If your little girls are obsessed with all things mermaid, this is THE tutorial for you. There is just something so enticing and mysterious about mermaids and my girls could play “mermaids” for hours, how about yours? Whether your daughter likes dress-up or she’s searching for the perfect Halloween costume, this 30-minute mermaid skirt tutorial is sure. to. please.
To make this mermaid skirt, you will need a stretchy knit – it looks super cute with a regular jersey knit, it can also be made with a lycra/spandex/swimsuit material for a great costume effect! You will need just a small amount of fabric – less than a yard for most children’s sizes. For the quickest construction, use a ruffling foot to gather the fabric for the bottom skirt ruffle and a serger to sew the three seams. Of course, you can gather the skirt ruffle without a ruffling foot and you can sew the seams with your regular machine – and still finish in less than 30 minutes. (be sure to use ball-point needles on your machines and a zig-zag stitch if you use a regular machine)
Are you ready? Let’s get started!
You will need two measurements to make the skirt – your child’s hip measurement and the length from her waist to her ankle. Cut one piece of fabric into a rectangle for the main skirt portion. The width (the direction of the most stretch) should be the hip measurement – 2 inches. The length of the rectangle should be the waist to ankle measurement – 4″.
Also cut:
a strip for ruffling that is 4″ by 2X the width of the skirt rectangle (or 2 x hip measurement-2″)
A waistband piece that is 4″ by the width of the skirt.
Begin by cutting a curve along the ruffling strip and the skirt piece. Fold the skirt in half lengthwise. Fold the ruffling strip in half, bringing the short ends together. Now cut a curve along the bottom (non-folded) corner of both of these pieces. Just eyeball it so that you have a smooth curve rounding off the corners (about 4-5″ up the side of the skirt piece).
Now ruffle the long strip. Feed it through your ruffling foot for super speediness. Be sure to leave the threads long on each end of the ruffle to redistribute the gathers to fit the skirt if needed. If you do not have a ruffling foot, stitch a long basting stitch down the length of the ruffle, pull the bobbin threads to gather the strip. Either way, the gathered strip should be the same length now as the bottom of the skirt piece. Match the gathered side of the ruffle strip to the bottom edge of the skirt, right sides together. Pin in place (or don’t, just check to make sure the length is the same). Stitch or serge the ruffle to the bottom of the skirt. No need to hem!
Turn down the attached ruffle.
Fold the skirt in half with right sides in and match the two sides. Stitch or serge from the top of the skirt down to where the ruffle seam is – do not stitch the two ends of the ruffle strips together.
Set the skirt aside for a moment and grab the waistband piece. Match the two short ends, right sides together and stitch (or serge!!!) to form a tube.
Fold the tube in half along its length to form the waistband.
With the skirt right side out and the waistband on the outside of the skirt, match the seamline in the waistband to the center back of the skirt. Pin the waistband to the skirt, matching raw edges (the folded edge of the waistband will be facing down toward the hem). The waistband should be the same circumference as the skirt, but be sure that the two are pinned evenly around the whole waistband.
Serge together (or stitch – be sure you’re using a zigzag stitch)
And that is it!! Wasn’t it quick and easy?
Mermaid perfect in no time!
Gold and White Polka Dot Fabric can be found at Michael Levine, here.
Blue and Grey stripe knit can be found at Girl Charlee, here.
Teal knit from my local Joann.
Katie Wyckoff says
These are amazing and are officially on my list to make – along with a 100 other things! Your princess dresses are next up!! Where is the gold and white polka dot fabric from? I adore it!!
girlinspired says
Thanks, Katie! Isn’t that gold and white polka dot amazing? I can’t believe I forgot to give the resource – I ordered it online from Michael Levine – http://www.lowpricefabric.com – I’ll add a link to the fabric in the post in a bit!
Layla says
Love it 😻
Katie says
What a brilliant idea, I adore your fabric choices. Makes me want to rustle one up right away. The gold on white is gorgeous!
