by toogie 16 Jan 2024

Hi Cuties, I needed a queen white bedskirt and I couldn’t find a queen Battenberg or Cutwork like my curtains or round tablecloth. So….I recycled by using a flat white sheet for the top of my box spring mattress and 3 white tablecloths, for my gathered skirt. I was able to make it with a 20 inch drop and if I could have found what I wanted, I may not have found the length. That’s what’s so good about us all knowing how to sew. We can make exactly, or pretty near, what we want. The flat or pleated bought ones, were a little too modern, for my simple country home and quilt I use for my bed. Here is the skirt with the top mattress on so you can see the fullness, of the gathers. Nothing fancy just wanted to show you what I did one afternoon.❤️Toogie

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by sebsews 19 Jan 2024

That is so lovely. I know the work you put into making it. Years ago, I made one when peach and turquoise colors were in fashion. I used fabric but if I had tablecloths, I would have used them like you have done. Great job!

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toogie by toogie 20 Jan 2024

Thank you, I bet yours looked lovely. It’s so good when we can make our own and even better when we can use what we already have.

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by cfidl 18 Jan 2024

Love your gathers. Has to be 2 1/2 times the length. right?

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toogie by toogie 20 Jan 2024

I don’t know Christine, I didn’t measure anything but my 20 inch drop to the floor. Because one of the tablecloths was shorter in length I used it at the foot. The other two looked to be about the same long lengths so I used those for the sides. I folded them longways and cut two pieces, bc they were double when I folded, then sewed the short edge. That made each twice as long as the original tablecloth.

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by 02kar Moderator 18 Jan 2024

Love it! I agree that it is so nice to make what we really want. I love the idea of using tablecloths too. I never thought of that. I admit I have a huge stash of sheets that I use for all sorts of things, like curtains. You are giving me incentive to make my own bed skirt. My bed is high so there is no chance of finding a ready made one.

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toogie by toogie 20 Jan 2024

That’s another reason why I made mine. I not only wanted fullness, I wanted a longer drop. I admit, I could have used less fullness and they still look good, but after cutting into them I wasn’t wanting leftovers.

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by sewmadau 17 Jan 2024

What a great idea, I have been thinking about getting a new skirt for our bed, but the price of buying one was over the top. I don't have any large tablecloths but I do have several white sheets I never use. Thanks for sharing.
As usual you have done a lovely job, and I guess from your comments you are thrilled that you have used up items that are no longer used, and saved having to buy fabric. .

1 comment
toogie by toogie 18 Jan 2024

I wanted to use sheets but I didn’t have any to cut up. Tablecloths weren’t used anymore…so.
Yes, bed skirts or dust ruffles, are expensive and I didn’t care for the modern, flat, sometimes one pleat in the center ones I found available for purchase. Not for my quilts I use for the bed or my simple country home. If you have the sheets I say go for it!

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by dlonnahawkins 17 Jan 2024

Good job, Toogie. I had made one for my granddaughters years ago and had something similar to use with my parents' bed. Bedding and coverlets are so expensive now....So glad that you were able to makeexactly like you wanted.

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toogie by toogie 17 Jan 2024

I didn’t think twice about whether or not to cut my tablecloths bc they haven’t been used in 20 or more years. Since I probably don’t have that many years left😉 , why buy fabrics? Lol

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by hightechgrammy 17 Jan 2024

It is beautiful, Toogie. I agreee, what would we do if we had to depend on buying things. Sewing lets us personalize and get exactly what we want! I love teaching kids to sew, as I feel like I'm giving them a world of personalization. It took a lot of fabric for this!

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toogie by toogie 17 Jan 2024

Lol- if I would have had to buy fabric, it wouldn’t be as full. By putting tablecloths I haven’t used in over 20 years to good use I was able to make it this full. The only thing I measured was the 20 inch drop and marking sections to gather to. My foot tablecloth was smaller in length than the 2 side tablecloths. I have no idea what the length was before gathering.

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by jrob Moderator 17 Jan 2024

Spectacular! I love it and seams don't even show within those gathers.

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toogie by toogie 17 Jan 2024

Thanks and you are right. The seam is in the center of each side and foot.

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by pennifold 17 Jan 2024

No doubt about you Toogie, you always come up with a great finish. It looks fabulous. Love Chris

1 comment
toogie by toogie 17 Jan 2024

Thanks Chris, you sure boost my confidence!

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by graceandham 16 Jan 2024

Wheet-whew! (That's the best I can do to spell my whistle.) You did a super job.

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toogie by toogie 17 Jan 2024

Thanks B, I think I heard your whistle-lol

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by Betherina 16 Jan 2024

That is a lot of fabric to work with, and that bulk is a hassle to handle while cutting and sewing it up, but it was worth it to finish with such a lovely outcome.

2 comments
asterixsew by asterixsew 17 Jan 2024

Welcome to Cute

toogie by toogie 17 Jan 2024

Thank you Betherina and I also say Welcome to Cute! I have a really long and wide table that I use sometimes for cutting big pieces, so that made this manageable. My daughter pressed one while she was here as I was working on gathering the foot section. After ironing, I folded in half lengthwise, right sides together, pinning the hemmed edges together. I then measured 20 inches from the hemmed side. I cut all the way down the length on my mark and across the short end to square up. Since it was already right sides together, I just pinned the short edge I cut and sewed. I marked both my flat sheet and new skirt piece in quarters. That made it easier to gather up. Once it was gathered and sewed on I was finished because my hem was already made.

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by asterixsew Moderator 16 Jan 2024

Great work and you have now got exactly what you required. Yes the gathers look wonderfully full

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toogie by toogie 17 Jan 2024

Thanks C, I kept Avery, after Ashley and Gray stopped by, so they could help us put the top mattress back on, when they picked her up. The mattress is heavy and bulky and besides, Avery loves to hear the machines run.-lol Our son had came in for a while and I stopped and visited with him so I was wondering if I would finish before Ash & Gray returned. I had just finished and put it on the bottom mattress when Grayson text they were on their way. Talk about cutting it close!-lol

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