The Can-Can Skirt

When I first saw this skirt about a year ago, I thought that my daughter would loooove it if it was pink. I was right.

The “pattern” is really just a set of instructions, but they are pretty good. The size of the different tiers is determined using a set of ratios, so there are an infinite number of sizes that can be made, including for women.

Attaching the ruffles is done with a lack of precision. The instructions say, “Don’t pin; just sew.” I’m a little embarrassed to say how nervous that made me. I like precision. One side seam is sewn before the ruffles go on and the second is done after. The ruffles don’t match up all that well on the second side seam, which I thought “ruined” the skirt, but when this skirt is on my daughter I can hardly find the side seam, much less notice unmatched ruffles. So, I think the instructions are good and maybe I should be a little less hung up on precision.

Non-fraying chiffon is the fabric recommended for the ruffles, but I used polyester organza. I didn’t have time to order this certain fabric, so I had to use what I could find. This coral-pink color was the only organza that came in three similar shades at my local Fabricland. I was hoping for a darker, blue-pink but I didn’t really get to make that choice.

I cut the strips on the bias to get around the fraying issue. When I took the picture above, my daughter had worn the skirt three times and the edges are starting to get rough. I still think it looks okay, but this isn’t going to be an heirloom sort of garment.

I also made her a headband to match the skirt using this tutorial for the flower. I'm not as excited about how the flower turned out as I'd like to be. I think it needs a few more layers for fullness. As much as I'd like to think I'll go back and re-do it, I likely won't. Too many other things to start...

Things have been busy here, so this ended up being a last minute rush job. I really don’t enjoy that type of sewing. I got in done in time for her to wear it to her first piano recital last Saturday. She loved wearing the skirt and did a fantastic job playing her pieces.