Please read all directions before starting. If you have any questions, please contact us at weefolkart@yahoo.com.

Unless otherwise stated, seams are 1/2 inch.

Before beginning make all necessary calculations to insure a proper fit.
 

Materials:

Fabric: There are 4 tiers to this skirt. You may choose to use 1, 2, 3 or 4 different fabrics. For that reason we cannot give specific fabric requirements. Calculate the correct size and pick your fabrics. Determine fabric needs based on your selections.

Elastic: 1 inch wide elastic equal to your child’s waist.

Thread: Matching or contrasting.

Optional embellishments: Rick rack, lace, etc.

Cutting:

Make the following calculations to determine correct cutting size. Round to the nearest 1/2 inch. You will need to cut two (2) for each tier.

Body Width (BW): The largest measurement around your waist or hips.

Total Length (TL): The length you want the skirt to be from waist to hem PLUS 7 inches. (Example: The desired length is 17”. The Total Length is 17 + 7 = 24”.)

Tier A (cut 2):

Height: TL x 25% (TL x .25)

Width: BW x 80% (BW x .80)

Tier B (cut 2):

Height: TL x 20% (TL x .20)

Width: BW x 100% (TL x 1)

Tier C (cut 2):

Height: TL x 25% (TL x .25)

Width: BW x 120% (BW x 1.20)

Tier D (cut 2)

Height: TL x 30% (TL x .30)

Width: BW x 140% (BW x 1.40)

Directions:

Skirt construction:

1. Use the guide above to determine measurements for each tier. Round each number to the nearest 1/2 inch.

2. Cut out all 8 pieces (2 for each tier.

   

3. (Optional) Serge or finish the top and bottom edges of each piece to prevent fraying.

   

4. With right sides together, stitch the side seams of each tier. You will now have 4 circles of fabric. Press seams open.

   

5. Without backstitching, run a basting stitch (the longest stitch setting on your machine) along the top of tier B, C and D. This should be 3/8 inch from the edge.

   

6. Gently pull the basting stitch to lightly gather the tier. Gather the tier enough so it is the same size as the tier above it. (Example: If tier A is 36 inches, gather the top of tier B so it is 36 inches.) Space gathers evenly around tier.

7. Line up the bottom of tier A with the top of tier B, with right sides together.

8. Pin the tiers together matching side seams.

9. Stitch the two tiers together.

   

10. Iron the seam up. (Optional: You can use a fun decoration stitch or top stitch if you would like or add rick racks, ribbons, etc.)

    

11. Repeat steps 7 – 10 with the additional two tiers; top of tier C to the bottom of tier B, the top of tier D to the bottom of tier C.

Waistband construction:

1. Fold the top edge of tier A over 1 1/2 inches to the wrong side of the skirt. (Note: If you did not serge or finish the edges of your seams turn under and iron the top edge 1/4 inch. THEN fold the top edge of tier A over 1 1/2 inch. This will hide the raw edge on the waistband.)

2. Iron and pin to hold the waistband in place.

3. Stitch the waistband to the skirt 1/4 inch from open edge. Leave a 2 inch opening by a side seam (to later insert elastic). Be careful to maintain a full inch width in the waistband so your elastic will slide through nicely.

4. Cut 1 inch wide elastic the child’s waist measurement. (You may need to cut it a little large if there is a big difference between waist and hip measurement. You may want to leave the elastic a little long and wait to cut it to size after you try it on your child.)

5. Pin a safety pin to one end of the elastic. Thread your elastic through the waistband. (If you are sizing it on your child, do so now.)

6. Overlap the elastic 1 inch so it lays flat (not like a side seam) and sew the edges together. Make a square (up, over, down, over) so the elastic will not give inside the waistband.

7. Slide the elastic into the waistband and sew up the opening making sure not to sew through the elastic.

Hemming:

1. Fold the bottom edge of tier D up 1/2 inch to the wrong side of the skirt. (Note: If you did not serge or finish the edges of your seams, turn under and iron the bottom edge 1/4 inch. THEN fold the bottom edge of tier D over 1/2 inch. This will hide the raw edge on the hem.)