Thanks heaps for visiting my blog Stefanie and for leaving the sweetest comment on my “Pony dress”.♥
Katie (am-I-a-dreamer.blogspot)
Rachel of OddModicum says
Oh this is about the cutest thing, ever! A matching tank and some shell jewelry and some kelpy type hair crown, and you’re in business for a mermaid. Another winner. And I’m thrilled to know that I’m not the only reader who’s WAY behind on making the ideas you feature that we love… thanks for that, Katie! lol I don’t have quite 100 to make, but not so far from it.
Great tutorial!
Hugs & Hope,
Rachel of OddModicum
http://www.etsy.com/shop/OddModicum
Sarah says
Adorable. Will have to make these at some point. Pinned. Thanks for the tutorial.
Sarah
Momma Bain says
I had an itch to use this amazing mermaid fabric I found at Joanns. I made a pair of tights with ruffles but then saw this on FB! I’m so excited to make it. thank you for such a easy tutorial!
Michelle says
I love this idea! I might even wear one! LOL
Beautiful job as always.
~Michelle
Darlene says
What an adorable skirt. I no longer have little ones. However, I am thinking of making one for my tall, skinny young adult daughter. She could definitely pull this off. You could make it very boho casual or very formal or very costumey, depending on what material you use. LOVE IT!
Wesley says
Love this! Thinking I might have to modify it for me for halloween!
Jess Abbott says
so cool Stef!!!
Karen says
My granddaughters can also play mermaids for hours. Thank you so much for this tutorial. I will be making two of these beautiful skirts.
Heather Mills says
Yep! I have three girls and they would love this! One loves Ariel and already has an adorable Ariel costume, but I’m sure the other two would love this. And . . . I could even do it! Thanks for the tutorial!
Krista @ the happy housie says
These skirts are sooo adorable! And a fabulous tutorial too:) I would be thrilled if you have the chance to share this at our new Fall DIY Challenge if you haven’t already- today we are linking up BLUE projects – old or new! Hop over to The Happy Housie to share yours! Hope to see ya there!
– Krista
Amanda says
How cute. I have some girls that would adore these 🙂
annie! says
This is such a great pattern…and well explained. Thanks a ton for sharing. My granddaughter will love it!
Sheree says
Help! My knit ruffle is curling more than I want. What should I do?
girlinspired says
Hi Sheree! I hate it when that happens! You can try spraying it with a little starch and ironing – that helps tame the curling some. Also, try not to pull on the fabric at all once you’ve cut it. I always notice that it curls if I’ve pulled on it at all. Good luck!
Heather Peterson says
Thank you for the link back to the store! What a great tutorial…I have it on my list for our next tutorial feature 🙂
Heather C says
I just finished my daughter’s mermaid skirt from this tutorial! It turned out so cute in purple knit with rhinestones! She loves it, now to chase her down and get it off 🙂
Allie Hoopes says
Used these in our family Halloween costumes. Thanks much!
http://reallyquitelucky.blogspot.com/2013/11/family-pictures-2013.html
Jennifer Webster says
I am on my fourth birthday gift from this pattern! I love it, my daughter adores it (of course hers is the only one that has yet to work out, and is needing some serious seam ripper action!) but alas all the gifts are awesome. Thank you.
Katie Adams says
My girls would flip for these skirts. They are so fun. Thank you for the free tutorial!
Holly says
I literally just finished making one of these adorable skirts for my 5-year-old daughter. She loves it. It was my first time sewing with knits – a learning curve for sure! I see more of these in our future. Thank you for the great tutorial.
NACOLE MCGHIN says
Im gonna try this in a cotton woven fabric. I cant seem to master a knit. 🙂 Have you ever tried this ?
priscilla cruz says
hello, what size is the skirt you made in the tutorial?
girlinspired says
Hi Priscilla,
I’d guess the striped skirt would fall into a 4T size range.
Priscilla N Cruz says
Thanks so much!!!!! That’s the size I needed!!
