Skirt made from straight panels?

Darbla · 12-12-2007, 02:23 AM

Most of the instructions and skirts I've seen are made with half circles. Have any of you made one from straight panels instead of the half circles? Or, is the reason for making it from half circles so that there is less fabric gathered at the waist? I've got a couple pieces of fabric that I won't be able to make half circles from because they are too small. If the straight panels won't work, I can make harem pants out of this.

Thanks,
Darbla

Q-Tip · 12-12-2007, 02:43 AM

I don't have any costumes at the moment but I've seen numerous pictures and videos where the dancer has an overskirt (or a belt) that is made of panels. If I can find the picture of the one I'm thinking about I'll post it or post a link to it.

Are the pieces big enough (or small enough) that you can make a hip scarf, armbands, gauntlets and/or a headband that would match a costume?

Chani · 12-12-2007, 02:50 AM

I just finished my first costume and the over skirt is made using straight panels with elastic at the waist. I did it for the same reason you are talking about - I already had the fabric but it was too small to make into a skirt any other way. It looks nice but it doesn't move nearly as nicely as a circle skirt and it is thicker at the waist because of the extra fabric gathered there. Everybody who has seen it assumes it is a circle skirt until I point out that it actually isn't.

Chani

adiemus · 12-12-2007, 03:31 AM

You can also use panels to make a straighter fitted skirt at the hip and add in triangular-shaped godets (which are inset into the seam at centre front, mid-centre front, side, centre back and mid-centre back). The godets can be made of either the same fabric if you have enough, or contrast, or even see-thru fabric as a contrast. Then when you twirl - voila! lovely lines but not too big around the hips and top of the legs.
I've just made a very flared bias cut skirt with some darts at hips for shaping, but flaring out from mid-thigh so that it's not quite so bulky at the waist. it seems to be kinda fashionable to have a slimmed-down silhouette but flaring out below the knees. I've also added a slit centre front and both side seams.

You could add in extra panels in contrast fabric to add interest to a circle skirt using the panels as the contrast.

You could also use four panels, and gather along the top with elastic or cording, and alternate two contrasting fabrics, or even use as a highlight over the top or under a circle skirt.
Lots of options!!

Gilana · 12-12-2007, 03:31 AM

I have made these several times and they are easy peasey! Hem the bottom of each panel, turn top over and sew and then thread elastic through it. I wear these over harem pants only as this is more of a tribal look.

Lydia dubai · 12-12-2007, 09:20 AM

yes i did make some but i use plenty of panels...the down layer are 6 panels the middle layer 12 and the top layer around 30!! but those are small ribbon like pieces like 2 inch wide ,the middle layer is like ribbons around 8 inch,and the down layers around 12 inch .....its shiffon and looks realy nice its layerd nicely so nobody can look treu even when i spin fast.....on the top it just stich on a strait belt from 2 inch wide ,and on top of that a proper belt..... its nice because the ,,ribbons become ,,wavy,, when you dance ...when i stich all the ribbons and panels i hem it using o ,,rol foot,, so all the edge has scalop effect realy pretty......its still one off my favorite skirts....Lydia

Chani · 12-12-2007, 08:39 PM

Yasmin, That sounds like an amazing skirt. Do you have any photos of it? I'd love to see. Chani

Shanazel · 12-13-2007, 02:38 AM

I like the way circle skirts ripple at the hem during turns- skirts cut on the straight grain don't have the same movement. That being said, straight skirts and panels can be very pretty and if you don't have enough fabric for a circle skirt- or just want something different- there's no reason in the world not to go for it.

The only real requirement is you have to post pictures of the final product

.

Darbla · 12-13-2007, 04:03 AM

OK, what about this: I'm thinking of adding a panel of white between two panels of this bright pink fabric for the front of the skirt, to add interest and break up some of that pink. Then buy more of the pink large enough to cut a half circle for the back. This is a rather heavy but fluid satin, by the way.

So if I'm going to be cutting it up I might as well make it circular to flow better during turns. To sew 3 panels together to make the front, how do I cut them? It seems they'd need to be kind of triangular or wedge shaped (narrow ends toward the waist) so that together they form a semi-circle (probably a quarter circle? or 1/3 of the whole skirt?), since the back will be a half-circle or 2/3 circle. Keep the look of the front and back the same so they seem to flow well together. Does that make sense?

Shanazel · 12-13-2007, 05:00 AM

Go to the fabric store and find a skirt pattern that is made with wedge-shaped godets (I think that is the word I want, but it is late and I am about brain dead). It is a popular style, so should be easy to find. Use the wedge-shaped pattern pieces to cut out your skirt, only fit it to your hips instead of your waist. This might mean cutting it down from the top of the skirt pattern and adding length to the bottom.

I have several of these patterns. If you can't find one, tell me and I will check the number on my patterns for you.

