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Simplicity 2226 - changing gathers to pleats?
anwen Beginner UNITED KINGDOM Member since 1/6/08 Posts: 96	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/3/12 4:11 PM I'm thinking of making this skirt but it seems to have a LOT of fabric to gather - I measured the pattern and the size 18 (which is recommended for my 32" waist - my hips are 4" bigger than the 42" hips on the 18) front piece seems to be 15" at the hip level, so that's 30" (with seam allowances taken off, I mean) and the back is a couple of inches larger. I don't know that I need 60" of tartan fabric around my hips..? But if so, I'm pretty sure I don't want it gathered, so I'm wondering if I could reasonably convert the gathering to pleats. The fabric is polyviscose tartan, so I'm assuming I wouldn't be able to do pressed down pleats, but the unpressed sort should work, right? I just need to make sure I make the pleated top edge of the piece match the bottom of the yoke, don't I? Am I missing something? Or, could I comfortably remove some of the seemingly vast amount of fabric and have a less extreme gathering type thing going on?
DonnaH Intermediate TX Member since 10/1/03 Posts: 466	Login to reply to this post In reply to anwen << Like this post Date: 10/3/12 5:31 PM You may not need to cut that large a size. If you look at the review from elationcreation, she says according to the measurements on the envelope, she needed a 14, but cut a sample waistband (pattern pieces 4 and 5) in a 10 - and it fit. So try sewing up a waistband in a 14 or 16 first. If you still feel you really need a larger size around the hips, grade out to it from whatever waist size fits. And gathers are actually easier than pleats (which is probably why this pattern does it that way. If you feel comfortable in your math skills (enough that the pleats will be evenly distributed), then go for it.
anwen Beginner UNITED KINGDOM Member since 1/6/08 Posts: 96	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/3/12 5:36 PM Good point, although even the 12 has something like 57" of fabric at the hip... But thanks for pointing that outwill definitely try the smaller size waistband.
STL Mom   Member since 4/14/07 Posts: 29	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/3/12 8:30 PM I made this skirt, and it is huge! I ripped out the back zipper, took in an inch on each side, and it's still a bit big. Definitely go down a couple of sizes, maybe 2 in the waistband and 3 in the skirt pieces.
anwen Beginner UNITED KINGDOM Member since 1/6/08 Posts: 96	Login to reply to this post In reply to STL Mom << Like this post Date: 10/4/12 2:41 AM Thanks! I want some extra room, but 11" above my hip measurement if I make the 12 still seems a bit much! Am thinking of trying the 14 waist and 12 hips - going to be making it in a sewing class, so hopefully I can get a bit of advice from the tutor on the gathers/pleats thing, but maybe if I'm making a smaller main piece than waistband there won't be quite so much excess material to gather. I think I have all the sizes in one envelope, might even contemplate making the 10 main piece, although I think then it might start getting a bit too narrow, not sure... I do want it to have some room for movement, I guess... Maybe I'll see if I have anything suitable to use as a muslin...

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