Pin It
rollover image to zoom
192

Rings of Ruffles Recyled T-shirts Skirt

Pattern Info

This project was designed by lilygiggle.
Info can be found at:
Rings of Ruffles Skirt »

Instructions

This is such a fun way to repurpose all of those no longer needed t-shirts into something useful and super cute!

This pattern is available in sizes 6 months-10 years
Difficulty:

Category: Sewing

Type of item: Clothing

For: Children

Style: Funky, Cute, Eco-Friendly, Whimsical

Materials

recycled t-shirts, 1 inch elastic & thread

What was your inspiration?

My daughter who loves anything ruffly and spinny and a whole pile of t-shirts that were on their way to the local thrift store.

What are you most proud of?

How unique each skirt turns out and how much fun they are to wear!

What advice would you give someone starting this project?

Take your time and just have some fun with it. This project requires very few straight lines and has lots of room for getting creative and just enjoying some time behind the sewing machine.

 

72 comments

Add your comment:

uninspiredrev
May 09, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
adorable! tysm for the inspiration!! i was in a rut and had crafters block till i saw this <3
mreneeneely
Apr 29, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
I love,love,love these!! Can't wait to give it a try! Your modls are waaaay too cute!!!
SSSews
Apr 24, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Do all these layers of ruffles weigh the skirt down? Especially for little girls without any hips to hold them up. ?
lilygiggle
Apr 25, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
The ruffles do add some weight to the skirt but not enough to be uncomfortable or weigh it down to wear it doesn't stay up on hips. I personally know many little girls who have worn these skirts without any problems...my own 2 daughters, especially! :)
lilygiggle
Apr 25, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
I meant "where" not "wear"...it's early. :)
chachanan51754
Apr 22, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Adorable,, have to make some for my granddaughter!!
Villalobos
Apr 20, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
That is clever and cute
tova dian dean
Apr 12, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
So adorable!
Cokica
Apr 09, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Slatko bas za male curice. Sooo cutteee
pcelicao7
Mar 26, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Preslatko!So cute!
Carole R
Mar 05, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
What a great way to reuse good fabric - and best of all - it covers the wearer . Hope you are sending one to a young female performer!!!!
OmaTrisha
3 hours ago   Flag as inappropriate
I agree - it's great to see somting trendy that isn't revealing. Many young stars these days could learn from this!
BienAimeBeloved
Mar 03, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
so adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pinkpeppercorns
Feb 21, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
I'd love to see this in an adult size!
SpringChaos
Feb 20, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
These are so cute! The multi colors are fantastic! I'm going to have to hit up a thrift store for colorful tshirts. I'm doing one for myself, but most likely out of muslin!
katie easton
Feb 16, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
very chic!
JulieAnne
Jan 31, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Update, I figured it out. The purcase went through :o)
lilygiggle
Jan 31, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Oh good...so glad it worked for you! Hope you have fun with it!!! :)
JulieAnne
Jan 31, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Good Morning! I really love your concept of recycling t-shirts for this prject. I tried purchasing the pattern, however it says it doesn't exsist. I really want to make the purchase :o)
GirlyGirl
Jan 29, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
You are ruffler extraordinaire!
lilygiggle
Jan 29, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
:)
kimmiearthur
Jan 27, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
these r to cute . wish i knew how to make them. love them
FrugalGracee
Jan 22, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Beautiful and functional!
hansyd2
Jan 19, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
These are TOO cute...can't wait to make some for my girls!!! Thanks!
lilygiggle
Jan 19, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
You're welcome...so glad you like them!
mamalee
Jan 13, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Darling skirt! How do I get to your Etsy store? It no longer shows on LilyGiggle.com.
lilygiggle
Jan 19, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
www.lilygiggle.etsy.com but you can buy directly from lilygiggle.com, too. :)
judidivin355114
Jan 11, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Don't know how to sew on knit fabrics. My husband is still wearing too small holey t-shirts. When I show him this, and tell him it's for his grand-daughter, he will gladly relinquish them. Unfortunately, that still leaves me - the one who does not know how to with knots. The skirts, by the way, are awesome.y
mamalee
Jan 13, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Use a needle for knits. The point is made to go between the knit stitches. Buy a package of them and change them often for best results.
Carole R
Mar 05, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
You are a very tackful and wise woman!!!!! LOL
prisjo1
Jan 08, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Love these skirts. Canh't wait to finish other projects so I can make some for my girls.
fancygran265561
Jan 07, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
VERY.COOL!
Strwbryblnde9
Dec 22, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
Just "picked up" sewing. I have alot of different feet for my machine but, don't know which one is the ruffle foot. CAN YA help this girl out? lol
lilygiggle
Dec 22, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
The kind of ruffle foot that I use is a big ol' contraption that doesn't normally come with a sewing machine. It, truthfully, scared me the first time I used it but now I LOVE it! This is a similar one...http://www.amazon.com/Distinctive-Ruffler-Sewing-Machine-Presser/dp/B003265EX2 Hope this helps! :)
OmaTrisha
3 hours ago   Flag as inappropriate
You can just use a regular foot, put the stitch length on the longest available, and turn the tension all the way up. The machine will ruffle for you.
Peggy Sue
Nov 30, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
WOWIE....I have 4 BEAUTIFUL granddaughter....ALL will have at least ONE of these....so excited....thanks for sharing your creative ideas....
Becky Jo
Nov 29, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
