How to Sew a Bubble Skirt-DIY Tulip Skirt

Let's make this awesome tulip skirt out of an old dress, skirt or whatever this thing was! I fell in love with the ocean tribal print with all the beautiful shades of blue. It reminded me of sea glass. This design is bunchy and comfortable! A cool and relaxed fit that is perfect for summer.

-Start by trying on the dress and using tailors chalk to mark how high you want the waste line to be then add about 4 inches on top of that to make room for the waste band.

-Use your rotary cutter, ruler and mat to cut an even line across the top.

-Because my dress was open in the front, I first had to sew the front seam shut and then press with an iron.

-Next use your serger to finish the edge of the top of the skirt

-Then use a seam gage to fold to the inside and press the waist down about 2.5 inches all the way around to create a waistband casing.

- Then sew this fold down using a straight stitch on top of the serged edge (this acts as a guide to sew a straight line that will show on the outside) leaving a 2 inch opening for the elastic.

-Cut a piece of elastic to fit securely around your waist (tight, but not uncomfortable)

- Pin a large safety pin to one end of the elastic and thread it through. (tip: clip the other end with a wonder clip near the opening so it doesn't get lost inside the casing)

-Sew both sides of elastic together with a small zig zag stitch

- Stretch the waistband to hide the elastic inside and sew a matching straight stitch to close up the opening.

-Next fold the skirt sideways with the side seam in the middle and use a curved ruler and tailors chalk to mark and cut a curve ~7 inches wide and 9 inches high.

-Use this curved piece to trace another matching curve on a fold to make a facing to finish this curved edge.

-Cut the facing ~ 3.5 inches wide and finish top edge with a serger

-Place right sides together, pin or use wonder clips and sew together with a straight stitch along the outside edge.

-Use small scissors to snip small cuts ~every 2 inches around the seam (careful not to cut the stitch) to help the fabric curve.

-Fold the casing towards the inside and iron smooth

- Turn skirt inside out pint the two slits closed, lining up the straight edges to the curve along the front on both sides. Sew or serge both slits closed.

-And your tulip skirt is finished!