A Quilted Skirt!

Do you have have crazy ideas that you don't know if they'll work, but you want to do them anyway?? That's exactly how this quilted skirt came about!

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If you're new here, hello! I'm Laura! I design quilt patterns, and I'm a self-proclaimed deal hunter! Be sure to join the popular Quilting & Sewing Deals Facebook group where I post sales, deals, and coupon codes from all around the web!

I've had "quilted skirt" on my list of ideas I'd like to experiment with for quite some time. A couple weeks ago, Windham Fabrics sent me a 2-yard cut of their new Perfect Points 108" wide backing fabric with the direction to "make anything you want." I knew it was the perfect time to experiment! 

I loaded a backing fabric from my stash onto my longarm with my SewTite Magnums, then used a queen-sized package of Hobbs Thermore batting. This is a thin polyester batting that's often used in quilted garments. (More of my thoughts on this later!) Then I put the Pickle Dish fabric on top as if it was the quilt top.

I knew immediately that I would use hot pink thread for the quilting. It's just such a fun and unexpected pairing with the black and white! (Technically it's black and cream, but close enough!) I asked for suggestions on social medial, and several people suggested lime green or any neon color, and I would love those too!

I used a fairly small meander stitch to quilt the full two yards of fabric, which took a lot longer than I anticipated!

After removing it from the longarm, I laid it out flat on the floor to draw out the shape. I did not use a pattern, but did refer to this blog post that really helped. I decided on a 3/4 circle skirt. I marked the center point along one side of the fabric, then used a tape measure from that spot to draw the arc from one side of the fabric to the other. I cut this shape out with scissors, then I cut some off both the left and right sides so the piece would be half of the 3/4 circle size. I cut a piece off each side so that the center of the cut piece would keep the design of the fabric vertical right on the front of me when wearing. 

Then I used this shape to trace and make a second one. Last, I cut an arc for the waist in both panels.

I do not own a serger, so I just had to make up what to do with the seams. I placed the two quilted pieces right sides together, then sewed along the left and right straight sides with a half inch seam allowance. This immediately created a "skirt" shape that I could try on. And immediately discovered I needed to cut the waist just a bit bigger. I wanted it to just fit over my hips without being too snug.

Once happy with the waist size, I opened the side seams and sewed the edges down with a straight stitch - like a flat felled seam. Of course a serged edge would have been ideal, but this is the best I could do! The photo below shows what this looks like on the inside and outside of the skirt.

Next was adding a waistband. I opted for the easiest option that I could think of - 3" wide elastic! I used the elastic itself to measure around my waist exactly. Then I used a half inch seam to sew the two ends together to make a loop. Just like the skirt pieces, I also opened this seam and stitched the edges down with a straight stitch. 

I pinned the elastic band to the skirt right sides together. I pinned the elastic seam onto the back of the skirt, then folded the elastic loop in half to find the center and pinned that to the front of the skirt. I repeated by folding and finding the center of the elastic then pinned each side to the side of the skirt. Using my straight stitch only machine, I started sewing at the back of the skirt. I just pulled the elastic so it was taut with the quilted fabric and sewed to the next pin. I continued with each quarter of the skirt until it was sewn all the way around.

After the elastic was attached, I top-stitched once near the seam from the right side of the skirt (shown in the photo below). 

But then I turned the skirt inside out and sewed along the top of the quilted fabric to stitch down the seam edge. And lastly, I sewed one time in-between these two lines just for added strength and aesthetics. 

Then it was time for binding! Yes, I thought a quilted skirt must have a quilt binding edge! I cut 2 1/4" bias strips from yardage I had on hand of Rose Bud - a Painter's Palette solid fabric. Then I machine sewed it on just like I normally sew on quilt binding! (Tutorial for that here.) I used a hot pink Aurifil 50wt thread for this step.

After finishing, one thing was very noticeable. The skirt doesn't have a soft drape. It's pretty stiff. It still moves and is *possible* to sit, but it also stands up on its own. I would love to make a few more of these to wear to trunk shows and Quilt Market, so I'm going to try a couple different battings to see which one I like best. I'm going to try bamboo and silk in the next ones! 

But even with the stiffer batting, I LOVE it!! 

The hot pink thread doesn't show up from afar.

So you just notice the pattern and hot pink binding edge along the bottom.

But up close, you can see that it's quilted! 

This is going to be SO much fun to wear to quilty events!! I am really happy with how it turned out, and am already planning the next one! 

I do have some of the fabric left over that's already quilted, so I might see if I can squeeze a matching quilted coat or bolero out of it! 

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