How to Make a Hula Skirt & Bra
The hula skirt or pa'u is worn for the traditional, ancient style of hula, or kahiko. It is made from a cotton polyester fabric and may have a slit up one side. The skirt can be of a solid color, a calico print, or have only a print on the hem. The traditional hula top is called a pa'upa'u or a sack. It is a top that is sleeveless, without straps, with elastic that holds it securely in place across the chest. The coconut bra was an invention mainly for tourists, but many hula dancers wear them. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- elastic
- 3 yards of fabic
- thread
- needle
- 1 yard of cord
- 2 imitation coconut halves
- 4 fabric strips about 24 inches each
- 1 short fabric strip about 4 inches
- glue
- glue gun
Instructions
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1
Determine the length of the skirt. Hula skirts generally fall between the calf and the ankle. Determine if the skirt will have a slit.
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2
Make a casing at the top. At the top of the skirt, fold about an inch of fabric over. Stitch all the way around the top. This is where the cord or the elastic will slide through. Insert the cord through the casing. The cord can be the same fabric as the skirt but doesn't have to be.
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3
If the skirt has a slit, stitch the skirt. Always stitch on the wrong side, i.e. right sides together to the desired length of the slit. If the skirt does not have a slit, stitch all the way to the bottom. Leave enough room at the top to be able to slip into it.
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4
Thread the cord through the casing. If using elastic, pin one end of the elastic at the end of the casing. Run the elastic through the casing, bunching up the fabric as the elastic is threaded through to the casing. Stitch both ends of the elastic. Make sure there is enough room to slip into the skirt. Add a hem to the skirt by folding about an inch of fabric at the bottom. Stitch all the way around.
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5
Take the two halves of the imitation coconuts. Using the long strips of fabric from the skirt material, glue two long pieces on the sides using about 20 inches of fabric strips. These pieces will tie behind the back. Do the same to the top of the coconuts. These pieces will be tied behind the neck like a halter. Use a short piece of fabric for the center of the coconuts. Determine the width of the front piece by what feels comfortable, and then glue that in place.
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