Tiered Gypsy Skirts

[erindezeeuw]

Aww, thanks. I needed that whole flattering comment after I looked at the pics and noticed I've gotten kind of chunka. Or maybe it's just PMS bloating.

[Delziela]

Everything here looks great, everyone's done such awesome jobs!
I love the way http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=36489.0 this turned out, though it's on another thread.

I'm wondering though, has anyone made one of the prairie skirts that aren't just tubes sewn atop each other... that sounds funny, but more like, pieces sewn where in which each piece is longer in length than the other, so in the end you achieve a very full and gathered skirt underneath?
I recently made a tiered skirt like the ones shown here (I'll have to upload a photo later on) and liked it, but would really love to have it more gathered and "old timey" looking, if that sounds right. I'm not sure exactly what you would call it, but I want it to look the way that Urban Outfitters has theirs (completely overpriced!). You can see it here, then click on the photograph & more images of the item will come up.
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=7759&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=10&iSubCat=22&iProductID=7759

OK... if anyone's achieved this, could you let me know how you did it? I'd absolutely adore you to pieces and pieces.

OOh, yes, I want one of those too! I bought one a local store and after I washed it once, it fell apart at the seams. Not cheap either.

[crafty423]

hey guys i've been wanting to make one of these for a long time, was wondering if you have to use 100% cotton fabric thanks!

[Dolores]

I'm wondering though, has anyone made one of the prairie skirts that aren't just tubes sewn atop each other... that sounds funny, but more like, pieces sewn where in which each piece is longer in length than the other, so in the end you achieve a very full and gathered skirt underneath?
I recently made a tiered skirt like the ones shown here (I'll have to upload a photo later on) and liked it, but would really love to have it more gathered and "old timey" looking, if that sounds right. I'm not sure exactly what you would call it, but I want it to look the way that Urban Outfitters has theirs (completely overpriced!). You can see it here, then click on the photograph & more images of the item will come up.
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=7759&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=10&iSubCat=22&iProductID=7759

OK... if anyone's achieved this, could you let me know how you did it? I'd absolutely adore you to pieces and pieces.

OOh, yes, I want one of those too! I bought one a local store and after I washed it once, it fell apart at the seams. Not cheap either.

Had a look at the pic and it seems to be made up of circular or semi-circular tiers...there doesn't appear to be any gathering at the top of each tier, but the bottom of each tier is fuller.....so that seems to be the obvious solution! So here's the deal...if someone can tell me once & for all and in an idiot-friendly manner, how on earth I can post pics/scans etc on this site..... I'd be happy to work out a rough method & diagram. Please don't tell me to look at the help section...I'm simply waaay too dumb to get it!
Anyway, the skirt should be relatively easy but it will involve a lot of tedious cutting...but once the tiers are cut & pieced it should go together easy as pie!

[whatsernamee]

Hello, all. First post. I finally got around to making one of these. It's not perfect, but I tried. This is the first thing I've sewn without a pattern, I just kinda winged it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/kick_axe00/Picture022.jpg
((Excuse the bad picture. I cannot take pictures of myself))

[Delziela]

Dolores:

1. Upload your picture to photo editing software or something like that

2. resize your picture so that it is under the 75k file size limit. (play around with the size a bit, you'll eventually get it)

3.It probably wouldnt hurt to save it as a gif... not sure if thats a requirement

4. save the new version onto your computer

5. go to craftster picture hosting: http://www.craftster.org/pictures/index.php

6. Click "Upload photos"

7.  Click browse and choose your new version of your picture

The rest is very self explanitory.

also, for future refrence, to put in a quote, all you have to do is click the "quote" button above the post of the person you want to quote, then it will bring you to the screen where you post, just scroll past all the text to the bottom.

Thanks lots! I would love to see your method! 

[Dolores]

ooooh I'm so hoping this works........and if it doesn't, I'll just type out the darn method.....damn technology & my middle aged brain!

[Dolores]

Oh if i had a cat I'd kick it! lets hope this one works! And I hope you can see it, and I've made myself clear.....oh well, WTF, let's see!

Well after all that hoo-ha you can't see the darn thing so here goes!