12-12-2007, 02:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Darbla Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: south Mississippi Posts: 64	Skirt made from straight panels? Most of the instructions and skirts I've seen are made with half circles. Have any of you made one from straight panels instead of the half circles? Or, is the reason for making it from half circles so that there is less fabric gathered at the waist? I've got a couple pieces of fabric that I won't be able to make half circles from because they are too small. If the straight panels won't work, I can make harem pants out of this. Thanks, Darbla

12-12-2007, 03:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
adiemus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 977	You can also use panels to make a straighter fitted skirt at the hip and add in triangular-shaped godets (which are inset into the seam at centre front, mid-centre front, side, centre back and mid-centre back). The godets can be made of either the same fabric if you have enough, or contrast, or even see-thru fabric as a contrast. Then when you twirl - voila! lovely lines but not too big around the hips and top of the legs. I've just made a very flared bias cut skirt with some darts at hips for shaping, but flaring out from mid-thigh so that it's not quite so bulky at the waist. it seems to be kinda fashionable to have a slimmed-down silhouette but flaring out below the knees. I've also added a slit centre front and both side seams. You could add in extra panels in contrast fabric to add interest to a circle skirt using the panels as the contrast. You could also use four panels, and gather along the top with elastic or cording, and alternate two contrasting fabrics, or even use as a highlight over the top or under a circle skirt. Lots of options!! __________________ He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

12-13-2007, 02:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,654	I like the way circle skirts ripple at the hem during turns- skirts cut on the straight grain don't have the same movement. That being said, straight skirts and panels can be very pretty and if you don't have enough fabric for a circle skirt- or just want something different- there's no reason in the world not to go for it. The only real requirement is you have to post pictures of the final product.

12-13-2007, 04:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
Darbla Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: south Mississippi Posts: 64	OK, what about this: I'm thinking of adding a panel of white between two panels of this bright pink fabric for the front of the skirt, to add interest and break up some of that pink. Then buy more of the pink large enough to cut a half circle for the back. This is a rather heavy but fluid satin, by the way. So if I'm going to be cutting it up I might as well make it circular to flow better during turns. To sew 3 panels together to make the front, how do I cut them? It seems they'd need to be kind of triangular or wedge shaped (narrow ends toward the waist) so that together they form a semi-circle (probably a quarter circle? or 1/3 of the whole skirt?), since the back will be a half-circle or 2/3 circle. Keep the look of the front and back the same so they seem to flow well together. Does that make sense? Last edited by Darbla; 12-13-2007 at 04:05 AM.

12-12-2007, 02:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Q-Tip Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 228	I don't have any costumes at the moment but I've seen numerous pictures and videos where the dancer has an overskirt (or a belt) that is made of panels. If I can find the picture of the one I'm thinking about I'll post it or post a link to it. Are the pieces big enough (or small enough) that you can make a hip scarf, armbands, gauntlets and/or a headband that would match a costume?

12-12-2007, 02:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
Chani Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 139	I just finished my first costume and the over skirt is made using straight panels with elastic at the waist. I did it for the same reason you are talking about - I already had the fabric but it was too small to make into a skirt any other way. It looks nice but it doesn't move nearly as nicely as a circle skirt and it is thicker at the waist because of the extra fabric gathered there. Everybody who has seen it assumes it is a circle skirt until I point out that it actually isn't. Chani

12-12-2007, 03:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
Gilana Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Monroe, WA Posts: 65	I have made these several times and they are easy peasey! Hem the bottom of each panel, turn top over and sew and then thread elastic through it. I wear these over harem pants only as this is more of a tribal look.

12-12-2007, 09:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
Lydia dubai V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dubai United arab emirates Posts: 1,348	yes i did make some but i use plenty of panels...the down layer are 6 panels the middle layer 12 and the top layer around 30!! but those are small ribbon like pieces like 2 inch wide ,the middle layer is like ribbons around 8 inch,and the down layers around 12 inch .....its shiffon and looks realy nice its layerd nicely so nobody can look treu even when i spin fast.....on the top it just stich on a strait belt from 2 inch wide ,and on top of that a proper belt..... its nice because the ,,ribbons become ,,wavy,, when you dance ...when i stich all the ribbons and panels i hem it using o ,,rol foot,, so all the edge has scalop effect realy pretty......its still one off my favorite skirts....Lydia

12-12-2007, 08:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chani Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 139	Yasmin, That sounds like an amazing skirt. Do you have any photos of it? I'd love to see. Chani

12-13-2007, 05:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,654	Go to the fabric store and find a skirt pattern that is made with wedge-shaped godets (I think that is the word I want, but it is late and I am about brain dead). It is a popular style, so should be easy to find. Use the wedge-shaped pattern pieces to cut out your skirt, only fit it to your hips instead of your waist. This might mean cutting it down from the top of the skirt pattern and adding length to the bottom. I have several of these patterns. If you can't find one, tell me and I will check the number on my patterns for you.