Thread: Help with Shira's circle skirt directions

Hi all...
I'm sooooo confused. I am trying to make a circle skirt from Shira's directions here:
How to Make a Belly Dance Circle Skirt - An Online Costume Pattern

I get the gist of it for the most part. But I'm confused about the hip size table. Why is 44" the smallest hip measurement listed? If I do the calculations based on my own hips being 32.5 (but I rounded to 33")...I get that the compass for the hip band should be set for 4"ish. But the table 's smallest hip measurement is 44" which would be 5" with the calculations. I'm confused...
Can anybody shed some light on this subject?

Also...a friend of mine got me this beautiful Sari with embroidery and stones. I'd like to use it for the circle skirt fabric. Has anybody ever done this? Suggestions? Muchas gracias!

Did you remember to add the additional inch?? I got 3.something rounded up to 4 and then add an inch. I think anything smaller than 44" hip still needs the 5" I always used 5" when I used to make my skirts and I had 34" hips at the time.

I just cut out fabric for a few circle skirts today, and I had to consult Shira's website because it's been a few years since I made one...

Do you need someone to double check your math? I had to calculate mine as well since 44" is too big for me. If you're making a 3 panel skirt, you need to divide 32.5” by 3 and multiply it by 2, which makes 21 2/3”. Divided by pi, it makes about 6.9. You need to divide that by two, which gives you about 3.45”. You should round up to the nearest inch, which is 4”, to make sure that your skirt is going to be big enough to go around your hips, especially after you hem the sides.

If the radius of your circle for the waist is 4”, and you have 3 panels, the finished waistband will fit you with a few inches to spare. (The diameter, 8”, times pi is about 25”. Divide that in half to half of the circle’s circumference, which is 12.5”. Multiply that by 3 because you have 3 panels, and your final number for the waistband is 37.5.”)

That’s a long answer, but yes, you’ll want 4” for your compass.

Are the embroidery and stones along the edge in a border design or scattered randomly through the fabric?

Looks like math has been dealt with, so I'll address the sari question. . .

Yes you can make a circle skirt out of a sari, but what is the bottom edge with the stones / embroidery / etc is best when it is down the sides of the skirt as opposed to the bottom. Look for early photos of Veena and Neena (the Belly Twins). Many of their skirts were made from Sari's.

{{{HUGS}}}

awesome! Thanks everyone! Yes...I figured with the sari the embroidery will end up along the sides running vertically. Do I need tape and cut before I sew...or just cut into it and sew right away?
Oh...the embroidery and stones only run along the edge of the sari-not scattered everywhere.

You shouldn't need to tape or baste the embroidered edges before you start sewing. Although you may want to run a basting stitch along the cut edge before you hang just to help keep it from
unraveling, although this isn't mandatory.

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Look for early photos of Veena and Neena (the Belly Twins). Many of their skirts were made from saris.

anyone have a link to such a photo? I wouldn't know "early" from "recent" on those two.