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I decided to take my no-cute-newborn-skirts problem into my own hands. Since skirts are relatively simple to make, and since newborn babies are so little, I figured that putting together a skirt or two for Piper Jane couldn’t be that difficult. And I was right.
To make a darling little ruffled skirt for a newborn baby girl in your life, you’ll need:
-two sleeves from a short sleeved men’s t-shirt
-four long, thin strips of jersey, the same color as your sleeves (I just started at the bottom of my now-sleeveless men’s tshirt and cut up until I had four strips of fabric)
-sewing machine and thread
1. Use your sleeves to cut two even tubes of fabric (since sleeves aren’t made as even tubes, you’ll need to cut each piece until it is the same length on both sides with the bottom seam running down the middle of the front of the ‘skirt’…). Make sure one of your pieces includes the sleeve hem as this will become your drawstring casing.
2. Pin your larger piece (cut from the portion of one of your sleeves that is closer to the body of the t-shirt) to the bottom of your smaller piece (the piece that includes the sleeve hem), right sides facing each other. Sew the two pieces together, making sure that the seams of your sleeves line up (this will be the front middle portion of your skirt).
3. Using a basting stitch (the longest stitch on your sewing machine), sew down the middle of three of your long, thin strips of fabric. Pull of the end of the thread and scrunch up the fabric to make ruffles.
4. Sew these three ruffles onto the bottom of your skirt.
5. Use your last strip of fabric to make a drawstring. Cut two little slits on either side of the midline of the sleeve’s seam and pull your drawstring through the former-hem-now-drawstring-casing.
6. Pair your darling little skirt with a supercute newborn onesie and you have a get-up that’s perfect whether you’re staying in and lounging or going out on the town!
If you have some time, make another version (in brown) and try to figure out where you can find a pink Goodwill bound men’s t-shirt to make a pink version as well. On that note, if you find a source of big, pink men’s t-shirts, let me know, ok?
ps- Thanks for all of the other newborn skirt tips! I can’t wait to check them out…
I adore this skirt! Piper Jane is such a beautiful little girl. Don't you love that she can fit into a sleeve off of a shirt???!!! If only they stayed that little.
Target has men's jerzees shirts in pink, for around $5.
Wow. This is adorable! It's amazing that a sleeve would fit around her, but she is a tiny (and beautiful!) little thing!
They are out there. . . I have found a couple. Although, I have no idea how you thrift store shop with a newborn. . . that's a challenge!
That is so amazing. I would never have thought of using a men's sleeve for that skirt, LOL! Great thinking outside of the box.
~kimberlee
http://www.TheSpunkyDiva.blogspot.com
What a smart smart idea. Loving it. And it will go with ANY onesie. Even better.
love it! I will have to make one for a shower gift!!
HI! Due to the huge success of my Linky Love Library page, I am changing the way I organize it.
I would LOVE it if you would come and link up your party to the day of the week you host it.
It will make it easier for people to find it and will give you a thumbnail for your party.
You can link up to the library here: http://paisleypassionslinkyparty.blogspot.com/
I enjoy your blog and your party each week, so I hope you join in and link up!
Thanks!!!
Lori @ Paisley Passions
Your sweet little Piper is a beauty! I love that she fits into a sleeve! Cute skirt!
Now that is just too cute. And what an adorable little model…
The skirt is so cute, but the baby is just darling!!!!
She is darling and the skirt is too… wish I had seen this when my girls were new borns.
Love it
love it. way to make it work. and can she can any cuter?
So cute! I was just looking at my t-shirt stash today, thinking I could use old sleeves for a baby project, like maybe a pair of capris. This is even better!
Look at that sweet sleepin' baby! She's working so hard getting her rest…
I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-newborn-ruffle-skirt-from-t-shirt-sleeves/2010/08/27/
–Anne
What an adorable skirt and Piper is even more adorable. Can you tell me what size tshirt this was made from? The sleeves vary from size to size so I thought I'd ask.
I have to say you're amazing. I NEVER would have thought of this and after seeing it, it is such a great idea.
Oh my…this is so cute! Nice job.
Darling! Like commenter steelebjm, I found men's jerzee shirts at Target. I got a purple one (kind of a girly purple one too!) for $4 when it was on sale.
Love, love, love this! I have lots of men's tees that I've thrifted to make baby pants for my little boy. I've never used the sleeves though, so I have lots of sleeves left over! I hope I have a girl so I can make these for her with the leftovers 🙂
Love this idea…gonna try it on my 4yr old. : ) One question…How do you keep the fabric from fraying?
~Donaca
I loved this idea so much I took it a little further. I purchased 2 t-shirts (1 for a top: size 4 & the other to make the skirt:size 14). I started with the skirt and cut the body of the skirt from the larger t shirt. I then used the rest of the larger t shirt to cut into strips to make the ruffles for the skirt. I have a serger and serged all the seams. Make a casing for the waist and insert elastic and the skirts finished. To the size 4 t shirt I cut off the hem of each sleeve. Then serged the edge and it kinda ruffles on it's own. I did the same to the neckline. With another strip from the larger t shirt, I added a ruffle to the bottom of the t shirt. My niece loved it!! Would love to post pics, but not sure how to attach.
Have you thought about buying a white t-shirt and getting some rite dye in the pink color you want and dying it
Love that idea, Alice!!!
I was looking to make a fast little skirt for a NB baby and found this. It is adorable! Thank you for posting it and sharing with us. Can’t wait to try it out! Love to read what others are saying about it. I want to add some lace and create a matching bow.
Teresa, since that post is from a couple of years ago, I went over to check it out. First, I can’t believe Piper Jane fit into a men’s tshirt sleeve (I had to scroll up to see the picture of her in it to believe it!), and second, YES that skirt was so easy! I need to make some as baby shower gifts, actually! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by. If you make one of these, send a picture over, ok? 🙂
Just finished making the baby ruffled skirt for a grandchild! Wow! Even my husband was impressed – and he is an interior designer. Your instructions were very well written and illustrated. I’ve found some patterns on internet that were so confusing, I couldn’t make head or tail of them.
Thanks again for an adorable pattern. And blessings on your adorable baby!
I love this Terry! My baby is 2 now, but I love looking at those pictures of her when she was teeny tiny! 🙂 You have a lucky grandbaby. 🙂