Bunny Skirt Tutorial

Ahh, what picture of a little girl with bare legs is complete without a few bruises?  Although there is snow outside my window and I will be sharing a snowy tutorial later this month, I felt a need to do a little spring sewing.  I made this skirt with bunnies chasing each other around the hem for my first grader.

I used Art Gallery Fabrics Floressence Joie du Jour, purchased from Fresh Squeezed Fabrics, for the skirt.  My simple, pattern-less skirt formula is to measure my daughter's waist and then cut two panels (one for the skirt front and one for the skirt back) with that measurement as the width.  That makes for a nicely gathered skirt that isn't too bulky at the waist. Then I measure from waist to knee and add about 1 1/4" for the casing at the waist (using a 3/4" elastic) and a couple of inches for the hem.

I cut six bunnies, three for the front and three for the back, using Quilter's Linen in Chocolate, cut with my Sizzix Bunny die. This is a big die, measuring 6" x 8 3/4".  The size and the gradual curves make it easy to applique.  I first backed the fabric with HeatNBond Lite and then ran the fabric through the die cutter.  I fused the bunnies to the skirt panels before assembly, taking into consideration the seam allowances and hem.  I wanted them to land above the hem line.  I used my free motion quilting foot to raw edge applique.

It's so Easter-y springy.  Come on spring!

(If you were inspired by this skirt and want to pick up the fabric, Fresh Squeezed Fabrics is having a sale- Free US shipping on all orders over $40 this week!  Equivalent shipping on international orders ($5.25 for a FRE) will be refunded.) 

Scroll down one post to enter the BasicGrey Picnic Basket quilt pattern giveaway-I will draw two winner's names tomorrow and email them.