Thread: Using Simplicity 4401 for bellydance skirts

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Those of you who have used Simplicity pattern 4401 to make straight skirts or mermaid skirts for bellydance, how did you adapt them?

These skirts are designed to have the waistband hit at the natural waist, which is several inches higher than where we'd want them for dance.

Did you adapt them at all, or just cut out the pattern pieces as-is and just pull the skirt down to ride lower on the hips?

Or did you chop the top few inches of the fabric off, and add a few inches on to the bottom at the hem?

Any other suggestions? I have this pattern and a bunch of fabric I'd like to turn into skirts, but I'm not sure where to start, and I'd much rather make modifications to a pattern than have to alter a skirt that's been sewn together already.

Thank you!

I'd just chop off the unneeded inches at the top. You shouldn't have to add to the bottom since you won't be hiking it up to your waist like it was meant. Depending on you fabric you'll probably have to change the waistband. Keep the zip and lengthen the band (since the hip measurement is usually greater than the waist measurement) for non-stretchy, skip the zip and elasticize for stretchy. I'd also make a smaller size if I was using stretchy fabric, and in that case I probably would add some length to the hem.

Instead of using extra fabric for a waistband, I folded down the skirt fabric to cover the elastic. It took some adjusting on the pattern, but worked out ok. That lowers the waistband a couple of inches. Then again the skirt turned out too big on me, so it was hard to tell where the hips were supposed to be...

I can scarcely add to DeborahDances reply, which is beyond excellent!

But I'll just throw in that I might do a muslin first in order to fit it, so that the correct hip line could be marked on each of the pattern pieces. Then if you like it a little higher in back, et cetera, you can get it just how you like before cutting your expensive fabric.

If using a non-stretch fabric I wouldn't even try to cut the band until the skirt pieces were sewn together.

I used a skirt that fit correctly as a guide. I placed the skirt on a bed without any wrinkles or folds. I pinned the pattern over the skirt starting at the hem and several places - to keep things from slipping. By the time I reached the waist area I realized if I kept the excess fabric above the area where I prefer my dance skirts to sit on my hip-bones I could use the excess fabric for the elastic casing. I did not taper the fabric above the widest hip area, I adjusted the pattern so it was the same from widest hip area to the top edge of fabric. No zipper, just eliminate that and the waistband.

I also pinned the fabric pieces together and measured the width against dance skirts that fit comfortably. I adjusted the pattern as needed. Initially I basted the seams the first time I used the pattern so I could quickly and easily make needed adjustments. I also marked my adjustments on the pattern so the next skirt was much faster and easier.

that is a great pattern. I made it, and since I am pear shaped my widest bit is lower than on other women. Due to this, I was able to get away with choosing a "waist" measurement that corresponds to where I typically wear the costume belt. Then I just wore it that way. Worked perfectly! (I did not put a zipper in my skirt either.)

For those dancers who have not been blessed by the saddlebag fairy, you'll probably want to shorten from the wiast. It's not that hard, but still a good idea to follow the tigerb's suggestion and make a muslin first.

Ooh, good pattern! *notes*

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Ooh, good pattern! *notes*

I agree.. I don't have that one... yet.

Originally Posted by lotus

the saddlebag fairy

..g.:..g.:

She always comes twice!

..l;,..l;,

I plan to use stretch fabrics. I've got panne velvet, luxury velvet, swimsuit lycra, holographic lycra....I'm a bit of a fabric hoarder. :) It's so awesome that I only need a yard and a half of fabric to make the straight skirt using this pattern.

txchic, I LOVE your suggestion of placing the pattern on top of a skirt that fits well. Thank you for the tip! I have a skirt that was custom made for me, which will serve as an excellent guide.

I have made this several times, I shorten from the waist, but add length mid-thigh (there is an ease line on the pattern.) I've also made this skirt using less panels, and no front or back seam, and most of my home-made skirt patterns are loosely based on this because it fits me nicely.
I find I need a bit more fabric than that, (especially if it is patterned), but that's partly because I'm so tall.
I would also like to point out that the pattern comes up large, so you'll need to adjust the sizing as you go.

Originally Posted by nimah

I plan to use stretch fabrics.

oh! yes, I forgot to mention that I have made this with twice with stretch fabric. Once was a very "boing-y" stretch velvet. The other was a metallic knit with barely any give at all.

Originally Posted by tigerb

..g.:..g.:

She always comes twice!

..l;,..l;,

She blesses some of us more than others...,m::