Ask The Costume Goddess:

Making A Handkerchief Skirt

By Dina

Dear Costume Goddess,

I am looking for a pattern to make a handkerchief skirt. Hope your can help.

---Donna

Dear Donna,

Since a handerchief skirt is a simple square, you don't really need a pattern. A diagram and suggestions are on How to Make an 8-Point Skirt.

The trickiest part is cutting the circular opening the correct size to fit hips through without too much extra space. The circumference of the circle will be about 3.1 times its diameter. This should add up to slightly larger than the largest part of your hip. Generally it's cut on the straight grain (parallel to the edge) but if your fabric is wide, you could try putting on the bias (diagonal) and you will get a more ripply effect on the edge, since it will stretch as you sew it. If your fabric is narrow or your size large, the pattern can be pieced, with a seam down the sides.

--The Costume Goddess

Other articles on this web site that you may find helpful include:

Ask The Costume Goddess: How to Make an 8-Point Skirt. Describes how to make an 8-point skirt. One of the suggested methods involves making 2 handkerchief skirts.

About The Costume Goddess

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Ask The Costume Goddess:

Making A Handkerchief Skirt

By Dina

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