Making a skirt with lots of "swirl"

I'm trying to make a skirt that will swirl way out when you twirl. The desired effect is that the skirt sticks more or less straight out as the wearer spins, or (if it's not a full circle) sticks out as far as it can go.

I have tried making almost-full-circle skirts, but find that the bottom (hem) of the skirt starts to ripple and flap before the skirt extends out as far as it ought to be able to.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what is needed?

I've been using a fairly simple design -- 3/4 or 7/8 of a flat circle, with the inner diameter chosen to get the waist size and the outer one to give the right skirt length -- anywhere from a few inches below the knee to over-the-ankle.

I just use lightweight cotton or cotton broadcloth with a hem, sometimes some piping or lace at the hem.

Does it need to have a different profile? Heavier fabric? Flaps and spoilers :-) ?

-- AMM

Reply to
AMM
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I've made many a full circle skirt out of various fabrics over the years, and anything from skating skirt length to carpet sweeper! The best way to get any circular skirt twirling out like a dinner plate is to spin faster! The lighter the fabric, the faster the spin! On really light weight fabrics, a decent hem weight is necessary to stop the ripples: try lead shot tape as used in shower and net curtains...

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

The faster the spin, the harder it flaps :(

I'm a little concerned with how it would feel to get hit by it. Getting hit by a skirt hem is sort of flirtatious, but I wonder if it would be so enjoyable if it had lead weights in it.

Would doubled-over fabric sewn behind the hem work? Or maybe some ruffles on the front? (Would the aerodynamic effect of ruffled fabric make things better or worse?)

Reply to
AMM

hee hee hee

Go down to the last picture on this page and read:

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Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRAS

Doreen in Alabama

Reply to
Doreen

Yeah. Ever since I read that, I love STARING at the dress when I watch the movie.

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRAS

Dear AMM,

Maybe making more than one circle will give the swirl you want. Cascade ruffles are made that way; it seems as though lots of swirl can be achieved by sewing perhaps another half circle to it.

Teri

Reply to
gjones2938

I'm not sure what you mean -- something like using 6 gores, each of which is a quarter circle? Or you talking about having something like two skirts, one on top of the other?

If you're talking about the first, I'm not sure how it helps my problem: I would think that having more cloth at the hem would just mean more cloth to flap around. My goal is for it to stick out without flapping.

-- AMM

Reply to
AMM

Dear AMM,

I meant something like six 1/4-circle gores. I thought you wanted it to swirl when dancing, perhaps? If that's not the case, how about making a circle with a gathered waistline? You would plan the amount of gather at the waistline, then draw the desired length of the skirt after the waistline is established on your draft. That would make it stick out.

Teri

Reply to
gjones2938

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