Sewing Question!

[sefieslj.livejournal.com]

I've been happily trucking along making gathered skirts for a while now, and I think I'm ready to take on pleats. I'm planning on making a skirt like this one from AppleSugar (I would have ordered it ages ago, except that I can't fit into their clothes T_T).

Would it be appropriate to make this skirt by using pleats? If so, how wide should the skirt panel be - 2.5x waist, like for normal gathered skirts? Also, would it use a trapezoid or rectangle pattern?

Thanking you kindly for your advice,
Sefie

Comments

pleated skirt

[persoconchii.livejournal.com]

I usually make it a rectangle, and take 2x my hips

and when folding and sewing in the pleat a little bit, don't fold down like a straight line, but do it a lil bit at an angle [so it doesnt get too too narrow goin down]

Re: pleated skirt

[sefieslj.livejournal.com]

Ah, cool... Thanks for the tip! I had that problem with other pleated skirts, and I was wondering if it was just me...

[xviciousxcorex.livejournal.com]

yea its about 2x what you are adding them pleats to. It helps if you mark where you are making your folds so you have nice even pleats ^-^

[sefieslj.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip! I'm rather anal about pleats and tucks ^-^;;

[cursedcrossbow.livejournal.com]

XD if you ask they can make them bigger or smaller... I just ordered a shirt and realized that it was too small for my bust... So I asked them if they could make it bigger... And they said it was okay. It's an additional charge, but it's not too much. XD

As for the skirt... 2x sounds about right.. and rectangles might be a bit easier to work with. I hope this helped some. ^^;

[sefieslj.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd known about that ages ago D: I like the top from the set too, but the skirt is the cutest sailor-y thing I've ever seen. Thanks!

[cursedcrossbow.livejournal.com]

heh, anytime, love. Anytime. ^^;

[mognetcentral.livejournal.com]

I saw the outfit in person, and I remember it being very similar to a Bodyline sailor 2-piece I owned but sold awhile back. The skirt is actually in 2 layers, and there are no pleats. There is an A-line underskirt, and over that 2 black trapezoids which lay on top like a double apron, all joined at the waistband.

Hope that helps. Good luck with the sewing!

[sefieslj.livejournal.com]

Ooooooo. That makes things a lot easier. I'm kind of running out of time for these outfits, so I think I might actually drop the pleat idea and try it again another day. Thanks a heap!

[kawaii-mon.livejournal.com]

The top layer looks like two half circles. you could pleat the egde of the underlayer perhaps? times the width of the pleat (the part on the outside thats visible) by 3 and you'll know how much fabric you need.
Pleated skirts are usually rectangles, but you may need to make it a trapezoid to add flare. I suggest getting your fabric and pleating it onto your mannequin to get an idea of how much flare there will be. I made myself a jsk thats got a box pleated skirt, and that has heaps of flare (it was made from a rectangle shape).

[sefieslj.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm box pleats :D If I'd had time and motivation, that's how I would have made my Gogo skirt. But now you know what I'm making for the Friday Manifest thing, so don't tell anyone XD

[kawaii-mon.livejournal.com]

lol i had already heard from a certain someone else who stole black buttons from me for her version :P