The Artful Parent: The Intersection of Art and Parenting

Here’s my new favorite skirt. I’ve been wearing it about every other day since I made it and my friends are probably tired of seeing me in it. But I love it. It feels so lightweight it practically floats — a big bonus in August. I wear it with an orange dragonfly t-shirt and I almost wish I had used orange bias tape at the bottom.

It’s one of Angry Chicken’s 5 minute skirts with the oh-so-wonderful fold over elastic. Of course it took me longer than 5 minutes, partly because I did a proper hem at the bottom rather than use a serger, partly because I’m a slowpoke, and partly because I had to make some adjustments to the pattern.

The first time I made her 5-minute skirt, I just drew the pattern directly and loosely on the fabric. That skirt didn’t turn out so well (I bent and broke a few other “rules” as well). So this time I followed everything to the letter, including making a pattern ahead of time. I used poster board, just because it’s what I had on hand.

Luckily I tried it on before hemming it, because I realized it was too long and fold-y at the sides. So, to even it out, I folded the skirt so the side seams were in the middle (above) and trimmed off the point in the middle to even it out. And now it’s perfect!

I placed the skirt back on the pattern (with side seams at the sides), to redraw the bottom for next time. I seriously want one of these skirts for every day of the week! Maybe I’ll go for a fun and funky print next rather than one from the quilting cottons section of the fabric store. Although I do love this one.

And, by the way, if you’re going to make this skirt, get the fold over elastic. It’s worth it. I made the first one without it, but now realize it’s the FOE that makes the skirt.