bibbidi-bobbidi-boo skirt

[aimeekitty]

1 watching of Cinderella + 1/2 watching of Sleeping Beauty = SKIRT!
I'd work on my stays and pocket hoops but I can't get any of the materials I need. And apparently I'm OCD this weekend and want to MAKE things. I just wanted to make something basic and simple this time.
I wonder if it's casual enough to wear to work? I think so! This is another fabric I'd been saving from Japan. I'm glad to be using up some stuff! I think I'll save the remnants of the fabric to line the inside of my next corset (like Judy did). I'd like to make a black victorian corset next.

Comments

[mutantmint.livejournal.com]

That fabric is sooo fun! Such a cute skirt ^_^ I need some fun Japanese fabric.

[bluejeans07.livejournal.com]

That skirt is adorable!! I think you totally can wear it to work, it'd look adorable underneath a cute little vest. <3

[eleryth.livejournal.com]

Adorable!

What kind of closures do you do on these? And did you use a pattern, or just measure to get the pleats all nice?

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I do a zipper closure in the back with a button at the top, and then if I want to get frou frou, I do detachable bow ties (additionally).

The pleats are actually really easy, you just mark off every 1 1/2 inch (or whatever) and then draw each line towards the previous or next, depending. (and then press of course.)
I don't use a pattern, I just looked at one of the skirts I liked and figured it out.

[eleryth.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the explanation! I was especially curious of the closure and pleating method since lining up pleats to end nicely and then put in a zipper has caused me much angst in the past. (Had to repleat a skirt 4 or 5 times... ugh).

Detachable bows sound like fun! Do you use snaps, then, for those?

Sorry for all the questions. I really appreciate your time, replying to a lolita-skirt-newbie like me. I've just got to get up the courage to make something like this; I think they're super cute, but incorporating it into my style is more of a challenge. I really liked your outfit the other day, with the plaid skirt, the black top and the belt? That, I could totally wear and be comfortable in.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

you can just cut the pleated fabric somewhere where it will match up with the zipper. really you just need enough to make the last pleat plus seam allowance. :) It ended up that the same amount that I like to use for a gathered skirt worked out to be the same amount required to do this sort of pleat. My waist is about 31 inches. I like to cut TWO large rectangles about 42 by 21. Then I cut out the waist band, about 34 by 4 inches. (this allows for an overlap with the button that looks nice) ... then I just fit my pleats or gathers to the waist band. The only important thing is making sure that I have enough waistband to fit my waist, plus the tab overlap. So I only fit the skirt part to the waistband not including the tab overlap, if that makes sense. :)
The waist band is 4 inches wide to allow for you to fold it over to make the band easily. So the final waistband width is about 1-1 1/2 inches.

make sure when you are figuring the length of your skirt that you allow for petticoat if you plan to wear one, and also that you allow for the length of the lace. ^_^

for the detachable bow sashes, I just cut two long tapered rectangles (thinner on the beginning and wider on the sash end). Hem them up, basically, and then put a button hole at the thin end. So now you've got two bow ends. Put a button at the side of the skirt (on both sides). this makes for a cute attachment. Then you can tie the bow sashes in the back to make a cute bow. This, basically, is what all those lolita brands do.

I think it really depends on the fabric, the style of the skirt and what you wear it with.
like this one: http://aimeemajor.com/gothloli/wonderparty.jpg
I love it, but I don't think I could wear it casually, really.

while these, I can wear everyday:
http://aimeemajor.com/gothloli/metabiscuit.jpg
http://aimeemajor.com/gothloli/metablue.jpg

I do find that the pleats often make the skirt a bit poofier than the same amount of fabric done in gathers. Which can be good or bad. :)

[eleryth.livejournal.com]

Wow, super detailed response! Thank you! The measurements are actually quite handy, as I think that's about my size as well.

I really want to try this over my Christmas break, and see what comes of it. I'm lacking really cute fabric, but a first skirt can be anything, I recon! Winter sorta calls for plaids, so those shouldn't be hard to find.

Thanks also for the pic of the pleats; you didn't have to go that far, but it's nice to see that they're... I don't know how to describe it... full-box pleats, and not just little ones where the edges don't meet (I hope that makes sense).

I'm adding this one to my memories! *runs off to do so*

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

This is essentially how the pleats work. :)

[mamamantras.livejournal.com]

I know that lovely skirt isn't SUPPOSE to make me think of "The Girl in the Fireplace", but... it does. Then my brain goes down the merry path of Doctor Who Lolita wear and what that could be.

Clearly, I need more Chai.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

HAHA.. I still need to make my tardis lolita skirt. :)

but maybe I can get a black and white tshirt with something doctor-y on it to wear with this cinderella skirt? get out the puff pens and make a lonely angel tshirt :P :)

[sakurae.livejournal.com]

I still haven't decided what to do with my fabric from that year too XD I think I have the black one and the brown (I think it was brown o_O). I love your recent skirts though! Cute and simple!

[sakurae.livejournal.com]

OU and I finally finished Season 3.

KEEKEE Face of Boe.