How to Cut the Length on a Poodle Skirt

The poodle skirt is a favorite costume to wear for Halloween or to a sock hop. The classic circle-skirt design flatters nearly every figure. Even someone who is just beginning to learn to sew can cut and sew a poodle skirt in one afternoon. Making the skirt from felt eliminates the need to hem the skirt, so a simple cut brings it to the right length for the wearer, whether an adult, child or doll.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Poodle skirt
• Fabric scissors
• Measuring tape
• Fabric marker
• Pins

1. Put the skirt on the wearer. Check the finished skirt for fit and adjust the waist as necessary.

2. Measure the skirt from the ground to the appropriate length on the wearer in the center front. Since a poodle skirt is a circle, its length is cut to a perfect circle all the way around, so it only needs to marked in one spot.

3. Verify the length has been marked correctly by pinning up a few inches of the skirt at the approximate length of the mark while on the wearer. The poodle skirt traditionally falls about mid-calf.

4. Lay the skirt flat on a table or similar surface. Measure a straight line from the bottom of the waistband of the skirt. Record the measurement.

5. Mark the center back the same number of inches down from the bottom of the waistband as you measured from the front. Mark both side seams in the same manner at the same measurement. About halfway between each of the marks, do the same thing, measuring down from the waistband the same number of inches and mark, until there are eight marks on the skirt.

6. Cut the fabric to length around the circumference of the skirt, in a line that connects the marks that were made. Discard the excess fabric.

7. Hem the skirt if necessary. If the skirt is felt, no hemming is necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut the length of the poodle skirt before adding the applique to ensure proper placement. Wear a petticoat under the skirt to give it extra movement and fullness.

References

• McCall's Costume Pattern 7253 Instructions

Resources

• Free Dog Applique Patterns

[grlott]

on 10/23/2009 They look great