SOUTHWEST STYLE BROOMSTICK SKIRT

PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE BEGINNING THIS PROJECT

SIZE: This skirt should fit up to a size 14. If your waist and hips are larger, you should add another piece of 12" length fabric to tier #1. Use your own judgment to the amount you need.

LENGTH: The finished skirt length is 35". If you prefer a different length, use this formula to adjust the pattern.

Example: 32" length

Casing length 4"

Hem 1"

Seam Allowance 2"

Total 7"

Add 7"to the desired length of 32"

You need a total of 39 inches for your skirt.

Your tier #1 will always be 12" so subtract 12" from 39".

39"-12"= 27" so your tier #2 and #3 combined length will

be 27". Tier #2 and #3 are of equal lengths so divide

27" by 2 to get 13.5" length for these tiers.

YARDAGE: This skirt requires 4 1/4 yards of 45" wide fabric, 1 yard of 1" wide elastic and thread. Fabrics with natural fibers are preferred such as cotton calico, madras, etc.. If you have adjusted the length of your skirt, you need to adjust the length of purchased fabric.

Example: Skirt length 32"

Tier #1 1 x 12" = 12"

Tier #2 3 x 13.5 = 40.5

Tier #3 6 x 13.5 = 81"

Total 133.5"

There are 36" per yard so divide 133.5" by 36. That

gives you 3.8 yards. I suggest you buy 4 yards.

Cutting Layout: See Figure #1

Cut one width of 12" length fabric for tier #1.

Cut three widths of 15" length fabric for tier #2.

Cut six widths of 15" length fabric for tier #3.

SEWING INSTRUCTIONS: All seams are 1/2" unless otherwise instructed. If you use a serger, use it to cut off the selvage edges. If you use a sewing machine, trim the selvages before sewing.

See Figure #2

Sew or serge the seams for the six pieces of tier #3, leaving one seam open

Fold and press one side of tier #3 up 1/2" with wrong sides together. Turn up this side again 1/2" to form the hem. Blind hem stitch these folds in place with the sewing machine or by hand.

On the other side of this tier, zig zag over about 280" of thread 1/4" from the edge. This will be used to gather this tier.

See Figure #3

Sew or serge the seams for the 3 pieces of tier #2, leaving one end open. Zig zag over about 145" of thread on one side of tier #2 for gathering this tier.

Divide tier #2 into 6 parts, marking the non gathering edge to match tier #3 seams. Pin the gathering side of tier #3 to the non gathering side of tier #2 with the right sides together. The second seam of tier #3 should be pinned to the first seam of tier #2. Pin the fourth seam of tier #3 to the second seam of tier #2. Pin the rest of tier #3 seams to the respective marked divisions on tier #2.

Pull the ends of the thread zig zagged on tier #3 to form the gathers. Finish pinning tiers #2 and #3 together as needed. Sew or serge tiers #2 and #3 together.

See Figure #4

To form the elastic casing, fold over and press 1/4"of the top edge of tier #1 with the wrong sides together. Fold over and press another 2". Sew the casing in place at the edge of the first fold and again 1/4" from the edge of the second fold, leaving 2" open at one edge.

Divide and mark the other edge of tier #1 into 3 equal parts. Pin the gathering edges of tier #2 to tier #1 with the right sides together matching the seams of tier #2 to the marks on tier #1. Pull the ends of the thread zig zagged on tier #2 to complete the gathering. Finish pinning the tiers together as needed. Sew or serge tiers #1 and #2 together.

Sew the remaining seam of the skirt from the casing to the hem.

Measure your waist and subtract 1" to get the length of elastic needed for your skirt. One inch wide non-roll elastic is the preferred type for this skirt.

Thread the desired length of elastic through the opening of the casing. Sew the ends of the elastic together. Sew the opening used to thread the elastic into the casing. Adjust the casing evenly around the elastic. Divide the waist evenly into 4 parts and mark them. Sew from the top to the bottom edges of the

elastic and casing at the marks to prevent rolling of the elastic

during normal use of the skirt.

The sewing is now complete.

This skirt may be worn as it is now or you may form tiny pleats to get the "Southwest Broomstick" look.

See Figure #5

To do this, dip your skirt in light to medium liquid starch. Pull one leg of a discarded pantyhose (with the toe cut out) over your arm until your hand comes out the other end. With that hand, gather the waist of your skirt and hold firmly. With the other hand, pull the panty hose leg over your skirt as you take your skirt out of the starch. Squeeze out the excess starch.

Tie a ribbon or string to the waist and hang to dry. It will take 24 (or more) hours to dry.

If you don't have a discarded pantyhose, gather the waist in one hand and the hemline in the other. Pull the waist and hem

apart until the skirt is taut. Lay the skirt on a flat surface. Tie the skirt together at 1" to 2" intervals the entire length of the skirt. Hang to dry as instructed previously.

To protect the tiny pleats when not wearing the skirt, store it in the pantyhose leg or keep the string tied until you are ready to wear it.

Thanks to Ed Juge for these illustrations in GIF format