M-I-C-K-E-Y- M-O-U-S-E! DIY Mickey Mouse-Inspired Skirt

Hey, there! Hi, there! Ho, there! You're as welcome as can be... to the very first Disney It Yourself blog post!  As Walt Disney said, "I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing- that it was all started by a mouse."  So to start it all, our first DIY project is inspired by none other than the one, the only, the original Mickey Mouse!

We're going to be making this colorblocked, tiered skirt with an elastic waistband:

Here's what you'll need:

• 1/2 yard of 44/45" wide yellow cotton fabric
• I used Kona Cotton in "Corn Yellow," which usually runs about $8.99/yard.
• 1/2 yard of 44/45" wide red cotton fabric
• I used Quilter's Cotton in "Christmas Red," which costs $4.99/yard.
• 1/4 yard of 44/45" wide black cotton fabric
• I used Quilter's Cotton for this, too, in "Black."
• Matching threads
• I already had these on hand, so I'm not sure about the color names or costs- sorry!
• 1 1/2 inch wide black waistband elastic
• I used Dritz Heavy Stretch Waistband Knit Elastic, which is $2.19/yard.  How much you need depends on your waist measurement.
• 2 big yellow or white buttons (your color preference since sometimes Mickey's buttons are yellow and sometimes they're white)
• I chose yellow to match the yellow fabric.  These La Petite brand 2-hole buttons came in a 3-pack for $1.25.
• Basic sewing supplies- a sewing machine (or a needle and some patience!), an iron and ironing board, a hem gauge, scissors, pinking shears, pins...

The total cost should be around $13.00.  That's not too bad for a cute Mickey skirt, and you can get the cost down even more by buying when there's a sale or using coupons!

So here's how we get started:

1. Take your waist measurement where you want the waist of the skirt to sit (not necessarily your natural waist measurement) and add two inches.  Cut the elastic to this length.
2. Now measure down 18 inches from where you measured your waist.  That's about how long the skirt will be.  For me, it's just a little above knee length.
3. Cut (or tear, if you prefer, to save time) one edge of the yellow fabric so the edge is straight.  Measure 7 inches and cut (or tear) the fabric straight.  This will give you a 7-inch wide, 44/45" long strip of yellow fabric.  Do the same thing again so you have two 7-inch wide strips, 44/45" long, of yellow fabric.
4. Do the same thing with the red fabric so you have two 7-inch wide strips of red fabric 44/45" long, too.  Now take one of the red strips and cut it exactly in half.
5. Straighten the edge of the black fabric the same way as you did the yellow and red.  Now make one 7-inch wide, 44/45" long strip of the black fabric.

We're ready to sew!

1. Inside the selvage, sew the two yellow strips together on each end.  Press the seams open.  Sew the two red strips together on each end, and press the seams open.  Sew the two ends of the black strip together, and press the seam open.
   
2. Now, set your hem gauge to 1/4" and fold up the bottom edge of the yellow fabric and iron it. Do this all the way around.  Fold it up another 1/4" and iron all the way around again. Now stitch all around the bottom edge.
   
3. Sew a loose gathering stitch 1/4" from the top edge of the yellow fabric. Pull the gathering thread until the top edge of the yellow is the same length as the edge of the red fabric (about 66") and distribute the gathers evenly.
4. Pin the gathered edge of the yellow tier and the red tier together and then stitch using a 1/2" seam allowance.  Press the seam allowance down, towards the yellow tier.
   
   
5. Sew a loose gathering stitch 1/4" from the top edge of the red fabric.  Pull the gathering thread until the top edge of the red is the same length as the edge of the black fabric (about 44") and distribute the gathers evenly.
6. Pin the gathered edge of the red tier and the black tier together and then stitch using a 1/2" seam allowance.  Press the seam allowance down, towards the red tier.
   
7. Now use a tight zigzag stitch to sew the black elastic into a tube 1/2" from each end.  Put the elastic around your waist and make sure it fits well.  If so, trim the seam allowance of the elastic close to the stitching with pinking shears.  If it's too loose, stitch again farther in.  Test for fit, and trim the seam allowance when you've got it right.
   
8. Sew a loose gathering stitch 1/4" from the top edge of the black fabric.  Pull the gathering thread until the top edge of the black is the same length as the edge of the elastic and distribute the gathers evenly.  Pin the skirt to the elastic.
   
9.  Sew the black fabric and the elastic together using a narrow zigzag stitch and a 1/2" seam allowance.  Press the seam allowance down, towards the black tier.
   
10. The seam in the elastic is the center back of the skirt.  Fold the skirt in half to find the center front, directly across from the elastic seam.  Mark this spot with a pin.  Measure 2.5" to either side of the center front for the button placement.  Finally, to give it the finishing touch of Mickey, sew the two yellow or white buttons onto the black elastic band.
    

Congratulations! You're done!

This is a great lightweight skirt for spring or summer weather or it can be layered with tights or leggings in cooler months!  Plus it adds just that extra touch of Disney to your day!

Have an awesome Disney day and enjoy your new skirt! ºoº