I need a simple pattern for gypsy skirt

[lucysmam]

to make dd1 an Anna from Frozen coronation dress...anyone know where's best to look?

I don't think the skirt is gathered, though, PedantMarina. The lighter strips are wider at the bottom than the top, and the box pleated dark green strips presumably are as well. And the pattern/embroidery design on the skirt panels changes in scale as it goes up as well.

Guidelines on making one here.

I think Burda may have a downloadable basic block pattern.

Aha! Yes, they do (in adult sizes which I assume is what you need).

Also some links to free ones if you are feeling frugal.

Tortoise, you're a star! I shall have a look at both of those shortly...best do something useful first instead of just sitting playing about on t'interweb

I can see the point of the skirt being flared. I was just hoping to save OP the hassle of all that cutting & stitching.

I posted a thread last night but no-one replied so am posting here in the hopes that one of you will help me figure it out.

So, I need a 30 inch waistband...divide by ten for the panels, gives me three inch wide (at the top) patterned panels. I cannot for the life of me work out how to put the darker underneath so they show as dd moves in the dress.

The only thing I can think of is triangular panels stitched to the lighter, patterned, panels so they fall underneath them?

And because they'll hide underneath the patterned panels, they shouldn't affect the circumference of the bottom of the skirt?

Any thoughts?

The pictures in the Etsy pattern I linked to might help. They seem to be exactly as you say.

That's what I was looking at while I was typing. I was struggling to work out how they pleated them but ended up with the right size waist because a pleat would make it smaller.

I'm going to cut it out of greaseproof paper (unless there's something better to use that I might have in the house) and see what it looks like put together.

If I make the bottom of the darker, triangular, pieces the same as the top of the patterned (so 3 inches) there shouldn't be too much of a fold there either...I don't think.

It looks like the patterned layer is, effectively, the basic skirt split into strips and then the underneath of the pleats is made from the darker material.

Paper is the way to go - I can see it in my head perfectly but can't put it into words!

I'm having the same trouble

They seem to only have eight patterned panels though, but their write up says ten. Ten is easier from a dividing it up pov though, for me.

The yellow dress seems to have 11

I think the wide part of the plain panels at the bottom is the same width as the bottom of the patterned panel. Then it has extra for the actual pleat part and seems to narrow considerably towards the top.

Thank god DD isn't that into Frozen that she wants a dress!

Mine are obsessed. Dd2 has been Elsa every day, walking to school (complete with headband tiara throwing if she wears one), since she saw it. She comes in and puts her Elsa dress straight on too.

Last one...for now.

Stitch all the panels together then pleat before adding waistband? Bringing the patterned pieces together at the top, where the pleat is?

I've just realised I've been looking at a different picture to the one linked which is where my confusion about how many pieces to cut came from

How's it going, OP? Have you sussed it yet?

I think so, am just having a browse for fabric and then am going to clutter the living room floor with paper, pencils, rulers etc to cut the whole thing out of paper.

Then work it all out again for number two

I highly recommend the full extra panels, rather than the triangle method.

Also, maybe cut one more panel and underneath-panel more than you need now. You'll be able to add to the skirt when your DD grows!

Won't that make the waist bigger though?

Suppose not if I'm elasticating it...

Good thinking about the extra panels too, will stick myself a note in with it all to remind me it's there once I get it cut out

No, because you'd be folding under and box-pleating. Would make the whole thing slightly thicker, I guess. But if you forget my first suggestion of upholstery fabric (that was only to get the plain and stripe in the same fabric, and doesn't do flares, of course), it's not necc too thick.

Triangles instead would take that problem out, but it's going to be a bit more complex folding under and pleating. Not insurmountable. Six of one...

How about smaller triangles with a straight top (no idea what they're called).

So light panels - 3 inches at the top, 6 at the bottom

Dark panels - 1.5 inches at the top, 3 at the bottom?

& then the pleat so the light panels pull together at the top of the dark ones...should give the same flare to see the dark...I think.

God I'm rusty at this stuff

Trapezoid, I think you mean.

I don't know the measurements of your DD, so can't comment on the top measurements. I'd make the bottom closer in size, actually. When the skirt is "at rest" the underside is meant to not be seen, really. It's only when she's whirling around that it shows (and that's much of its charm). So, yes, pleat, pleat, pleat and then steam/press to within an inch of its life. I might even be inspired to take a little stitch at the bottoms of the pleats to keep them in shape.

I spotted that Anna also wears pantalets. Are you going to go that way of madness, too?

urm, no!

I'll make dresses and petticoats until they come out of my ears but anything vaguely resembling trousers has always made my head hurt...some part of my brain just doesn't understand them. You should see me try to work out a jeans pocket...I look like my head's going to pop!

Or just find some white or beige leggings with lace at the bottom, or sew it on yourself.

Man, I'm beginning to wish I had a daughter, or the guts to make this for my son.

She has white leggings she hasn't worn for a while... I might get a look though.