FOE (fold over elastic) is the best invention since sliced bread!!! Ok, maybe not the best invention but it sure does make my life ALOT easier!! :)
I've made skirts for my children and their dolls and it is so fast and so easy. I want all my sewing friends to know about this stuff!!!
In about an hour and a half, I was able to measure, cut, and sew three girls skirts and two belts! That includes many "Mommy, mommy I need this and that" interruptions. It also includes a "how long are you going to be sewing" conversation with my husband. So, needless to say, my husband was beyond happy when I got three outfits made in about an hour and a half.
Here's a not so good picture of the three little St. Patrick's Day outfits I made in an hour and a half...
As far as measurements for the little girl skirts, I just "mommy measured" by putting the fabric loosely around the girls, marking with my finger, then cutting. For the FOE, I "mommy measured" by putting the FOE around their waist snuggly, marking with my finger, then cutting. Very professional, huh??? ;-)
Ok, so on to the directions!
I'm going to show you how to make this little doll skirt. The same directions apply to all other skirts, just the fabric and FOE measurements will be different.
Measuremets:
7" - 7 1/2" of FOE
17" x 5" piece of fabric
Step 1: With right sides together, sew the side seam together leaving a 1/2" seam allowance. Press seam allowance open.
Step 2: Serge the bottom of the skirt, turn under 1/2", iron, and top stitch. (If you don't have a serger, you can use pinking shears when cutting OR you can cut the fabric 1/2" longer, fold it up 1/2", iron, turn it up another 1/2", iron, and then top stitch.)
Step3: Start in the center of the FOE and work your way out. To find the center of the FOE, fold it in half, and mark the center with your fingers.
Step 4: FOE has a crease down the center of it (length-wise) for easy folding. Place your unfinished fabric edge on the crease of the FOE. Fold the FOE over the unfinished fabric edge.
Step 5: Carefully place the folded FOE (encasing the fabric) under the presser foot.
Step 6: Back stitch to tack the FOE securely onto the fabric. (I use the zig zag stitch that tacks down 5 times each zig zag. On my machine, it is number 05 but I'm sure every machine is different.)
Step 7: Pull and stretch that FOE like crazy! Well, you don't have to be CrAzY! ;-)
(The raw edge of the fabric needs to be encased in the FOE. Make sure you are stretching the FOE, not the fabric.)
Step 8: Sew using the multiple tack down zigzag stitch on your machine. You may have to help it out a little bit by pulling from the back to get it started. Make sure the unfinished edge of the fabric is encased in the FOE. Watch carefully the entire time you are sewing to make sure the fabric DOES NOT come out of the FOE. If it does, you will be upset because you will have to redo the entire thing. :'(
As you can see, we have done one half now...
Step 9: Now it is time to sew the other side. Place it under the presser foot and tack down like this....
Step 10: Now repeat Step 8.
Step 11: When you get to the end, you will need to overlap the FOE. (You may need to cut excess off if you have a huge amount of FOE left over.)
Here is another close up of another FOE waist line...
Step 12: All done!!! :-) Now give to your little princess and watch her smile as she enjoys playing with her new doll's skirt!!! :)
God Bless,
Staci
