Bo Peep Skirt from Seams to Me... NEED HELP!

So, I am working on making the Bo Peep skirt from Anna Maria Horner's book, Seams to Me.  I have gotten stuck already and I haven't even made one cut... NICE!  So, I would love any help from someone who has made this skirt.  In the first part of the instructions it says to cut 2 pieces each "equal to the waist measurement for the width, and equal to your desired skirt length plus two inches."  So, my nieces waist measurement is 22 1/4 inches and the length is 13 1/2 inches.  Does that mean I cut 2 pieces 22 1/4 inches by 15 1/2 inches?  That just seams like the width is way to big.  Each panel for the front and back would wrap around her entire waist.  That just doesn't seem right to me.  Any help would be awesome!  Thanks!

I don't have the pattern but I searched flickr and that looks right. Those skirts are quite wide. If you think it is too much you could go down to 75% maybe. That might actually make the ruffles on the side look better since those are additional panels right? This skirt would definitely benefit from a crinoline underneath or maybe horsehair braid in the hem of a longer skirt.

I have made the skirt, and yep you have it right!  You have to remember that the skirt is gathered and won't look as big once you are done putting in the elastic.