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?

Pedant, you were right about the full extra panels. I'm half way through cutting it out of paper & doing them smaller would make it too fiddly I think.

By morning I will have a paper skirt for dd to try on and templates for fabric markering the patterned pieces

whee-HEE! Sounds lovely.

What are you going to do about the pattern on the lighter strips? Some acrylic paints will stay on fabric long enough (but maybe not washable? I don't know too much about this, I'll be the first to admit). Silk painting is fraught. Embroidery would take ages. Some very thin fabric (cut with a very sharp craft knife) with double-sided iron-on stuff would make quickie appliqué, or maybe fabric glue. I don't think there's any ribbon you could buy that would be cost-efficient.

The pattern is textured (so probably it's embroidery or jacquard weaving in the film), but it depends how much effort you want to expend. Strongly recommend that the motif thing gets done whilst the fabric is still in a position to be laid flat (i.e. before the final pleating and waistband addition), esp if glueing is involved!

Damn, I'm over-involved with this!

I've cut three templates for the pattern on the lighter bits. I was going to use fabric pens I already have to actually make the pattern and then outline with some tubes of fabric paint I have to give it some texture. I've used both before & they're washable.

& yes, doing the pattern before stitching it together had occurred to me

I'm just hoping it turns out how it looks in my head now & then I can make a frilly petticoat to go underneath it.

Hopefully my fabric will turn up tomorrow, I just went for polycotton in the end to keep cost down & because I haven't made anything for a while.

I have another question; if I'm making one for dd2 as well, do you reckon put quite a long hem on it as well as cut an extra pair of panels to put in as she grows? She's only 4 atm & very dinky.

Long hems are a fact of life for mums of growing children! So, like, a big yes there!

Since it's a flare skirt (creating a curved hem) it's a little tricky to keep it tidy and even, but doable. I can send you a whole post about it.

If you wouldn't mind, please!

I'm just pinning the paper pleats now...taking a little longer than I expected (and a whole roll of greaseproof ...good job it's cheap in Home Bargains)

Ok, have you loads of pins? That's the start.

It's sort of a three-step process.

1. Measure the length of the hem, trim it if it's not even, then put one row of pins along the hemline, bumper to bumper (or you could do this with tailor's chalk or similar).

1. The second set of pins goes perpindicular to the hem (up/down). If the hem is very deep (and you have a choice of acreage to put the pin) put it closer to the hem/fold (as opposed to the edge of the fabric). Start with two places only, on opposite sides of the skirt, then do the other "quarters". Then eighths. Maybe do 16ths if you think it's needed.

Take each pin-up individually. Fold that immediate bit of fabric up straight from that perspective. If you look to the left or right or compare it with other pins, you might get confused.

At this point start smoothing out anything that looks like it's going to be too much of a bump.

1. You're now ready for the final set of pins. tiny fold on the edge of the fabric, put a pin through it (along the fold or perpindicular, doesn't really matter) (this is why the perpindicular pins should have been kept away from the edge if possible). If you see anything getting too bumpy, smooth it out before stitching.

Sounds complex and labour-intensive, but it's worth it.

Thank-you, I think! I have a feeling that one will take a couple of goes to get right.

Back with another one, sorry.

I'm debating ironing the pleats into the dark green underneath panels before stitching them to the light panels, so they match up properly...yay or nay? (obv. will account for seam allowances if I do this). I think it might make it easier to get crisp edges rather than flapping with loads of fabric, maybe?

Thank you all so much for your help so far btw, I have a paper skirt that fits dd and, removing panels makes it small enough for dd2 as well so i don't have to measure all over again. I don't think I'd have got this far without you lot and all round

Why thanks for the pressies!

I'll have to look at your question again in the morning. Sorry, v.tired and not sure I understood it.

OK, still not completely sure what you meant, maybe you're suggesting you pre-pleat the inside bits? Not sure why?

Yes, I was thinking iron the pleats in those bits first so I'm not flapping about with the full skirt to do it.

Have found a random pair of curtains in amongst the stuff still in the garage so am going to cut those up when I get home from town and practise the pleats.

My green fabric turned up yesterday I was itching to crack on today but apart from going out on their bikes for half an hour this afternoon, the kids hung around downstairs

Will be cracking on tomorrow while dp's at work once the girls go to bed. Hopefully my cream fabric will come then I can cut both sets of panels and start on the stencilling .

Gutted, cream fabric has arrived but only 1m, not the three I ordered & paid for so only have enough to crack on with one skirt for now rather than do each stage both times iyswim.

Also, my cheap lace won't hold the green colour I want it to for sleeves so need something else for that.

On the plus side, I have green panels all cut waiting to be stitched. Was just hoping to crack on with fabric paints over the next few days & now will have to pick up more in town.

Wheeee! So exciting!

I'm on the phone, so if you posted pics I haven't seen them yet.

Does DD know you're doing this, or is it a big surprise?

I had to re-read your post...I thought you meant you were talking on the phone and typing at the same time (blame the ).

They have no idea whatsoever!

My plan for trying on before adding waistbands (so I can see if extra panels are needed) is send number 1 out on bike...try on 2 with dp's hands over eyes or some sort of blindfold then try on dd1 when two is in bed because she'll stand with eyes shut at least that's how it goes in my head

Well, I went to the market today & it has indeed changed a lot The humongous haberdashery stall that took up about three of the stalls is condensed muchly into one stall and the only fabric stall was one run by an old gent, selling a bit of everything.

Thankfully he had what I wanted and it was only £1.80pm so I'm not toooo gutted about my original order being wrong now. And I can carry on cutting later on now!

Good to hear you're sorted. Now the fun part!

I started stencilling my light panels today! May get some sewing done tomorrow.

Have any of you used ready to fold waistband interfacing before? I'm not entirely sure what to do with it! Have never used it before but dp's mam gave me some to try out.

Any instructions would be good (I did start a thread but no-one answered me )

Gutted...stencilled all the panels for one skirt & my green pen has run out so have to wait for more now

Hmmm, haven't used the folding waistband thing much, so not much help there. I just imagine it's normal interfacing, but with a bit of shaping to encourage the waistband to behave.

It has holes in it where the folds would be so I'm going to cut one out of some old curtains but not actually iron the interfacing on - though may tack along edges - and see how it folds.

My face went when she pulled it out, had ordered some normal interfacing to use. But, we'll see how it goes.

I can't decide whether to do the band in green or cream though

I've just stitched three panels & pinned in the pleats & I have to say I'm feeling mighty pleased with myself to say I haven't made anything in years and years. Even my machine's are behaving nicely! & I left my overlocker threaded up last time I used it apparently so I don't have to fart about with that.

Plan to pin the rest of the panels of dd1's skirt tonight and stitch/overlock/iron tomorrow.

Dp looked at me all when I was browsing ebay for an Elsa dress pattern last night! They'll be my next project I think.

16 panels all stitched, just having a break from overlocking 'cos my eyes are starting to go

All overlocked...iron & pin pleats tomorrow then try on dd with dp covering her eyes so she can't see.

Quick waistband question...if I want a 30 cm button waistband; add a couple of inches to length for button flap, plus allowance for stitching & hole goes on the flap side?

(have to hand stitch button hole...that'll be fun )

Waistband: sounds a about right. if you're not confident about a buttonhole, why not hook & eye instead?