Costume Construction

[Odella26]

I am looking for a pattern to make a skirt. Any ideas?

[kina]

www.shira.net for a circle skirt

[Odella26]

Thanks Kina! I actually saw this one already, I should have been more specific. I am looking for a trumpet skirt pattern

[beafarhana]

I think Dinalydia had some ideas on this on her costume goddess website. Or it might have been as part of Shira's Costume Corner. Try Shira's as your first port of call, otherwise costumegoddess.com.

[Odella26]

Thank you!

[jini]

try B.D pattern

[jmdruadh]

I highly recommend the Madame X Marvelous Mermaid and Fabulous Fishtail Skirt pattern. If you don't mind spending an extra half-yard or so, use the fishtail variation: it gives makes the skirt curvier/slinkier with an even fuller flare.

One thing to be aware of, though, is that it doesn't contain an actual paper pattern that you lay down on your fabric and cut out. Instead, it gives you a worksheet that tells you exactly what measurements the pieces will need to be. Then you trace it onto paper yourself (or trace it on your fabric with chalk or mark it onto the fabric with pins). The shapes are straight-forward, but you'd need to be comfortable drawing straight lines, right angles and arcs.

[kiyaana]

You can start with a regular pattern such as the skirt (left photo) for Simplicity 4401:


If possible, buy some inexpensive stretch fabric to test it out - sew up the all of the vertical seams, turn it inside out, and try it on. (If you're using stretch fabric, you won't need the zipper.) Pin whatever needs to be taken in, fold down the top to where you want it to hit your hips, etc. Take it off and re-sew. Try it on again, etc. I've gone through this process with an existing pattern to get what I want, then have cut out my new pattern from interfacing. You'll need to make a casing at the top for elastic. Leave a seam open (or not) from just above the knee down for a slit. Have a friend help you level it out at the bottom and hem it (or not if the fabric doesn't fray!)

Good luck!

[Odella26]

Thanks everyone!