Spanish Gypsy Shawl & Overskirt
Designer: Dahlal
ITEMS YOU'll NEED:
In three easy steps and approximately 30 minutes you can have a great accessory for troupe or solo performances!
Instructions:
Step 1: Lay your shawl lengthwise in front of you and fold it first lengthwise and then crosswise. At the corner of the double fold, mark off a 5" quarter circle. Cut along the dotted line through all layers. You should now have an opening approximately 44". (Depending on your hip size you may need to increase or decrease the size of your quarter circle before cutting.) We have created this pattern so that you can simply step into it to slip the skirt on when it's finished, so make sure the opening is large enough or create a full side slit before you move on to Step 2.
Step 2: Making the casing. Open up the shawl. There should be a large oval cutout in the center. Now take the 2" hem tape and open out one quarter inch fold of the hem tape, laying it along the raw edge of the cutout, making sure all raw edges are even. (Match the right side of the hem tape to the wrong side of the skirt.) Starting 1" in from the end of the tape, sew along the open fold of the tape, all the way around the oval and up to the point where you began stitching. This should give you a nice 1/4" seam. Cut off the extra hem tape, leaving a 1" extension. Fold over (crosswise) the first tape extension at the end and then take the other 1/4" folded edge of the hem tape and bring it down so the folded edge lies barely over your seam. (Wrong side of tape over right side of the skirt.) Now top stitch the casing on by stitching right along the very edge of the quarter inch fold. Before sewing up the end of the tape, remember to fold over that raw edge as well. Your casing should now be complete!
Step 3: Cut a piece of 3/4" nonroll elastic approximately 25". Thread it through the opening of your casing and secure the ends of the elastic by sewing back and forth with your sewing machine. You should now have a finished Spanish Gypsy Overskirt!
Other Creative Options:
1. Create the coin top in our picture or other similar designs by following our instructions under our November/December 2005 Dancer Design online.
2. Fuller figure types: Create a top from one of our Spanish Gypsy shawls by following Step 1, but make a smaller opening for your head. Finish the raw edges by folding them under and top stitching along the edge with a sewing machine or finish the edge by serging it. In a few minutes you'll have a great top with more coverage, or a dressy cover-up!
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