I'm assuming the following...you want an elastic waist skirt, and your hips are 40", and we'll add 2" ease, to give 42"(if your hips are different, just divide the hips+ease by 3.14.....see, you knew math would come in handy one day!)....so we use hips+ease divided by 3.14 which gives, for this example, 13 3/8"...this is the radius. Let's say you want each tier to be 5" deep. Here is what you do.

On a large piece of paper, draw a line ACROSS 5"(tier depth)+13 3/8"(radius), them mark a point at the end, this is your center point. Then reverse it, so continue the line 13 3/8"+5". So you will have a long line measuring 37 1/4", with marks at 5", at 18 3/8", at32 1/4" and at 37 1/4". At your center point, now draw a line DOWN 13 3/8"+5". Now use a compas/ruler/piece of string attached to the center point and create a half circle, going through all the 13 3/8" points. Now do one going through the 5" points. You should end up with 2 half circles, one a bit inside each other, and connected by the first long line you drew. This is your pattern piece, add 1/2" seam allowances around all edges & you're good to go to the next stage....

You will have 1 of these pieces for the top tier, probably 2 for the second tier, 3 for the next & so on BUT I havn't calculated this SO be prepared to cut more than you think! Also be prepared to trim off excess on each tier if neccessary. If you have a serger this will be easy-peasy, if not what the hell, go for it anyway. I suggest you cut out 6 of these to begin with in a scrap fabric, just so you see how the tiers fall. If you want a full circle pattern (which means more cutting & more fabric, but also more fullness) just take your radius as above and half it, then generate your pattern that way. Obviously, light or soft fabrics will be best for this skirt...it will be horribly bulky in heavy tweed or velvet!!!!

Ok, all you do is, piece your tiers together, no gathering, just sew the outside edge of your top tier to the inside or radius edge of the next tier down. When you get your desired length, you'll ahve a kinda buckled half circle...sew up the center back seams, hem it and add an elastic casing (trust me, you can't just forl over the top on this one.) Cur a regtangle measuring 42" (hips + ease) + seam allowances, so say 43", by 2xelastic+seam allowances, so say 2" for a 1/2" elasticated waistband. Seam together the short ends, fold it over legthways and sew onto the waist...don't forget to leave a hole to thread your elastic through! Sew up the hole, press it all out and try it on, then prance around in front of your mirror, shouting "Damn, I look GOOD in my groovy new Prairie Skirt!"

And please post pics!

Huge thanks to erindezeeuw and delziela for their idiot-friendly posting tips...hope this goes some way to repaying you!

[ruby roxx designs]

Everything here looks great, everyone's done such awesome jobs!
I love the way http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=36489.0 this turned out, though it's on another thread.

I'm wondering though, has anyone made one of the prairie skirts that aren't just tubes sewn atop each other... that sounds funny, but more like, pieces sewn where in which each piece is longer in length than the other, so in the end you achieve a very full and gathered skirt underneath?
I recently made a tiered skirt like the ones shown here (I'll have to upload a photo later on) and liked it, but would really love to have it more gathered and "old timey" looking, if that sounds right. I'm not sure exactly what you would call it, but I want it to look the way that Urban Outfitters has theirs (completely overpriced!). You can see it here, then click on the photograph & more images of the item will come up.
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=7759&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=10&iSubCat=22&iProductID=7759

OK... if anyone's achieved this, could you let me know how you did it? I'd absolutely adore you to pieces and pieces.

I adore these skirts! I have 2 skirts that I got from Urban about 2 years ago and they are long alines with the prairie ruffled bottoms. One of them fell apart and I've held onto it to use the measurements to make some new skirts. Even though I'm a large I have a horrible time fitting into stuff now since gaining some extra booty with my kids.

The skirt is 2 pieces with a drawstring waist and a ruffled bottom. Its ankle length.

It looks pretty easy to do. I just have to get some $$$ for fabric to try it out.

I have such a hard time working with patterns (I think its that I have 3 children running around me at all times!!!) so trying this sewalong will work fabulously for me.

[raslalique]

Here is mine guys. It's pale lime green cotton voile. I added metallic lace to the bottom (I'll post a picture of the metallic lace later).