Thread: Making a skirt with an insert

So lately I've been eyeing my trumpet skirts and thinking that I may be ready to tackle the challenge of making a skirt myself.

Specifically, what I'm interested in making is a skirt with a large triangular insert in the back made of a different fabric from the rest of the skirt. Looking at the trumpet skirts that I have, the triangular godets mostly seem to fold over themselves so that they're not wholly visible except during spins. This seems to be the result of using a rectangles + triangles pattern.

I'd like the triangular insert to be open and visible, something like the inserts in an Eman Secret of the Sphinx. How would the back of the skirt need to be cut to create that look? Am I foolhardy to think that I could fabricate this myself?

I made a skirt like your talking about (I think). What I did was make a standard straight skirt which is just a large rectangle and where the seam came together is where I put my large triangle. It gave the skirt a fishtail effect which gave the dancer a little more freedom of movement. The seam and fishtail were at the back and I added a slit to the front side to give it a little more interest. It was very simple to make. I measured the distance between the bottom of her butt and the floor and that is how long I made the triangle. It was very flattering.

Here's a pic. You can't see the detail on the skirt all that much, but it might help:

If you mean a skirt like this
Picasa Web Albums - Philly - Secret of the...

The back of view A from Butterick 4859
B4859 | Misses' Skirt | Skirts | Butterick Patterns

is very similar. Simply extend the skirt to floor length, and add a yoke

Nitewindz: Yes, something along those lines. Here's another example of a skirt with a triangular insert in the back that's close to what I'm going for. I may use a second accent fabric, as well, on either side of the triangle.

I actually own a Joharah costume with a skirt similar to Secret of the Sphinx. Maybe I can pattern this skirt after it.

Shahla: Thanks so much for explaining your method! Bottom of bum to floor is the size triangle I'm imagining as well.