Guest Author - Teresa Greene

Little girls everywhere (and lots of big girls too) dream of entering the magical world of fairies. Beautiful sheer fabrics, glittery, fairy-dusted accessories, and the essential, beloved fairy wings that give every girl’s dream flight are the primary components of any fairy costume. A complete fairy ensemble can be created in just four easy steps, and begins with making a fairy skirt.

The materials needed for the skirt are:

* A piece of belt backing, obtained from any fabric store, large enough to encircle the wearer’s waist

* A one-inch strip of Velcro

* 1 yard each of several different pastel colors of shimmer organza or other sheer decorative fabrics

* A piece of wide satin ribbon, large enough to encircle the wearer’s waist and tie in a bow. Use ribbon that is wide enough to cover the belt backing completely.

* Scissors

* Needle and thread for hand-sewing

* Craft glue for fabric, such as Ailene’s Tacky Glue

* Chalk or fabric marking pen

* Measuring tape

* Assorted trimmings (optional) including sequins, rhinestones, glitter spray


Start by fitting the belt backing to the wearer’s waist. It should overlap by about 2 inches in the back, and should be slightly loose, not snug. Where the backing overlaps in the back, mark it with chalk or fabric marking pen. Using the needle and thread, sew the Velcro pieces to the belt backing in the middle of the overlap.

Next, measure the desired length of the skirt from the wearer’s waist. Cut long skinny oval shapes from the shimmer organza or other fabric that are twice the length just measured. Don’t cut them too wide in the middle; cut them as long and skinny strips that bulge in the middle and slowly taper to a point at the end. Using glue to attach the trimmings, decorate the strips with whatever embellishments you have gathered. Sequins along the edges of some are pretty, sequins inside some of the ovals adds variety, and glitter spray on others enhances the fantasy fairy look.

When the glue has dried, take these strips and drape them over the belt backing so that the belt backing lies over the strip at about the middle, holding at the wearer’s waist, and the other half of the strip drapes down over the top of the belt backing. Cut and drape as many strips as needed to achieve the desired look. When enough strips have been added, use the satin ribbon to tie around the wearer’s waist, covering the belt backing and the strips that are draped over it. Tie in a big bow in the back. Voila! A gorgeous fairy skirt done quick and easy!