Looped Ribbon Skirt Tutorial

 This skirt is easy to make, but it really makes a statement!  If your daughter has a skirt that is getting too short this is a great way to add some length and make the skirt last longer!  You can make it in any color scheme using the huge ribbon selection The Ribbon Retreat offers.  I used 1″ brown/pink/mint fashion dots, 7/8″ hot pink and 3/8″ mint ribbon.

Supplies

• 1″ ribbon
• 7/8″ ribbon
• 3/8″ ribbon
• Thread
• skirt

The first thing you will want to do is measure the bottom circumference of the skirt.  That way you will know how much ribbon to cut.  My daughter’s skirt measured 23″ (6 month skirt).  I didn’t bother to figure out how many of each ribbon to cut I just lined them up along my cutting mat until I got to 23″.

I wanted 1 1/2″ of ribbon to hang from the hem of the skirt.  I cut my ribbon to 3 1/4″ to account for 1/4″ seam allowance.  When folded in half, 1 1/2″ of the ribbon will hang past the hem.

After I had all my ribbon cut, I sealed the ribbon ends using a candle.  It was nice to give the lighter a break.  I felt like it was a bit quicker too.  Just quickly pass the ribbon end directly over the flame.  It only needs a second, any longer and it will catch on fire.

Here is my pile of sealed ribbon cut to 3 1/4″.

Now that your ribbon is sealed it is time to turn them into loops.  Fold the ribbon in half and baste the ends together, no need to backstitch.   

Don’t cut your thread when basting your ribbon loops.  Just take your ribbon (in any order) and place under the pressor foot and sew the ends together.  In the picture above I am starting to get a ribbon loop chain.

The picture above is part of my ribbon loop chain.  Now cut the thread on both sides of each ribbon loop.

Now you should have a pile of  ribbon loops.

Time to sew the loops onto the skirt.  First turn your skirt inside out.  (In the picture above I have started to sew on my loops). 

 On your first loop put the top of the ribbon (where the ends are sewed together) on the skirt hem.  1/4″ of the ribbon will be on the skirt, leaving 1 1/2 ” of ribbon hanging past the hem.  Sew the ribbon loop to the skirt, make sure to backstitch. 

 Put  your second loop right next to your first ribbon, don’t leave any space between the ribbon.  Line up the BOTTOM of the ribbon loop with the previous loop.  Lining up the bottom (where the ribbon is looped) will make sure they all stay straight and even.  Continue sewing all your loops to the skirt until you have met back at your first loop and backstitch again.   

The Skirt is now turned right side out.  In the picture above you can see two stitching lines.  The one on the left is the original stitching for the skirts hem.  The one on the right is my stitching line from sewing on the loops.  You don’t have to but I decided I would cover this up with my 3/8″ mint ribbon.

To cover up your stitching line, place your sealed ribbon at the side seam of the skirt.  The measurement of the ribbon length will depend on your skirt’s circumference.  I used a zig zag stitch and covered the entire stitching line with the ribbon. (Backstitching at both start and finish). 

I guess I didn’t take a close up picture of the zig zag stitch. (Sorry).  But, there you have it!  A great way to add a little character to a skirt!  Go here to make a bow to match!

Tried hard to get a smile, but she kept giving me this look like, “what the heck”?  She told me she liked the skirt though. 😉

 Side view and a bit happier. 🙂