2. Iron and pin to hold the hem in place.

There are many crafts that I do, most of which provide immediate gratification. Scarves and mittens, wee folk and dishcloths, skirts and sweaters, can all be finished in a relatively short amount of time. But there is something so rewarding in taking on a "big" project. I always have at least one afghan or quilt going, usually several, and these can sometimes take me years to finish, as they get pushed to the back of the crafting closet and memory!

I started this afghan last February, with the plan of giving to my youngest son for his birthday, which was in August. Missed that! Now, I'm planning on finishing it for a Christmas gift. So, it now sits on my computer desk. I'm on a mission. Sure, I'll turn out the quick crafts, but this one is now front and center stage. I MUST get it done over the next few weeks, before the holidays are upon us and things get crazy. It's a fun afghan to knit, but does take concentration. Wish me luck!

To correspond with our lesson this week on Veggies, we made Salt Dough Veggies to use on our Nature Table. Once dried, the kids immediately took them to the Farm Mat. They have spent a lot of time bringing in the harvest and feeding the bounty to the family of snails Bug made.

Basic Salt Dough Recipe

1 Cup Salt

2 Cups Flour

3/4 Cup Room Temp Water

1 TBSP Vegtable Oil

Bake at 200 F for several hours until dried through. Paint when dry.

For a realistic touch, we used small twigs for stems. We also used toothpicks for adding details. I was surprised how well the Salt Dough retained its modeled shape.

Note: Both puppies and almost 2 year olds like to eat the finished veggies! Keep a close eye on the little ones if you have 'em.

In some ways it seems silly to call a frequent activity a field trip, but since we did spend a few minutes more focused on the activity I believe it counts. We marveled at all the colors and smells. The kids were especially drawn to the beautiful, purple eggplant.

It is just a glorious beginning of fall weekend, and we spent the morning in town. The place was a buzz more than normal as Main Street was closed down and many vendors were setting up for a BBQ and Jazz festival going on this evening. The smell was sooo enticing but it was still going to be a few hours before anything was ready. Maybe we will head back later on but for now we came home with warm bread from the bakery and some fresh green beans.

The kids' favorite part? The park by the pond... and super fast pushes by Daddy on the tire swing.

Just wanted to remind everyone about the drawing for September's Pattern of the Month. The winner, drawn at random from those who make a Nubbie Doll and post a comment and a pic of their completed doll by September 30, will receive a kit for next month's Pattern of the Month, which is the Treasure Pouch. You will be able to choose from a green snail or pink flower. So, if interested, get on your Nubbie soon!

Yikes. I haven't been on all day. The site really is a mess, isn't it? Thought I'd throw on some bits and pieces of a project I'm working on. I know I should be working on Christmas gifts, but every once in a while I need to do something that I keep!!!

Next week is Pixie's birthday, but we are having a family celebration on Sunday. Her birthday theme is "apples" so it only seemed right that she should be decked out in an apple print. We found some fun fabric at the local craft shop, and I just finished it...way ahead of schedule, I might add! I'm sure Michelle will post a pic of Pixie in the dress at her party, but I adore the dress and couldn't wait to share it!

Today we celebrated Pixie's birthday. (I'm sure Michelle will include pics tomorrow.) I got a call yesterday from Michelle asking me if I made Pixie a crown. Seems we had our wires crossed, because I hadn't. I got right on it. I was going to make a felt on as featured in Amanda Soule's The Creative Family, but wound up throwing my own pattern together.  Anyway, I made Pixie's crown reversible, and she loved it! (Excuse the mess on the desk! This was meant for a quick peek for Mich last night, and not for the blog.) Also, I did applique the number 2 on the stripe side, which can be changed every year.

I generally see myself as a rather accomplished crafter. I pick up things quickly, and before you know it, I'm dinking around with patterns and projects, making them my own. So you can imagine my surprise...nah, my disbelief, when I picked up a BEGINNER'S GUIDE to thread crocheting and found not only didn't I grasp the craft immediately, I literally have yet to produce anything that even closely resembles what I set out to make! I thought I'd make a bit of lace to adorn something. How cool would it be to say, Yes, I made it...even the lace!? But, alas, instead of producing a light and airy work of art, I keep turning out objects that look more like tangled kite string! Well, I am stubborn, and I'm not ready to cry uncle yet, but this experience has certainly been humbling! If I ever manage to turn out something that resembles lace, I'll let you know. In the mean time, if anyone knows of a great book or website that does a good job of talking you through the process, please share!

