Simple Wide Elastic Waistband Petticoat

I've made a few petticoats over the years. Usually what happens when I start on such a project is I suddenly have this frenzied tendency to want to go way over the top. I'm not sure why, but I feel like if I'm going to make the effort, I need to go big or go home! Unfortunately this usually leaves me lacking in the simpler, everyday things that are so useful. One of those things is a light simple petticoat, nothing drastically huge or super poufy, just a little extra layer when I'm feeling like I need a bit of body!

Fortunately, I was able to rein in my over the top tendencies this time, and succeeded in making a nice simple cotton petticoat. As a bonus, it was super quick and easy as I used a wide elastic band for the waist!

I just used a zigzag stitch on both sides of the overlap.

For the skirt, I just figured out the total length I wanted and divided it into the length of the 2 layers I wanted. Then I figured out the width of the top layer, plenty to fit over my hips, plus some. Then I doubled it for the bottom ruffle. I gathered the bottom ruffle to attach to the upper skirt using a long gathering stitch.

I enclosed all the raw edges with light pink hug snug.

 



I also added a couple little bows on the front!

 

 

Finally I attached it to the elastic waistband, stretching it as I sewed and also pleating the fabric a bit as it was still fuller than the stretched elastic. The resulting fullness is exactly what I was looking for, not too much!

 

 

I actually used it as an additional second petticoat when wearing my 10th Anniversary dress! I just couldn't resist the fact that the little pink bows matched so well. ;-)

But it works great for my more casual day dresses that I still like to wear another layer with. Glad I was able to resist going overboard this time, it's already proven to be extremely useful!