How to Make a Poodle Skirt 101

If you don't want the hassle of making your own skirt, please read my guide entitled, "Poodle Skirts 101." However, if you're the do-it-yourself type, keep reading. I''ve learned alot through trial and error in the past year making more than 150 poodle skirts for girls and ladies of all sizes and I'm happy to share my knowledge with you. If you own a sewing machine and are comfortable doing basic things like making curtains, hemming pants, or mending a torn seam, you can make a poodle skirt. There are certainly many commercially available patterns that you can purchase on eBay or at the fabric store, but, in my opinion--they're not necessary. I am going to list several basic steps for you to follow to make a poodle skirt with an elastic waistband. A poodle skirt with a zipper and regular waistband will require additional steps, skill, and materials that won't be covered in this guide. Use your own creativity to change or expand any of my suggestions.

1. Visit the fabric store. You will see a wide range of felt available. I buy a medium weight felt (72" wide) that usually runs about $5. per yard for most colors and up to $8. for colors like Bubblegum Pink which costs more to make because of the special dye required. A decent poodle skirt should use about 2 yards for a girl's size and anywhere from 3-4 for a good ladies skirt. Ladies size Large skirts and Plus Sizes may require more. A toddler size is the only one that can get by with one yard. If less felt is used, you will not achieve the fullness and length characteristic of a classic poodle skirt.  Second, choose a poodle applique that you like and is the right proportion for your skirt. For example, a ladies skirt requires at least a 5" wide poodle or it just looks silly. Retail price ranges from $3. to $8. here in Texas. And, on the other hand, I think a small girl's skirt looks silly with an enormous poodle--but, once again, that is my personal preference. Third, buy at least one yard of a single row sequin trim. This usually runs about .50 a yard. You do not want individual sequins, but the kind that comes wrapped around a plastic or cardboard spool. Fourth, don't forget matching thread for all three items--the felt, the poodle applique, and the sequins. Lastly, you will need about one yard of 3/4" elastic for one waistband. This shouldn't cost more than $1.00.

2. Once you get home with all of these items, you will need the following items: a flexible measuring tape, good scissors, a marking pen that will show up on your felt color, and a large hard surface. The most important thing that you do next is to measure the person you are making the skirt for. You need a waist measurement and a length in inches from the waist to mid-calf. If the skirt is for you, have someone else take this measurement for you. Lay out your felt on the table or hard surface. Use your length measurement and add one inch to it. For example, if the length between calf and waist was 23", you will measure 24" from the side of the felt and make a mark. Do the same thing from the right side of the felt. The space between these two marks will be where you cut out the waist. For girls skirts and small to medium ladies skirts, begin at the 72" edge of the felt. For a Ladies Large and up, start on the side of the felt that is perpendicular to the 72" edge. Place your measuring tape in a semi-circle on the edge of the felt that is 72" wide. The tape will start at zero on the mark you just made for the length on the left side. If the waist measured 30", for example, you want the waist to be at least 5" bigger than that to allow for fitting over the hips. So, for a 30" waist, make a 35" semi-circle on your felt with the measuring tape. Mark the edges of the semi-circle and fill in the spaces between the marks to draw a solid semi-circle. Place your measuring tape at zero at at least 15 points around the semi-circle with the same length measurement you used on the sides of your waist section--in this example 24" and place marks at each point. You will be making another semi-circle exactly 24" from the one you drew for the waist. Carefully cut out the waist and the bottom or hem of the skirt.  You also have the option of making a full circle skirt. In that case, you will make a full circle with your measuring tape in the very center of your felt and follow the same directions as above. I find that the large semi-circle that I described above looks great. The exception to this would be if you are planning on wearing a large stiff crinoline or petticoat. In that case you will may need the full circle to provide enough fabric to flow nicely over the crinoline. As with all of the steps listed here--follow your own personal preference. If you have a picture in your mind of a big full skirt that extends out from the body, you will most likely want to make the full circle and plan to wear it with a petticoat.

3. Keep the side with the markings on the outside and bring the two flat sides together. This will be your back seam. Sew straight from waist to hem of skirt. Then, turn one inch of the felt under to the wrong side and sew the waistband all the way around except for about 2". Cut a piece of elastic that will stretch about 2" smaller and about 5" larger than your waist measurement. Pin a large safefy pin on one end and pin the other end to the felt to keep the elastic from disappearing. Thread the elastic with the safety pin all the way through the waistband. Bring the two ends of the elastic together and reinforce many times with a zig-zag stich. Fold the unsewn portion of the waistband over the elastic and sew the last part of the waistband.

4. Hold the skirt up to see where you want the poodle. Pin it on. If you have an appllique stitch on your computer, use it. If not a simple zig-zag stitch will work. Slowly sew around the edges of the poodle. I do not recommend ironing on the applique even if it has a iron-on background. Sewing is much more durable. Then take one end of your sequin trim at place it next to the poodle's neck. Using a very wide zig-zag stitch, slowly move the skirt placing the sequins where you want them. I try to make some curves in the line of sequins, but that's up to you.

That's all there is to it. If that seems like more work than you're interested in, once again, be sure to read my guide about buying a poodle skirt. If you're up for this challenge--best wishes to you. These steps are the ones that I follow. There are certainly many ways to make a poodle skirt--but I know that this one works and I have had many wonderful customers to take the time to let me know how much they love the skirt when they receive it. One more thing--HAVE FUN!