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 very nearly picked some up when I walked past the teeny haberdashery section in Wilko this afternoon. Might see if the market's open on Thurs and pick some up. I don't know if dd has the co-ordination for them though

Suppose I can put one on and if not, replace with a button and hole after Christmas probably Christmas night

aaargh! I can't work out what to do with my last pleat!

It falls where the flap of the waistband should be so if I pleat it, you'll see the overlocked edge...but if I don't pleat, the skirt won't fall right

MIL is coming up soon so I'm hoping she'll work it out for me!

urgh!

Pleat problem fixed, now I'm having a moment with the waistband

sorted...eventually! just need to stitch it down later on now to finish it off, then add button and hole.

Then iron again, hem &...job done

Have you seen any good petticoat tutorials about online?

Quick pic so far. I realised when I took it that I missed a pink diamond on the second panel from left as you look at it so will rectify that tonight.

I didn't think to take any up to now

I found a petticoat tutorial on Craftsy, might buy tulle in town tomorrow now.

Do you reckon I could stiffen up the v on their tops (if I use vest tops) with some thin card or acetate? Or is my machine likely to throw a hissy fit?

Skirt is ready for it's final press but leaving that until Thurs when I can get a suit bag as I have nowhere to hide it. Top is ready to be stencilled - probably tomorrow.

Then petticoat to make & number one is done! I'm feeling very pleased with myself

Thank-you for all your help, I wouldn't have done it without it

I'll post proper pics of it all finished when I have it all done

So gorgeous! Get those pleats a bit crisper, woman!

As to underskirt, I seriously recommend semi-stiff taffeta, instead of tulle (or, if you do get tulle, get the softer stuff, IYKNIM). You want something that's both body AND movement: to go with the flow with your DD moving. And the cheaper, BIG honeycomb is a bit unforgiving.

As to bodice, I said right from the start that a velvet bustier (adjustable with lacings) is the way to go. But if you can't do that (or find one at a price you want to spend), try stiff felt, but shaped. If it's stiff-enough felt, no need for boning. Ditto velvet fabric with a bit of interfacing inside.

Oooh! Exciting!

The thing about stiffness/boning is that if you have that, and lacings, you can adjust the size to whatever your DD happens to be, and it'll stay up without those bogus shoulder straps. If you dig,

I got some tulle on Saturday in town, am not convinced though tbh, it was literally all they had. Will post a pic in the morning if I can get a decent one of it.

Pleats will be crisp...I've fiddled quite a bit adjusting it here and there plus it's been folded in a box out of the way so that can't have helped them keep their shape I don't imagine.

I've gone for vests for the mo so she doesn't need me to fasten her in. I'll start looking round for a pattern for a bustier though & have a go, have never used velvet for anything before.

I frequently find bustiers in charity shops. Not sure if this helps.

ooh, I doubt I'll find something in the few local to me but could go a bit further afield and have a mooch about. Good idea

I'm having pleat ishoooooos re. crispness now the skirt is complete

HELP!!!!

Skirt sorted...pleat disaster avoided

Petticoat next...I cut the pieces today...who the actual fook invented tulle?! The work of the devil that stuff, I don't think I managed to cut a single straight edge

Well, got any pictures? >jumps up and down in excitement<

Some cutting is better done with a straight-edge razor(or those gorgeous rotary cutters) than actual scissors. Also, you might have seen this in a fabric shop (and even with all my decades of experience, still freaks me out), but some people just make a snip, then tear it the rest of the way. AAggghhh! Even though it does work I still get tense.

Anyway, take heart, the petticoat is underneath. Nobody's going to see it.

I'm just in the process of transferring all my photo's to my memory card to put in my shiny new phone so will pop one up in the morning.

I did debate snip & rip but am not sure I'm brave enough for that just yet It's not too bad though. Need some ribbon to finish off the bottom though. Going to stitch it together tomorrow (if my machine will play - just tried to take up some trousers for a friend but it didn't like them at all )

I've been showing it off to a few of the school mum's I walk with & been asked how much I want to make a couple Very pleased with myself indeed!

Not a very good pic, will take another one shortly, in the middle of cleaning the hole that is my house

Urgh! Left my machine set up on the table last night & think someone (dd2) has twiddled the knobs...took me ages to realise what was bloody wrong with it Wanted to crack on sewing her skirt today but don't think there's time now as I have an appointment up at school shortly.

I'm back to ask for a little bit more help...

We watched Frozen again today & my skirts don't seem as 'bouncy' as the one in the film. Do you reckon that's down to the animation or petticoat? (I hope you get what I mean since I'm trying to translate an animated dress into rl).

If it's the petticoat, the ones I've made are waytoo stiff so I need to make them out of something flouncier but have no idea what

I would have thought a lot is due to animation but the full dresses on Strictly seem to have "bounce" so makpye partly it is the petticoat - perhaps they use lots of layers of light netting.

Having said that, will your DDs really care or notice at all?!

They won't but it's bugging me!

I bought the only net I could find in town & it's really stiff under the dresses. Someone did suggest net curtain net though, might pick some up cheap online and maybe try it out after Christmas.