Free Pattern: Spring Party Dress, Part 2: The Skirt

It's time to complete our "Spring Party Dress" pattern with Part 2, adding the skirt!  If you missed the first part click on the link below to be directed to the top tutorial and the pattern to print off:

You need the 2 rectangles (approx. 17.5"x39," the length may vary according to your fabrics original width), 4 pockets that were cut out when you cut the top pattern out in part 1, and 2 2"x5" strips of fabric.

Instructions and picture tutorial:

1. Pin the pocket pieces 1.5" from the top edge of your fabric, right side to right side, with the angle pointing towards the bottom edge and sew on.  Repeat with the other 3 pockets.  Make sure that they are going to line up correctly with each other before sewing. Iron the pockets out like in picture one.  Then pin the 2 rectangles together, right side to right side.  Sew from up one edge, up around the outside edge of the pocket, and to the other edge.  Not pictured, iron up a 1.5" hem on the bottom on the skirt and sew down.  Then sew your rick rack on top of the seam.  One the open side, pin it together again right side to right side and sew from up one edge, up around the outside edge of the pocket, and to the other edge.

2. Cut a slit 3.5" down the center of the rectangle that you plan to use as the back of the skirt, picture two.

3. Gather the skirt to the pin to the top, picture 3.  Use the tutorial from part one on gathering ruffles.  (When you sew your thread in to gather with, do NOT sew over any seams because they will lock your stitches and you will not be able to gather all of the way around at once.  Sew from the center cut in the back to one side seam, with out touching it.  Repeat on the other side of the center cut in the back.  Then, sew across the front from seam to seam, without touching them, and gather the 3 sections to the proportion you desire.)

4. Not photographed, pin the 2"x5" scraps to the inside back top layer, right side to right side, on the edge and sew on.  Iron tab out so that they now dangle from the top. (Dangle is a weird word, it sounds slightly indecent.) You can see that in picture 6.

5.  Separate the inside top piece from the outside top piece, picture 4 shows this separation at the underarm joining.  Pin the inside pieces up, so that you do not sew on them.  Pin the skirt to the outside top layer all the way around, lining up the side seams.  Sew it on and remove the gathering threads from the skirt.  Shown completed in picture 5.

6. Picture 5, unpin the inside top pieces.  Take the dangling fabric strips, as seen in picture 6 and fold them to the outside of the skirt, right side to right side along the back center cut, sew up the edges and to the top where you have left it open.  Do the other side. Then, join the 2 strips at the bottom up to the end of the center cut.  You can see the final result in picture 7.

7. Space your buttons where they need to be and add button holes.  I line it up to have my button edge 1/4" from my top edge.  Picture 8 shows my placement.  You could also use velcro if buttons intimidate you.

I hope the little girl that you sew it for likes her new dress as much as Blythe does!  Have a wonderful day!

Linked on Wow us Wednesday and these other parties I love!