           
On the edge of our yard, where the lawn meets the woods, lies The Thicket. The Thicket is filled with pines and witch hazel, raspberries and forsythias, lindens and maples, and makes a delightful home for countless woodland creatures. In The Thicket, many Wee Folk, including fairies and gnomes, pixies and the occasional troll, live with an assortment of furry friends including deer and rabbits, raccoons and hedgehogs, mice and chipmunks, squirrels, and yes, even skunks! Birds of all types inhabit the trees and bushes, and toads and turtles find solace in the underbrush. 

Another creature can often be found in this magical world. Although they do not dwell there, they are frequent visitors and are well loved by the woodland creatures. They are children. 

Join the Wee Folk in The Thicket. All they ask is that you tread carefully, talk quietly, respect their privacy and listen to their tales.     

It has been another perfectly beautiful fall day. We got out to apple orchard to get in our wagon ride pulled by a tractor. Of course we had to pick apples, watch the cider press and eat lots of hot, fresh doughnuts too.

With all these apples we now have on hand... I may pull ahead some of our Apple Stories for next week and save The Little Red Hen for a few weeks from now.

I think following my pre-planned schedule exactly for three weeks in a row was a 'good run' lol. The joy of homeschooling, life happens and you get to embrace it rather than stress about working around it. I envision a week filled with applesauce and apple pies. Yumm!

We spent the morning at Gammy's yesterday and took advantage of her seemingly endless supply of art materials (this time rummaging through her entire box of stamp pads). We made our apple prints to go along with our Week Four, Johnny Appleseed theme.

This was a very easy craft! All we did was take a couple apples and cut them in half (some lengthwise, some crosswise) and then used red and green ink pads. You have to press the apple very firmly to get a 'full' apple shape. Some we even had to rock slightly... I guess a straight cut really isn't as straight as you think. If you take a close look, you can really see the star in the middle of some of the cross cut apple prints.

In case you haven't noticed... we are in the middle of "trying on" some different themes for the blog. I hope to have the bulk of the changes done by the end of the weekend. Please be patient with us and yes the Pattern of the Month is still going if anyone would like to get their entry in.

Michelle and I are very lucky. Not only are we mother/daughter, but we’re also kindred spirits. We share a lot of very admirable qualities…but on the flip side…we also share several, hmmm, let’s just call them personality quirks. One of them is our tendency to fly off in several directions at once. So many things excite us, that it’s often hard to stay focused! This can be pesky for one person, but multiple it by two, and it can spell chaos! Take the blog. Originally, our plan was to share “Folk Art” projects. Wools and felting, “Wee Folk” and children’s toys. But, before we knew it, we’re off in all sorts of different directions, and feeling like we’re not doing any of them justice.

So, with the “new look” we talked about a couple of weeks ago, we are putting on blinders, and trying to get focused. We want to talk about and share “folksy” stuff. I love our Gnome Home and I’m constantly fussing with it. It’s a bit of a joke that sometimes my house can be in a total state of pandemonium, but my Gnome House is always company ready! We love working with wool and felting. We love simple, wooden toys, and getting the children involved in the creative process whenever possible. (Bug and I are presently in cahoots designing a huge undertaking!)  Anyway, we truly want to get back to our original vision. We are hopeful that over the next few weeks, our blog will reflect these changes, and create a welcoming environment that encourages visits and participation. Hope you enjoy!

This week's Unplugged Challenge theme was fruit. We have been doing so many things with apples over the past few weeks (you can scroll through my past blog postings to see more of our apple activities) it was hard to choose the one thing I wanted to label as our Unplugged activity. I decided to share photos from our trip to the cider mill to watch the cider press in action. It was very noisy but the kids thought it was really cool.

I would also encourage you to check out our Apple Print Project. The apple prints turned out great... although I think the kids had more fun playing with the huge box of stamps Gammy unearthed when she went in search of stamp pads for us.