Adding inserts to skirt slits

[Teressa]

Hey everyone,

I need some help...I've got a couple skirts with very high slits and I'd like to add chiffon fabric inserts to cover some leg and give the costumes a different look.The only thing is, I have no idea how to do this. It seems easy enough, but I'm not sure how much fabric to use or how to place the fabric on the skirt so that the all the fabric isn't bulky on top. Anyone have experience doing this and would like to share? Any information would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[vilia]

It really depends on the style of the skirt, but generally a triangular shape, with the smaller end at the top, is what works. If the skirt is very straight and you don't want two pieces of fabric sticking out at the sides, you could slit the triangle up the middle and sew it only as far as the knee, or wherever you feel comfortable showing leg.

[Whisper]

I have found that the easiest way to fix this is to purchase a petal skirt and sew a petal into the slit. I usually purchase them on Ebay (unique essentials, for example) because they're available really cheap. I find that even this more inexpensive fabric works for me.

[Marianna]

What Vilia said - but I would add that the bottom of the triangle needs to be circular, not straight, otherwise it won't hang right.
If you are adding chiffon, you might want to make it fuller - 1 triangle (quarter circle) may not show like much, you might want to use a half circle.
The radius (which is half of the straight line of the half circle) is exactly the length of the slit.
You can still slit it in the middle, in which way you might as well just use 2 quarter circles (triangles).

[tahiradancer]

For a half circle: measure from the top of the slit to the bottom of the skirt. Add 1/2" - 1" for hems. Now take that measurement and double it. So if the measurement was 30 + 1 x 2 = 62". You will need a piece of fabric which is at least 62" x 31". Fold this in half so that it is 31 x 31.

Get a string. Measure it 31". Tie one end (being sure that you still have 31") to a pin and pin that to one of the corners with the fold.

Draw a circle using the free end of the string. Double check that the fold is inside the circle. Cut along the line.

voila! You have a hald circle!

Now, hem the long edge - most people roll the hem. then attach the half circle at the mid point of the long edge to the top of the slit. Let it hang for a couple of days. then put it on and have someone even the bottom out. then hem the panel.

You can leave the panel just attached at the top, sew it in or tack it in key places along the slit, depending on the look you want. And you can always change it later.

{{{HUGS}}}