Swingset Skirts

Oliver + S is hosting a Swingset Skirt sew-along this week! The Swingset Skirt a simple, lined skirt with a combined elastic and drawstring waist. It has a pretty shape that is perfect for twirling.

I made one for each of my girls. Keeping up with clothes for 6 kids is a full-time job, especially when the seasons change and nothing from last year fits! All the kids are in need of basics that can mix and match. I planned to use solid fabrics, but then I found these fabrics with geometric metallic shapes (from JoAnn Fabrics). They are more fun but still fairly neutral. The girls were enthusiastic about the fabric, which will (hopefully) ensure the skirts are actually worn. Sometimes the plain things just end up shoved in the back of the drawer…

I made a size 8 for my 8 year old, but left the length at a size 14. She prefers longer skirts when she’s playing and I think she’ll be much more likely to wear a skirt she’s comfortable in. I made my 5 year old a straight size 5 with no adjustments. It’s really easy to get the right fit with this skirt. If you happen to cut a size too big, you can easily tighten up the waist by using shorter elastic. My kids tend to be slim, so it really helps to use patterns where I can customize the waist sizing like this.

I really love how pretty the waistband looks with just a couple strands of elastic and the drawstring. It looks fancy, but the construction is simple enough for a confident beginner. And if the pattern illustrations become confusing, there are step-by-step photos available online to guide you through the process.

It also has a nice lining, so you can use lightweight fabrics without worrying if it will be too sheer. I just used muslin for mine.

This is the first time I’ve used a digital version of an Oliver + S pattern. I definitely prefer the paper version. The pattern tiling is not as intuitive as I would have expected, and it took me a few minutes longer than usual to get this pattern taped together. Thankfully there aren’t too many pages. Digital was a good choice for this small pattern, but if I make any more of the larger garments I’ll definitely get the printed paper version.

You can find more ideas and inspiration for styling these skirts over at the Oliver + S blog. There are several pretty versions already, and I’m sure more will appear next week before the sew-along ends. There’s also another week to make a skirt and share it at the link-up!