Poodle Skirt Pattern
Everyone loves the Poodle Skirt, and while it came into existance many years ago, people today still use them in a wide variety of activities and events. The Poodle Skirt is actually a full circle skirt pattern that is decorated with an appliqued Poodle on a leash, and fringes hanging from bottom of skirt. The full circle skirts usually have two panels but multiple panels and half panels can be added. The Poodle Skirt is very popular for Antique Car Shows, Retro 50's Parties, Halloween Costumes, Teen Parties, School Sock Hop Parties, and even just a reminder for "back in the day." This pattern will take you through making a simple full circle skirt and then decorating it up with applique. Please be patient and read through instructions before starting the project to familiarize yourself with the steps.
Women's full circle skirt (Has various uses)
lightweight knit fabric (determine yds below)
1-yd black fabric
1-yd faux sheepskin fabric (poodle fluff)
matching color threads
elastic (1-1/2 inch wide for waist band)
10 foot fringed black trim
4-5 foot of cord trim
fabric pencil
pins
When choosing a fabric for the skirt be careful in your selection. Choose a lightweight "knit" so you won't have to hang skirt. (Certain heavier fabrics require you to hang the skirt for two months to allow for stretching before hemming or appling appliques. Otherwise, you'll end up with an ugly, mis-shaped garment!) By choosing a lightweight knit fabric, skirt will be more bouncy and flexible for twirling, which is what you'll need with this type of skirt. (And try to get this fabric in a baby girl pink!) Fabrics are sold by the metre or yard, usually in standard widths of 90cm (36") or 115cm (45"). You'll find most fabric on rolls or wrapped on bolts. Look at the end of the bolt of fabric to find out such information as fabric width, fiber content, fabric care and cost per metre or yard. If possible, try to choose a fabric that is 115cm (45") in width for this project. With that said, let's find out how much fabric you'll need.
Measure from top of hip to ankle. You will need 4 times this amount in fabric, (according to chart found on net). I'm a tall person and I measured 27 inches. So I take that 27 and times it by 4 which equals 108, (that's 108 inches). Next I divided the 108 inches by 36 inches, (as 36" equals one yard) and came up with 3 yards of fabric needed. My measurement came out exactly 3 yards but yours may not do so. If you come up with 2.6 yards in your figures, go ahead and get an even 3 yards of fabric. (If you need help figuring this, just let us know.)
Next we'll need paper to make our pattern. You can use brown wrapping paper (which comes in large rolls), newspapers taped together, or brown paper bags cut and taped together. You will need to make a 45 inch square from what ever type of paper used for pattern. When taping paper together be sure to overlap and tape both front and back sides.
On cut edge of black fabric, cut a 2-1/2 inch strip and set aside. Unfold pink skirt fabric and fold in half lengthwise, cut on fold so you have two long pieces. (See Pic 1 below.)
Now fold each long piece in half lengthwise like above, and lay on top of each other with the folds on same side. Pin fabric on your 45 inch square. Measure the largest part of your hips, divide by 4. Tie a string around your fabric pencil then measure string 5 inches long, not stretching the string, and cut. Hold the end of the string at the top corner of the folded side. Starting on fold, mark inner circle with pencil up to open end of fabric. Measure the curve. If the measurement is less than the divide by 4 measurement above, mark inner circle at 6 inches. (Repeat the string and pencil method above but cut string at 6 inches instead of 5.) You should now understand the deeper the curve, the bigger the opening at the top of the skirt. (See pic 2 below.)
Which ever measurement you used for the inner circle, (5 or 6 inches), add this amount to the "hip to ankle" measurement. Example: Mine was 27 and say I used the 6 inch on inner circle, that gives me a total of 33 inches. So I'll need to tie a string around the pencil and measure it 33 inches then cut. Next, using string and marking pencil, mark large curve just as you did the inner circle. Your fabric should look like pic 3 below.
Cut along the pencil lines, you should end up with two half circles with a small half circle cut out of the top. Examine pic 4 below.
Place pieces together, one on top the other. Sew one side of the skirt sides together using a 1/4 inch inseam. See pic 5 below.
Get the 2-1/2 inch wide black piece of fabric you cut out and set aside at the beginning. Fold in half lengthwise. You should end up with a long strip, folded, which is the casing. This is sewed onto the waist part of the circle skirt, raw edges together. Allow casing to extend 1/2 inch from skirt waist edge. Start sewing 1/4 inch from open waist edge and sew over to 1/4 inch from other edge. This allows for the inseam on the skirt sides to be sewn together. (See pic 6 below.) Start sewing open skirt sides together using the 1/4 inch inseam, starting at bottom going up to top but leaving about 3 inches open. Use a safety pin to thread through elastic. Leave excess elastic from both ends of the casing and hold as you put on the skirt. Place casing on your waist where you want to wear it. Fit elastic so it is tight enough to stay up, pin all together and slip down to make sure you can get it off. Finish sewing the 3 inches left open on the skirt side. Sew through all thickness at pinning of elastic and casing towards the inside. (See pic 7 below.) Fold edge over to one side and sew down flat.
Put skirt on again, while standing on step, have friend to pin the bottom of the skirt to your desired length, allowing for fringe trim. Once skirt bottom is even and pinned, start sewing on the black fringe trim. Pic 8 shows the finished circle skirt. Next we'll be adding Poodle applique.
Click on page 4 below to go on to Poodle applique.
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