Tiara says
This skirt is very cute! So you use the same method for adults? I don’t sew, I don’t really know how this works.
girlinspired says
You could probably use the same technique for adults, though the waist and hip measurements are typically quite different on adults vs. kids. Adults have a greater difference in those two measurements, so you’d probably need to curve the skirt piece to taper in at the waist so you don’t get bunching.
Angela says
Love this tutorial! I appreciate the simplicity of the design and steps and attention to details such as type of needle. It truly was a 30 min project! I added a layer of lace to the ruffle and a little lace ruffle to the waist for additional texture, turned out so cute!! Thank you!
Trayne says
Four summers ago, I did the costumes for Peter Pan…. I had 5 small girls who played mermaids… and I made skirts just l like this , did not see anything on the internet that would allow them to walk so this exactly how mine looked…. Just thought that it was strange/unusual to find this now.
Virginia Fynes says
Absolutely perfect! Will be using these for my daughters party next week. Thanks!
Sarah Helene says
CUTE-AS-CAN-BE MERMAID SKIRTS FOR YOUNG GIRLS! Your “30-minute Mermaid Skirt tutorial” is FAB! Thanks for sharing . . . it’s certainly UNIQUE, CREATIVE and VERSATILE! Sharp photos to accompany you clear directions. From numerous previous comments, looks like this is CERTAINLY an inspiration for many Moms of young girls who sew. Sarah in Minneapolis
Jessica says
Definitely making these for my girls as part of their Christmas gift 🙂
Anna says
Love these! You always have such cute ideas and wonderful tutorials! Thank you 🙂
Barbara says
Your tutorial ist amazing, I make complet costume for my daughter. Thank your and greetings from Germany,
Barbara
Molly Brown says
Pardon my ignorance ….. and I do sew and quilt! The directions say “hip measurement “minus” 2 inches? Is that so the mermaid skirt is stretched tight around the hips? I understand you would take 4″ off the skirt piece to account for the ruffle, correct?
Thanks for your help. Trying to make one of these for my grand-daughter’s 5th “Little Mermaid” birthday party!
girlinspired says
Hi Molly!
You got it! As long as you’re using a good, stretchy knit, subtracting the 2 inches from the waist measurement will give the skirt a nice fit around the hips and waist! Have fun! Your granddaughter will love it!
Christa says
Thank you for asking this!! Up late doing last minute birthday sewing and I had the same confusion. You saved my bacon haha! 🙂
lauren says
Absolutely love this…but question about measurement and cutting of fabric….is it hip measurement -(minus 2) or what does the “-” sign mean? I’m a little confused… Newby sewer!
Thanks
girlinspired says
Yes, Lauren, “-” is minus, good question! Have fun!
Richelle says
Would it work to not ruffle it but rather just do a flounce?
Linda says
EAGER to make this but just wondering before I cut if I understand the measurements correctly. So I measure around the hips and cut the fabric LESS two inches? It just seems as though this would make it extremely tight after stitching together. THANKS
girlinspired says
Hi Linda – as long as you’re using a good, stretchy knit, the 2 inch LESS measurement will be snug around the little ones’ waists and hips – and when they’re transforming into their mermaid selves, they’ll love it!
Erica says
I made this skirt this weekend for my daughters Under the Sea 5th birthday party. I found the perfect green foil stretch to use and paired with a purple bikini top she looked the perfect part! Thank you for such an easy and complete tutorial!!!
Denise says
Thank you so much for this. I love it and will be making this for my granddaughter. Looking forward to following all the other untutorials you share!
Angie says
I just made three of these. The first one was a fail because I had inadvertently rotated the fabric so the stretch side was up and down. It will make a cute mini dress for a baby. The second one went so well, I even finished it within the 30 min (odd for me, because Im always getting interrupted. The third one was by far the best. I added extra ruffle length and used velour (or something like it). Man, what a great pattern! Thanks so much!
Waleska says
Great tutorial well done!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!
Soleilnyc says
Hi! What is your seam allowance? I usually do 1/2” on my server, but when I was about to do that, the ruffle seemed awfully narrow to me so I did zero. I’d love to know what you do! Thank you!