How to make a "classic" 3-panel skirt?

[Inara_LA]

I keep coming across references to the "classic" 3-panel cabaret skirt, which is described as having 3 half-circle panels, with the two in the rear sewn together. I sew but I have no idea what this means! How do you get a straight-hem skirt with half-circles? Can anyone point me towards a pattern or instructions for making this thing? Thanks!

[resullivan]

I've done a few circle shirts. The last one I tried I followed these directions on shira.net

I did have to hang the skirt and measure from the floor to get an even hem. (Most patterns have this problem.)

[jmc]

There's pattern directions on my website: www.celebrationsbellydance.com.

[zumarrad]

Basically this is the same as a circular skirt, only with an extra bit, so just as my mother's 50s circle skirts hung straight around the hemline, these skirts do, too. The two back panels are sewn together along one of the long sides, so if you were to lay them flat on the floor, they would be a circle with a hole in the middle (and one open seam like a "radius" leading into the middle).

You generally need to hang them for a while to let them drop, then put the skirt on and get someone to mark the hem for you. Women in their 60s and 70s are generally very useful for this work, since, if they were anything like my mother, they knocked a circular skirt up every weekend to wear to their local dance!

[tahiradancer]

The instructions on Shira's site are fabo! I love my 3 panel skirts! They are overall very easy, but unless you are using a select few fabrics, don't expect to wear them right away!

{{{HUGS}}}

[*Shira*]

The instructions on my site are here: www.shira.net/costuming.htm

[Inara_LA]

Thanks for the links, everyone! Shira's instructions are just what I was looking for... *now* I get it! I will definitely try making my own, rather than spending $50-60 to buy one.

[tahiradancer]

Inara - as you are here in LA, if you need help, let me know. I am taking a trip to the garment district on Saturday. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

[Inara_LA]

Thanks, Tahira! That's so sweet of you! I have some other costuming projects I need to finish before I tackle this one--and I'm not allowed to go to the fabric district again until I use up some of the fabric filling my closet now :)

[tahiradancer]

Originally Posted by Inara_LA

Thanks, Tahira! That's so sweet of you! I have some other costuming projects I need to finish before I tackle this one--and I'm not allowed to go to the fabric district again until I use up some of the fabric filling my closet now :)

LOL! This sounds VERY familiar! I am only getting things to finish projects! Really!



{{{HUGS}}}

[sabrinabellydancer]

these are awesome if you need to mark a straight hem in the middle of the night when friends and grannys are sleeping

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog_o...538%2520082542

it blows a little chalk dust mark on the fabric at a uniform height all around the hem [for those who don't already know ]

[cindy_]

lol! sabrina, i'm glad i'm not the only one who is up sewing in the middle of the night!