This is sooo sew cute. After I finish learning to knit this darn sock...I just might be back.
lilygiggle
Dec 22, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
wish I could knit a darn sock...stink at knitting. :)
mamalee
Jan 13, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Try watching a video on knitting socks. I was working on socks the first time and got messed up. I asked a knitting friend for help. When she gave it back she had completed the sock and knitted the othe one too. I still couldn't.
Aliska
Nov 22, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
i love love these skirt very cute
lynn seamstress
Nov 02, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
love this. and my daughter will start the project i told her it easy.. she only 13
Ranellp
Oct 29, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
These are adorable.
Lucy Daniel
Oct 27, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!!
Sarah_S
Oct 21, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
I love the look of this
sewhappy2
Oct 17, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
I love this idea and i have a grandaughter who is 9 that will love it as well!!
Annette Hashaw
Oct 17, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
Just wondering how it looks after washing? does it roll and if so do you like that look?
lilygiggle
Oct 17, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
It washes well and looks the same. When I first came up with the idea and made my first sample I serged all of the edges of the ruffles. It curled up a lot after I washed it the first time but it didn't look bad...just different. My daughter still wears that one a lot and we love it. However, it was time consuming to serge all of the edges and by leaving them raw I found that they wash up better.
BelleEve
Sep 18, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
I ordered this pattern from Lilygiggle and made a skirt. So easy!! The ruffles are a little time consuming, but I sewed them on my machine then sat in front of the TV one evening and pulled all of the create the ruffle. My daughter loves it because the skirt is really cozy. I am excited to try my Lilygiggle legging pattern next!!
lilygiggle
Sep 18, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
Aw...thanks for sharing your experience! Yes, the ruffles can be a bit time-consuming but if you enjoy the ruffles I HIGHLY recommend looking into a ruffler foot for your sewing machine. It makes many of my patterns (or anything with ruffles) faster and more fun. I don't know how I lived without one for so long! :)
mamalee
Jan 13, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
You can also make ruffles using a serger. It is especially easy if you have one where you can set the differencial to a negative to get a ruffle.
OmaTrisha
3 hours ago   Flag as inappropriate
You can also do this on a regular machine. Turn the tension all the way up, make the stitch as long as it will go, and then tug just a bit on the fabric as you guide it under the needle. It gathers for you.
frogmama
Sep 12, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
there is no "spinny" picture! I bet they are cute! My first sewing adventure will be making a circle skirt for each of my girls, but this is next!! With today's styles, too, I bet you could use some of the screen printed sections of the shirts (heavy screen-printing would not softly curl, of course, though)
lilygiggle
Sep 12, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
Absolutely...I've made this with screenprinted shirts, too. I love mixing prints and solids for this one.
Craftsy
Sep 08, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
We've added this project to our Featured Projects on our home page. Congrats!
lilygiggle
Sep 08, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
Awesome!!! Thanks so much! :)
Carsmystic
Sep 04, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
so cute,I so want to make these skirts for my two grandaughters, will be great christmas presents, as it will be summer here then....
jacichamb31065
Sep 04, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
Love it! Gonna make one for both my girls!
lilygiggle
Sep 04, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
Yay! :)
lrpost
Sep 04, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
How can I get the instructions????? I see the list of supplies needed, but no instructions. Have 5 little grandaughters that really need this skirt! Thanks
lilygiggle
Sep 04, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
Click on the name of the skirt next to the flower icon that says "By Designer" and it will take you to my Etsy shop where this pattern is for sale...thanks! :)
KatrinaRachel
Sep 03, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
How cute is that. Can't wait to make a couple for my neices. I have been saving old t shirts for about six months now, without any real idea of what I would do with them, now I know. Thanks!
knitnutbetts
Sep 03, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
I am anxious to start one of these for new great-granddaughter. I made my daughter's wedding dress and she had to have 13 ruffles cascading down the train--1980's and it was my own design since there was no pattern. It won Best of Show in the State and County fairs. Think this skirt is really cute too. Thanks!
lilygiggle
Sep 03, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
You should have no problems with this skirt after making all of those ruffles on a wedding dress! Sounds beautiful.
flapperjules
Sep 03, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
How can I get the instructions??? Thanks!
mreneeneely
Sep 03, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
Ditto! Where are they? How am I missing it? lol
lilygiggle
Sep 03, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
They are for sale in my Etsy shop...just click on the name of the skirt above and it will take you there...thanks! :)
traceyuhe129961
Sep 03, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
This is so adorable! It really makes me wish I could sew!
nannikins
Sep 03, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
me too!
brownie mom
Sep 03, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
i got a sewing machine for christmas last year and still have not used it as i do not know how.
brownie mom
Sep 03, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
i got a sewing machine for christmas last year and have not used it as i do not know how to.
Stefanie Japel
Craftsy Instructor
Aug 30, 2011    Flag as inappropriate
This is a gorgeous design! I love that it's made of recycled t-shirts!
AnneaKay
Oct 29, 2011   Flag as inappropriate
Too cute!

Join Craftsy:

We're a community of people who love to make things. We learn from, inspire and help each other.





Related Projects

View all 5097 projects
baby shoes
131
Thread Catcher
170
Tetrahedron Coin Purse With Zipper
61
Coin Purses
86
Girly go-to dress
41