Petti Skirt from Thirft Store Dress- Any size

Have you ever looked at the formal ware rack at the thrift store?  Most of the dresses are awful, or just way to formal to really wear to anything, but the materials they are made of are usually really beautiful.  I had been looking for some lace when I came across this beauty, the bottom has three layers- lace, satin, tulle.

It kind of looks like a tutu in the photo, but it's a petti skirt.  I made it to fit her in a year or two when she can have more fun with it and couldn't convince her big brother to model it for me.  I have been dying to make a petti skirt but did NOT want to deal with all the trips and cutting of the tulle.  But by using this dress's guts, all the hard work is done for me!  If your the kind of sewer who likes perfection and rules, this tutorial is not for you, I don't know any of the sewing rules let alone follow them.  If your adventurous and have basic sewing skills then let's get started.

What you need-
Crazy second hand dress with satin and tulle layers (pretty much every formal dress has this)
Length of elastic- how ever long you need for a waist band (measure waist and minus 5 inches for stretch)
Sewing Machine
Faith LOL

I could not find my elastic so I had to get creative and rip some out of a fleece hoodie that was in the supply pile, look around you'll find something that will work.

Cut the two skirt layers off your dress, throw the rest of your dress in the supply pile for another day.  The bottom layer of the tulle usually has some sort of decorative finish, mine has this little scallop edge.  Cut the bottom layer off.  If there are any tears in the fabric you can cut into sections, mine had one tear so I cut that section out giving me one long strip.  If you don't have any tears just make a cut anywhere to turn your circle into a strip (bottom section only, leave the top as is).

Take the top part of the tulle (the top right on this picture) and lay it on top of your satin skirt you cut off the dress.  Line the bottom of the tulle up with the hem of the satin and one side up, so your using the tulle as a pattern, cut the satin around it leaving the bottom hem and one side in tact. 

Using the satin you just cut, cut a second one half it's length (shown in second photo).  Turn your satin piece inside out (right sides together) and sew the open side closed.

Now the fun part, take the shorter of the two satin skirts and the bottom layer of your tulle to your sewing machine.  Right sides together, sew the strip of tulle to the satin "skirt".  The strip will be long enough to go around the skirt two or three times, just keep sewing until you get to the end. 

How's that for instant gratification!  Your half done.  This will be the outer layer of your skirt, set it aside for now and grab the other section of your tulle and the longer satin skirt.  Put the tulle layer inside the satin skirt and tack them together with a quick stitch.

 Put the one you just sewed inside the outer skirt lining the waist area.  Tack the two together around the waist with a quick stitch.  Now your ready to add the elastic waist.  Your elastic should be 5 inches smaller than the waist it's intended for.  Fold the unfinished edge of your skirts waist over 1/4 inch, then again the width of your elastic (creating a tunnel for the elastic) and pin.  Do this all the way around the waist.

  

Note- I only had my elastic in the waist to make sure it fit, take it out before you pin and set it aside.  

Take the skirt to your sewing machine and sew your waist close to the edge to make sure it stays wide enough for your elastic.  Leave an inch open so you can get the elastic in! 

Attach a large safety pin to your elastic and thread through the tunnel you just sewed.  When you get it all the way through sew the ends together trying to be careful not to twist the elastic inside the fabric.  Tuck the elastic inside the opening and sew the opening shut.  YOUR DONE!

I think it took me longer to write this than it did to make it!