Bow Onesie and Easy-Peasy Rectangle Skirt

To start you'll need:
-1/2 yard of cute fabric
-3 yards of coordinating ribbon (this includes enough ribbon for the outfit and for a hair bow)
-thread to match ribbon and skirt
-a plain onesie (This onesie came from Dillard's)
-a cute button (optional)
-Fray-Check
-3/4" wide elastic at appropriate waist measurement

I started by laying the onesie out and getting a rough measurement of how much ribbon it would take to go across the front of the onesie.  I only sewed the ribbon on the front (from side seam to side seam) of the onesie as not to hinder the stretch.

I turned back one end of my ribbon and sewed the end over on the edge.  I clipped the end into a triangle so that the folded in edges wouldn't interfere when I sewed down the sides of the ribbon.

I laid out my ribbon and pinned it in place making sure to put a temporary tie to scrunch in the area where the bow will go.

A close-up of the scrunching and pinning.  I will sew along the edges of the ribbon from the side seam to the pins closest to the green tie on the top side of the ribbon and the bottom of the ribbon.

The ribbon is sewed in place along all of the edges except where the tie is scrunched.

Next, I cut 12" of ribbon to make my bow.  I used Fray Check on the ends of my ribbon to prevent fraying.

I shaped the 12" piece of ribbon into a loop and sewed through the center creating bow loops.  I set the bow loops on top of the ribbon and slid another piece of ribbon under the opening left from the green scrunching tie.

Once the bow was in the desired position I tied the bottom ribbon around all of the other ribbons and voila, a bow.  I then trimmed the bottom edges of the ribbon into a nice angle and applied Fray Check to prevent raveling during wash and wear.  Make sure not to get Fray-Check on the onesie.  If you like this look then sew a few hand stitches through the bow knot and the onesie to ensure permenance.

For an extra something you can apply a shank button over the bow knot.

I found this cute button at http://www.mjtrim.com/.

I sewed the button through all the layers of ribbon and the onesie to make sure everything was secure.

Now for the skirt.  I started by taking a few of Heidi Sage's measurements.
Waist: 19"
Waist to Knee: 8 1/2"

I decided that the easiest way to make the skirt was as a rectangle with one seam at the Center Back (CB), 1/2" seam allowances, 3/4" elastic in the waist, and a 1" hem.

I determined the size of the rectangle with the following math:
19" waist + 1/2" seam allowance + 1/2" seam allowance + 5" for ease and movement around the hip area = 25"
8 1/2" to knee + 1/4" foldover at top + 1" foldover at top + 1/4" foldover at bottom + 1" foldover at bottom = 11"

I cut a 25" x 11" rectangle and sewed the center back seam. After sewing the center back seam, I serged the center back seam to prevent fraying.  Once the center back seam was sewed, serged, and pressed, I turned up the top and bottom edges of the skirt 1/4" and edge stitched along both edges.  This is the beginning of the hem and elastic casing.

The center back seam is sewed and serged and the top and bottom edges of the skirt are sewed 1/4".

I then turned the top and the bottom up 1" and pressed in place (this makes sewing the hem and casing much easier).  Once the edges were pressed I sewed the hem along the turned up edge.

With the hem sewed, I moved to the elastic casing.  I started by edge stitching the top of the casing all the way around the top of the skirt.  This helps prevent the elastic from turning in the casing and makes the skirt look more finished.

I then sewed the other side of the elastic casing down along the edge leaving an opening at center back so I could put in the elastic.  I cut my elastic to 18" and fed it through the casing with a safety pen.  There are special tools for feeding the elastic but I generally stick with the safety pin method.

Once the elastic was fed through the casing I overlapped the elastic 1" and sewed a square to secure the elastic band.  I then fed the elastic back into the case by scooting the fabric around the elastic band.  I then closed the casing by sewing along the line along the bottom of the casing.

As easy as that, your skirt is finished.  It's a very simple first patternmaking project for any sewing level.  I hope you enjoy these as much as Heidi Sage does, she has them in every color :-)

...and don't forget to add a coordinating Hair Bow!!



**Note from Courtney-- These skirts are one of my favorite things for Heidi Sage to wear.  They're girlie but GREAT for playing.  They don't get in the way like a dress when playing on the playground or outside.  And when it gets chilly, just throw on some tights underneath.  These are great for school, where "play" clothes are recommended, but you still what them to be terribly cute!  :-)

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