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Hello! I'm Suzannah, a serious DIYer and mom of two little ones. Follow along with my DIY fixer upper house renovations, sewing and crafty projects, real food recipes, and de-stressing goals.
I believe you can love your home just the way it is, AND have the power to design and make big changes to make it better.
I'm also the author of DIY Wardrobe Makeovers!

Flouncy floral skirt from old fave fabric

This one was a totally serendipitous project--just came to me the other day when I was anxious to sew something but not in love with anything I'd already cut out.  I had this floral fabric sitting on the shelf, left over from this dress (my mom bought the fabric for me on a whim and bought SO much!), and I was inspired by springy florals... and flounces!

Like these pretties...

Source: etsy.com via Carrie on Pinterest














I had enough fabric for more than just a basic short skirt, so I figured I'd might as well do a couple layers!  I used a plain navy for lining on sort of the top half--the bottom flounce is just that, a flounce, and doesn't go all the way up to the waistband.  That way I definitely had enough fabric to do the two flounces and keep it long enough.  No pattern needed--just rectangles, gathered.

I see skirts kind of like this, maybe without the flounces, at Marshall's and stuff all the time, in the teenager-ey section, for like $16.99 but they are soo SHORT!  Yikers.  Dunno how people pull them off.  I like that mine doesn't make me worried about flashing anyone.  With the fullness that could be even more of a concern!  Ya know, it actually looks kinda short in these pictures, but it doesn't feel short on.  I guess I have long... thighs?

Anyways.  Is is spring yet?  Does Portland know it??  Can't wait to break out the florals!!

26 comments

  1. I was literally just sewing my own DIY project before I read this and now I'm keen to do some more. These pictures are gorgeous, very inspiring. Love what you did with that skirt, and I know right! About the length of those skirts! I have three that I haven't worn because I feel like a flasher!

    xx http://becoming-urban.blogspot.com.au/

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    1. Hey, good for you!
      Yep, it's great to do it yourself because you can control the length!!

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  2. Bah! You just make me want all those skirts!

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  3. That's really pretty- how did you do the waistband, was it elasticated or did you insert a zip?

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    1. Thanks! Yep, just a wide band of elastic, sewn together at the back. I zig-zagged it to the skirt so it stretches along with the gathered part. No zipper necessary!

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  4. This is gorgeous! Just bought one similar to that from HnM today :)
    xx

    www.queenoffunkydiy.blogspot.com

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    1. Oh, cool! Yep, I'm excited to wear it this spring!

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  5. Very cool! I need some fun floral skirts too!

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  6. So cute. I love these florals. That is short...but you've got great legs, so go with it!

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  7. This is so pretty, wish i was this talented :)
    http://theredoneblog.blogspot.co.uk/

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  8. Really lovely, it is a short skirt but not revealing short, def a length I would wear plus if I am having a non-confident day I would add leggings.

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  9. I am in love with skirts for spring! I love the top photo so much! I am new to your blog and I'm so glad I found it! I invite you to check mine out! I hope you have a great week! =)

    -Heidi

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    1. Thanks, I'm glad you found it, too! Welcome. You have some very pretty things on your blog, too!

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  10. Pretty, pretty :) I think we have very similar tastes! I am absolutely nuts for florals! You make it all sound so easy!

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  11. Looks so beautiful,see you again^^

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  12. I love the skirt! Great round up of floral inspiration too.

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  13. Love the skirt! My favorite dress is a bottom floral with three layers like that and I've been wondering how to reproduce it. How many inches did you add to the width of the rectangle ? Say your hips are 36", would you make the rectangle 40" or so??? Sorry, I'm a beginner!

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    1. Happy to help! The length of the rectangle for the skirt is the skirt length--probably 20-30" depending where you want it to hit on your leg.

      As for the width, you probably want at least double your hip width for the gathers to look good and lay nicely. If you just want wearing ease, you probably could cut it to be only 4-6" larger, but then you'd have a straight skirt, with just little gathers at the waist. On the skirt above, I cut two panels of fabric to the length I wanted and sewed them together, selvage edge to selvage edge. My fabric was 60" wide, so that means I had 120" of fabric around my hips!

      Here's another resource for you--my basic gathered skirt tutorial!
      http://www.adventuresindressmaking.com/2011/01/simple-gathered-to-waistband-skirt.html

      Hope that helps. Let me know if you need more tips!

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  14. Love the skirt! My favorite dress has a floral bottom with three layers like your skirt. I've been wondering how to reproduce it. Rectangles sound simple enough for this beginner! What would the length of the rectangles be to allow for gathering? Hips or waist measurement + how many inches? Thanks!

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