be pinning him next week!

We are actually in the midst of another huge decision regarding the Army. As an E-6, he will be eligible for a rather large reenlistment bonus. The problem is that his unit will be deploying. So if he reenlists, we will receive a lot of money, but he will have to leave the girls and me. It sounds like a no-brainer, don't do it. But it's a large sum, and it could set us up for financial freedom. Jay thinks it's a good idea, but a piece of me dies thinking of him overseas fighting. It was hard enough the first time he did it, when we had only each other and no children. But now...I don't think I can let my girls' daddy go. It's too much to even think about.

In other news, I attended a DONA workshop two months ago, and I am currently working on certification to become a birth doula. I pray that this is the start of my journey towards midwifery! I feel such a calling in that field, and God has really given me a heart for all things childbirth-related. I'm taking it slowly. I know I have written earlier about the possibility of medical school, but after much thought and consideration, I think my goal is to become a certified professional midwife. Though I'm still not ruling out medical school in the (distant) future.



My girls are absolutely the heart that pumps my blood. Their smiles, giggles, the sweetness that they emanate...it defies description. Mae is learning to talk, and she has a fiery temperament to match her flaming hair. Her hair that is turning curly as she grows. She is proving to be a petite girl, but so was her red-haired ancestor (my great grandmother). So it makes sense to me. Zee...she is awesome. She just started taking a dance class, and can I say that it's the cutest thing I think I've ever seen? And her sense of humor is really developing. She is also a bit of a sneak. The unfortunate (for her) part of that is that she's not a great sneak. Her hiding spot seems to be under the dining room table. It's hilarious to see her crouched under there though. And when I ask her what she's doing, she inevitably gives it away..."Nothing!" Ummm hmmm. And to see these two girls together? Pure joy. Zee really takes care of Mae, and Mae worships the ground Zee walks on. And as much as Jay and I wanted another child, this is the real reason we did it. Not for ourselves, but for them.



My crafts are coming along well. I've taken up a new craft though (imagine that!): spinning. As in spinning fiber into yarn (the picture above is my own handspun, from Corriedale roving). It's amazingly meditative. And well, I'm doing something not a lot of people know how to do. And I like that! I've also been working on a lace shawl that I've promised to Zee (she won't mind all of my mistakes). My sewing machine has been fairly neglected these last few months. It's the ebb and flow, knitting versus sewing. Soon the call of my machine will be too strong to resist, and I will leave all of my fiber and needles for the sweet hum and steady stitches that make sewing so satisfying.

Thankful for: snaggle-toothed toddler grins that melt your heart; random hugs and snuggles from Zee, who knows exactly when you need one the most; Jay taking care of us and putting us first, showing us how much he loves us by making the right choices, even when they are hard. And for God who is constantly giving us strength to continue on this path we call life.