DIY Matching Girl and Doll Skirts
Learn how to upcycle an old dress to make matching girl and doll skirts! A fun way to extend the life of a cute dress and a great beginner sewing project.
Hello Crafty Friends! Today I’m sharing a fun way to make matching girl and doll skirts by using an old dress that may no longer fit. I recently shared how to make a dress into a skirt, and today I’m taking it one step further and showing you how you can repurpose the top of the dress into a second mini-skirt perfectly sized for a doll. Matching girl-doll skirts are so cute for little ones!
The dress I’m using for the tutorial today had become too short with the waistline too high up. Since the skirt still fit, was in good condition, and a favorite, I wanted to find a fun way to extend it’s life before donating it. I’ve made over a dozen of my daughter’s dresses into skirts over the years and it’s quicker and easier than you may think.
These matching skirts are a lot of fun and the best part – they only require basic sewing skills and minimal materials. Check out the tutorial below to make your own matching girl and doll skirts!
How to Make Matching Girl and Doll Skirts from an Old Dress
Supplies Needed
- A used dress with a gathered waistline that still fits (I’m using a Carter’s size 10 dress)
- 3/4″ Elastic
- 1/4″ Elastic
- Matching thread
- Sewing notions like fabric scissors, straight pins, clear ruler, and a seam gauge is also helpful.
- Sewing machine – I have a Bernina 1001
Making the Girl’s Skirt
Step One: Cut out the fabric.
Turn the dress inside out and mark 2.5″ above the waistline using a ruler. Mark every 3-4 inches then connect with a straight line you can follow while cutting. Cut the dress along this marked line separating the skirt from the bodice.
Step Two: Create the Waistband Casing.
The hem of this skirt is already finished so we just need to create a new finished waistband. Fold the edge you just cut 1/2″ to the wrong side and press. I like to use a seam gauge. It’s very helpful when pressing hems!
Next, fold the waistband down so the pressed edge slightly overlaps the dress’s waistline. For most of my daughter’s dresses, the waistline was serged on the inside. I ironed the surged seam upwards before folding over my new waistband. Pin the waistband in place. (**Note – Most people will position their pins so the sharp edge is pointing down or towards the right. This will make it easier to remove your pins as you stitching and you won’t accidentally poke yourself so often. For some strange reason I do the opposite and can’t seem to break the habit!)
Stitch the waistband down leaving a small gap at one of the side seams to insert the elastic. I like to stitch from the front of the garment by “stitching in the ditch”. “Stitching in the ditch” means lining up your needle with a seam so your new stitch line is hidden. Since we overlapped the waistband while pinning, we can stitch in the waist seam and our stitching should catch the edge of our waistband on the inside as we sew. Stitching in the ditch is nice because we aren’t adding a new visible stitch line on the front of the garment.
Below is a picture showing me “stitching in the ditch” so you can see where my needle is positioned.
Step Three: Add the elastic.
Cut a piece of elastic to fit your child’s waist. I like to wrap the elastic around my daughter’s waist and ask her what is comfortable. Some kids like their skirts tighter than others and some elastic is stretchier. Generally, you can cut the elastic a couple inches shorter than your child’s waist measurement. Attach a safety pin to one of the elastic.
Pass the elastic through the newly formed waistband casing using the safety pin to help push it through. You may want to pin the other end to the skirt so you don’t accidentally pull the elastic all the way through.
Once your two ends of elastic meet, pull them out enough so you can overlap them, then stitch them together with your sewing machine. I like to use a zig-zag stitch. Place the elastic back in the casing and stitch the casing closed. The girl skirt is finished!
Sewing the Doll Skirt
Step One: Cut the fabric.
After using the bottom of the dress, we are left with the entire bodice. I decided to use this fabric to make a skirt for my daughter’s 14.5″ doll. I used a ruler to cut the largest rectangle I could from the bodice. For my dress, which was a size 10, this meant a 5″ by 11″ rectangle. I cut this from both the front and back of the bodice so I had two rectangles that were the same size.
Step Two: Stitch the side seams of the skirt.
With the right sides together, sew the sides of the rectangles using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press them open.
Step Three: Hem the skirt.
Fold over the bottom edge of the skirt 1/4″ and then another 1/4″ so the raw edge is tucked away. If you want your skirt to be as long as possible and your fabric does not fray, you can just fold the edge once. Press the hem then stitch it on your machine.
Step Three: Create the elastic waistband.
Just like for the girl-sized skirt, we need to create a waistband. Fold over the top edge of the fabric 1/2″ and press.
Stitch 3/8″ down from the folded edge to create the waistband casing. Be sure to leave a hole at one of the side seams. Next, cut a piece of elastic slightly shorter than the doll’s waist measurement. Add a tiny safety pin to one end and pass it through the waistband casing you just created. Once your two ends of elastic meet, pull them out enough so you can overlap them, then stitch them together with your sewing machine. I like to use a zig-zag stitch. Place the elastic back in the casing and stitch the casing closed.
The doll skirt is complete and it turned out so cute! This is a simple gathered skirt that doesn’t involve a lot of complicated sewing. The trickiest part is just working with such a small item. Take your time and if you need to make your hems or seams larger, don’t be afraid to try that.
I love that one dress not only made a skirt my daughter can keep wearing, but it also made a fun doll skirt that she can play with. Doll clothes can be pricey, so knowing how to make your own can really save money while still adding to your doll collection!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Check out my other sewing crafts and my collection of free sewing patterns for more ideas!
