Replies

1. 
   solosmocker | Jul 27, 2007 05:10am | #1

   I love to read and watch all I can on fashion. But I am not familiar with your term "pettiskirt". Could you share a description? I have a guess but its just that.

1. 
   kuecker3 | Jul 29, 2007 01:04am | #11

   This is a link to a site that has them.  They are starting to show up on yourng women now too.

    http://mytrendygirl.com/index.php?cPath=27

    

1. 
   Gloriasews | Jul 30, 2007 10:21pm | #13

   Very interesting!  So these are worn as an actual skirt, not a petticoat under a full skirt as they were worn in the 50s?  I can certainly see why people would want to make their own - the prices!

   Gloria

1. 
   BernaWeaves | Jul 31, 2007 12:39am | #14

   Oh, I would have loved a skirt like that when I was little!

   Actually, now that I think about it, my Mom made me one in 196? (cough cough).  I wore a black leotard and had this white net crinoline / ballet skirt that I would twirl and twirl in.   It wasn't exactly for outside wear, as it looked more like a crinoline that you'd wear under a skirt.

    

   Berna

    

    

1. 
   Gloriasews | Jul 31, 2007 01:15am | #15

   So, are these pettiskirts actually a skirt (not a crinoline)?  I hadn't heard of them until this thread, but I can't imagine them being worn as street wear by themselves, without them looking like a ballet costume.  Guess I must just be stuck in the 50s with them being a crinoline under my circle skirts!

2. 
   CostumerVal | Jul 27, 2007 06:08am | #2

   I looked on the web at the pettiskirts.  They're square dancers petticoats for kids.  They are usually 3 teirs, 2 layers, made from nylon net, nylon chiffon, tricot, organza (The organza will be a bit much for a kid) Anyway, when you look at them don't be shocked when you see "60 yards of chiffon"  They're measured  by the bottom hem.  You'll want the top layer to be about 2-3 times hip measurement.  This is thin fabric, if it's not you wouldn't want that much around the waist.  You'll probably want to fold it in half and stitch an elastic casing.  Then you'll have the bottom edge of 2 layers to gather the next teir to.  Do you follow me so far?  It's all math from there.  Set your tensions or gauges on your ruffling or gathering feet for 2:1 or 3:1 depending on thickness and go.  If you use nylon fabric and cut it with a hot knife you wont have to hem.  Looks like that's what that designers doing, and she's adding a short strip to the bottom of the last teir to make it "fluffy".  Get all the layers done and then stitch down the back.  Be sure to finish the waistband first and stitch part way down the first teir.  If you can visualize it, the skirt should be bigger than a full 360 circle at the bottom,  so; length (radius) X 2 = diameter,  X  3.14 (Pi) and there's the minimum length of your bottom teir strips.    She'll love it.

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Jul 27, 2007 08:36am | #3

   Great information!  There seems to be no limits to your knowledge and expertise!  Your instructions are always so clear and informative.  So glad to have you here on the forum! 

   I remember pettipants that we wore under our skirts!  I thought they were so "femine and frilly", these pettiskirst sounds alot like what we called "can cans"  which were stiff very full half slips.  I wore alot of those when I was very young.  Boy do I ever feel old tonight!  lol  Mary

1. 
   CostumerVal | Jul 27, 2007 05:09pm | #4

   Yes, me too.  I managed to skip the can cans, but not the pettipants.  My mother made them to match all my dresses.  Yes,  I was only allowed to wear dresses, and the pettipant was the reason we could do those crazy spins on the playground bars.  As soon as I learned to sew, it was pants pants pants.  My mother was so disappointed.

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Jul 27, 2007 05:51pm | #5

   My mother tried very hard to raise "young ladies".  Luckily my sister loved being the princess!  It took a bit of the preassure off of me, the "tomboy" in the frilly dress...till my teens anyway.  I wasn't "allowed" to wear jeans until 10th grade!!! 

1. 
   solosmocker | Jul 27, 2007 07:36pm | #6

   Pettipants came to my mind first thing also. I wore them under pleated wool uniform skirts. :(I agree with Mary. Val, you are a gem, so very knowdedgable and helpful. I always enjoy reading your posts. solo

2. 
   Gloriasews | Jul 27, 2007 10:39pm | #7

   This sounds like the crinolines we wore in the 50s under our full-circle skirts - is that what you're describing?  I had several of both the crinolines & the full-circle skirts (which were a cinch to make).  I also starched the skirts every time I washed them - loved them!  Some of us made extra crinolines out of half-slips (the bought ones were expensive).  We started sewing the layers of gathered nylon net (which was really cheap - so were the half-slips on $1.49 day) at about hip level & added layers downward to the length we wanted - sometimes the layers were different colours (pastels) or, for special occasions, they'd be the colour of the skirt we were wearing.  We never wore pettipants, but I remember seeing them in magazines at the time.

   Gloria

   Edited 7/27/2007 3:40 pm by Gloriasews

1. 
   CostumerVal | Jul 28, 2007 03:08am | #8

   Yes, that's exactly it.  It would be nice if the 50's dresses would come back too, they're much more attractive than these 70's hip hugger pants.  But I'll pass on the pointy bras.  LOL

1. 
   Josefly | Jul 28, 2007 03:56am | #9

   Oh, pointy bras - there are some things that should NEVER come back! Isn't it funny how long it took for someone to figure out that women aren't shaped like that?

2. 
   Gloriasews | Jul 28, 2007 09:19pm | #10

   I have to agree with Josefly - oh, those pointy bras!!!  Sometimes I had to put Kleenex in the point so it wouldn't collapse - & the cups were stitched in circles, like a target.  We were conditioned then, though, like the kids are today with the hip-hugger pants, that the pointier, the better.  Definitely, we weren't then or are now built that way (except for maybe Madonna)!

   Gloria

3. 
   kuecker3 | Jul 29, 2007 01:05am | #12

   thank you so much, this is just what I was looking for.