Hunger Games Effie Tutorial for Crafting Con

This month's theme for Crafting Con over at Friends Stitched Together and Mae and K is Hunger Games. I was super excited about this because I really do love Hunger Games. I started the books right when the first one came out. It really surprised me but was so intriguing and dysfunctional.

My competition piece was this toddler friendly Effie look. So go check out more about it over at Crafting Con. I set out to make a ruffly and girly look. Today I wanted to share with you the tutorial on how to make your own Effie Ruffle Skirt.

The skirt that I made was for an 18 month. You can still create your own skirt using your own child's measurements.

Materials Needed:

1/2 yard pink knit fabric

3/4" elastic

Matching thread

Ballpoint Needle

First, start by cutting out your fabric. You can use the measurements below or just the cutting guide. If you are doing a different size, base the skirt on your own child's waist measurement. The length gradually increases from 3" to 4" to allow some room for the ruffles.

Once you have cut out your pieces, cut your elastic. You'll want to cut your elastic using your child's waist measurement. Then overlap the elastic 1.5" on each side and stitch. You should now have a circle of elastic.

Next, take all your skirt pieces and fold them in half matching short sides and stitch down the side at 3/8". Repeat with each section individually.

Take one of your 4" x 19" waistband piece. Fold it in half so that it makes a circle. Place your elastic inside and pin around the waistband.

Next, take your 3" x 28.5" skirt piece and add gathering stitches around one edge. Pull the gathering stitches until the skirt is the same width as the waistband.

With right sides together, place the waistband over the skirt piece and stitch around the skirt. You'll have to stretch the fabric and elastic a bit until they fit together.

Keep your skirt in the same position as it is in the above picture. Place one of your 2" x 19" pieces over the waistband and skirt. Pin in place and stitch. Now gather your next long skirt piece and place it right sides together onto the 2" 19" piece. Continuing adding layers until they are all attached.

Now to hem the skirt using a lettuce hem. Fold your hem up 1" to the wrong side. Place your machine on a small zig-zag stitch. Zig-zag along the fold of the hem while stretching the fabric. The more your stretch the more ruffle look you'll get.