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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: blackie
Date: 05-08-2005, 04:29 AM (1 of 4)
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If there's one thing I hate, it's a big foofy skirt on my li'l girl (she's 3). And yet most kid patterns have gathered skirts. I have a dress (Vogue 7894 (http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/voguepatterns/shop.cgi?s.item.V7894=x&TI='7894'&page=1) ) that I finished tonight. It's great but the skirt is VOLUMNOUS. I like the bodice, so I'd like to draft an A-line skirt (or at least, I *think* it's A-line) - basically a skirt where the top is not gathered and the skirt pieces are shaped like trapezoids - I believe the bottom of the skirt has to have a gentle curve, too. Anyone know general guidelines for how to draft this sort of thing? Am I just babbling like a maniac? Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I know with the right tips, I can do this myself without buying another pattern. Any help is appreciated! - K. see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 05-08-2005, 08:13 PM (2 of 4)
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if you cut the top of the skirt portion the same width as the bottom of the bodice, then you can gently widen it toward the bottom, just a few inches. The only hard part is getting the curve right so that it falls evenly at the hem; the skirt pattern pieces always have that curve along the bottom edge. You can get around that by making it all too long, and then, once it's assembled, use a yardstick to mark a single length all around while she's trying it on. (I know--mine's 3, too, and it takes a tv program and a small snack to get them to hold still, right?!) Cut off the excess below the hem allowance, and hem it as you wish. I noticed that the A-line dress patterns I have have one thing in common: On the side seam, the 1 1/4 inch at the bottom flares out a tiny bit. I think it makes it easier to sew a flat hem by machine, without and puckering when you fold it up. Hope this helps.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: blackie
Date: 05-09-2005, 03:48 PM (3 of 4)
Those are GREAT tips! I should probably do a muslin skirt piece first. Am I going to, though? No! Because I'm just that lazy!  How many inches would you widen the bottom? see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 05-09-2005, 08:47 PM (4 of 4)
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hmmm.. I just hung a few dresses in her closet, and now she's in bed (I think), so I can't go check.....I checked the pattern I was thinking of. The amount of additional width at the bottom really depend on the total length of thew skirt. For ex, if you do a size 2, you might add only 1 1/2 inches, for a size 6, maybe 4 inches. I pulled out a protractor (!!!remember those?) and found the angle to be an extra 8-10 degrees in width. Very subtle, just to give a little room for romping. The dress pattern that I was looking at to give me ideas here as New Look # 6195. I love making the halter dress! http://www.smartcart.com/1sew/cgi/searchindex.cgi Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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