Ok ... here are the cutting steps.. ill put all the steps on this thread.. but i have to post as i go or i will forget something. But first a tip! If this is something you want to make more than once, id suggest doing the "strip template" on something that you can reuse over and over again so you dont have to measure it all out every time! Also i will probably use numbers to help explain.. just remember these number may not always apply to you and your skirt.
Ok I am doing an 8 strip skirt... but ill add what i would do differently if it was 6 strips. 8 strip skirt you should have enough fabric for 4 different prints ... 2 strips each print OR 2 different prints with 4 strips PER print.. If doing a 6 strip skirt you should have enough fabric for 3 different prints.. 2 strip each print OR 2 different prints with 3 strips PER print.
Step 1. Figure out your measurements. You need your hips (or where you want the skirt to sit) and length from hips to top of ankles (or where you want the skirt to be hemmed). Now that you have this measurement.... add 10 inches to the hip measurement. That will be the measurement of the skirt waistband. For example I am making a skirt with a waistband of 48 inches (38 inch hip measurement) and length 38. Now is also when you figure out strip size. You want to divide the waistband measurement by your number of strips, then add a small amount for seam allowance. For example : 48 (waistband) / 8 (# strips) = 6 inches +.5 (seam allowance) = 6.5 inches. So 6.5 inches is the width of the top of each of my strips. I usually make my strips have a measurement of double the top measurement.... or about 12-13 inches. You can use a standard 12 inches.. OR you can actually get precise and say i want my circumference along the bottom to be 120 inches. 120 (circumference) / 8 (#strips) = 15 inches + 0.5 inches (seam allowance) = 15.5 inches. Does that make sense? LOL ..... So for my example I will be making the top of the strip measure 6.5 inches, bottom 12 inches
Step 2. When i purchase my fabric, i make sure i have a little bit more(about 4 inches) of one print that i can use for a waistband. For example if i need 24 inches of print A, print B and print C... then i buy 24 inches of print A and B, and 28 inches of print C. Course you dont have to do it this way.. all it comes down to is you need a strip of fabric that is a little bit more(about 1.5inches) than your waistband and 4 inches high. ( So in my example I cut a strip of fabric that is 49.5 inches by 4 inches). Pic below.
Step 3. Cut your first strip (or for those creating a reusable template.. create it here). The following is directions for an 8 strip skirt where you have 4 different fabrics OR a 6 strip skirt where you have 3 different fabrics..... So I now have 4 pieces of fabric -- each 24 inches long (44 inches wide). I take ONE of these pieces and fold it in half.. so you have a big rectangle that is 2 layers.. and measures 12 inches by 44 inches (or whatever the width of your fabric is). The length runs from selvage to selvage. For ease in explanation I marked one edge A and one B.
Find your center on edge B (for me 6 inches from each long edge). Extend this center line all the way up from edge B to edge A.
( I use a chalk pencil and large rulers to draw a straight line from one edge to the other... )
Last edited by patchwork~mama : 06-06-2003 at 06:11 AM.
Move up to edge A. Use that center line to measure out the TOP of your strip. Since I am making the top of my strips 6.5 inches.. I measure 3.25 inches to the right of my center line and mark, then 3.25 inches to the left of my center line and mark. (labeled (1) and (2).
Use a big ruler or something to draw a line from mark (1) on edge A to the left side of edge B. This line will be at a diagnal since you are going from 3.25 inches to the left of the center line... to the very edge of the fabric on the bottom. Do the same for the opposite side (draw line from (2) to right side of edge B).
Cut along those lines. You now have 2 strips. You can use these to cut the rest of your strips by folding all the other fabrics in half the same way.. laying them on top of each other.. than lay the strips you just cut on top of all of those and cut along the template lines (edges of strips).
The following is cutting directions for a 6 strip skirt where you only have 2 different fabrics OR a 9 strip skirt with 3 different fabrics... You should have 3 pieces of fabric(typically 1 yard in length).. fold this in half... with the length running selvage to selvage. see pic below . So if your fabric was 1 yard.. you would have a big rectangle measuring 18 inches by 44 inches (or whatever the width of your fabric was).
Now take your measurement for the top of your strip and divide by two -so if making a strip with a 42 inche waistband.. your top of strip measurement is 42/6 + 0.5 = 7.5 inches. Take that 7.5 inches / 2 = 3.75 inches. On selvage A measure in from the center fold 3.75 inches and mark. This mark is labeled (1).
Now measure from mark (1) to the edge of the cut edge of the fabric. (to clarify this... as in example above of rectangle 18 by 44... you would measure in 3.75 inches, mark it. Then measure from that mark to the edge and that would measure 14.25 inches). this measurement is the width of the BOTTOM of each of your strips. Move down to Edge B. Take the measurement of the BOTTOM of your strips (14.25) and divide that in half... 7.12 or something, LOL. Measure that amount in from the center fold of edge B (like you did at edge A ). Mark that (labeled as (2) )....
Last edited by patchwork~mama : 06-06-2003 at 06:11 AM.
From this mark measure out another 7.5 inches (or whatever the width of the top of your strip should be) and mark that (labeled as (3) ).
Now that you have your marks, its time to connect them. Connect mark (1) on selvage A with mark (2) on selvage B with a straight line. Then draw a line from the cut edge (right side in my pics) of selvage A to mark (3) on selvage B. Cut along these two lines.
You should now have 3 strips that should be almost the same size. Do the same thing for the rest of your fabric, or you can use one of those strips as a template to cut the rest!
Wonderful directions! Thank you so much for including pictures, they really help. You are so nice to lead this, it must be a lot of work to write it all out!
__________________ ~Heather
Mama to my two sweet boys Carter (10!) and Owen (3),
and my sweet girl Leah Charlotte, born 12/10/03
Those are fabric weights. Instead of using pins you put the pattern piece on the fabric with those on top so it doesn't shift, then cut
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Blessings, Cindy
"Death is that state in which one exists only in the
memory of others, which is why it is not an end.
No goodbyes, just good memories."
Tasha Yar-Star Trek The Next Generation
oh, i forgot to say that you dont need to cut your stirps the whole length of the width of the fabric(44 or 42 inches). If you dont want to waste fabric... you can cut off some of your fabric width.. meaning as in my example above im making the skirt to be 38 inches long ..... You could cut off the folded rectangle so its 12 inches wide by 38 inches instead of the whole 42 or 44 inches it came as.. kwim? I would use 38 inches because ill be adding a 1.5-2 inch drawstring casing making.... 38 inch long strip will give me enough room for seam allowance when attaching the waistband and when hemming at the bottom.
i hope i didnt just confuse everyone, LOL.
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*~* tiffany - WAHMama to kyla lennon (5/3/01) & willow dawn (11/27/04)*~* Girl Woman Goddess Creations -patchwork clothing, diapers, diaper bags, & more!
Extend this center line all the way up from edge B to edge A. 
Linear Mode
