Rose Petal Skirt

Photos by: Flora Photography

This skirt was designed with the purpose of emulating the fluidity of water and the structure of a rose. Made with a generous body, to give lots of ripples and movement throughout the length, while still keeping its shape at the waist. This is a very full skirt, created more for photos than everyday wear. However if shortened to be at or just below the knee, it could be made a little more practical, and keep its charm.

Skill Level: Intermediate sewer.

Notions:

• Medium to light weight fabric (if it is very light weight you may need to add a liner)
• Thread
• Small snap buttons
• Ribbon in 2 sizes – 2 inch and 1 inch or 1.5 inch and 0.75 inch

How to Guide:

Get out a pad of paper to keep track of your measurements!

• Waist: Measure your natural waist.
• Length: Measure the length between your waist to the floor (or to whatever length you desire)
• Adjusted Waist: multiply your waist measurement by 2 and add 3 inches
• Hem: multiply your waist measurement by 2.5 and add 3 inches
• Adjusted Length: Add 2 inches to your length measurements (to make room for the hems)

Cut it out

• Lay out your fabric on a hard smooth surface, wrong side up.
• Measure and cut a rectangle using your hem by adjusted length.
• Find the centre of your rectangle and mark with chalk near the upper edge.

Make it 3 

• Fold each side to the middle so that the edges are in line with the centre mark. 
• Mark the length of the fold line on each side. 
• Cut down the fold line.  
• You should now have 3 pieces - 1 large and 2 that are half the size of the large. 

Give it Shape 

• With the large piece facing right side up, place your 2 smaller pieces face down on top, lining up the outer edges (where you just cut). 
• Use the centre mark as a guide and mark the length of half your adjusted waist measurement.  
• You should have a few inches between your cut line and where you marked.  
• Using the tape measure, draw a line between the top mark and the bottom corner.  
• Cut along this line.Repeat on other side.

You should now have what looks like an elongated trapezoid - this will keep the skirt fuller on the bottom, and less bulky at the top. 

Sidelines 

• Starting on one side, pin along the diagonal edge and sew closed.  
• Repeat on other side.  
• Your 3 pieces should now be one again.

​
Come together 

• Using your ruffle foot, gather foot or the “old school” way, via baste stich and hand, gather along the top edge of your skirt. 
• Once gathered it should be about 2 inches wider than your waist measurement. 
• Make sure your ruffle edge is secure and will not come undone.  

Check point – try it on! 

• Wrap your skirt around your waist, there should be room to close the back seam. 
• Make adjustments if needed. 

​
​Folding ribbon 

• Using the wider ribbon, measure and cut the length of your waist + 2 inches.  
• With the help of your iron, fold the ribbon in half lengthwise, right side up - press as you fold so that there is a well defined edge. 

​Fold it up

• Lay your skirt out on a hard smooth surface right side up.
• Fold under the edges of your skirt along the back seam (about 1/2 inch), as well as the access ribbon on both ends.
• Fold the ribbon over the gathered edge along the fold line and pin in place.

Closing time 

• Fold your skirt right sides together and line up the back seam. 
• Pin the back seam together leaving 4-6 inches open at the top. 
• Sew the back seam closed (about 1 inch), leaving the unpinned 4-6 inches open at the top. 
• ​Press the back seam open along the stitch line so that the sides of the 4-6 inch opening follow the stitch line.  

Lose ends

• Following the fold of the opening in your back seam line, pin and sew along the open edge on both sides. 

Lace it up 

• Cut your thinner ribbon into two long pieces. 
• Place one end between the folds of your ribbon waistband on either side and re-pin in place.  

Waist no space 

• With your skirt right side up, sew along the edge of your ribbon, as straight and as close to the bottom edge as possible.  
• Be sure to close the ends as well to keep the added ribbon in place. 

Oh snap! 

• Along the back opening, sew on your small snap buttons.  

Finishing touches 

• Try on your skirt and mark or pin where you want the hem length.  
• Fold and pin along the edge using your hem marker, and press 
• Open the hem line and fold the salvage edge into the hem line. You may need to trim a little off the end to get a clean, ½ inch hem. Pin closed and press.  
• Sew your hem closed.  

Only the best for this skirt! Silk, lace, or linen on top, maybe even add little faux fur.