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Member since 3/28/09
Posts: 3
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Posted on: 4/30/10 1:50 PM ET
I have a little bean on the way and have been sewing up a few dress/skirt patterns for her.

I now want to do a variation of the pattern to have a contrasting band of fabric around the bottom.

The bottom of the pattern has a slight curve in it. So I can not just cut a rectangular band and add to the bottom. It looks funny.

Can anyone offer a recommendation on how to cut my fabric for the contrasting band or direct me to a tutorial that would work for this? I would like the contrasting fabric to be the same width all the way around, but also still have that curve.

Hope this makes sense.

Thank you.
  
Member since 2/28/05
Posts: 2181
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Posted on: 4/30/10 2:29 PM ET
Make a copy of the skirt pattern and decide how deep you want the band to be. Cut the bottom of the pattern off, add a seam allowance and cut from the band fabric. Add a seam allowance to the bottom of the other skirt piece, cut from the other fabric.

Good luck with your project.



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Member since 7/27/05
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Posted on: 4/30/10 3:50 PM ET
I'm a pretty practical person so what I would do ...

If you're not lengthening the, just cut off the skirt pattern where you'd want the band to be joined. Measure up from the bottom of the skirt (say 3 inches all the way around) to preserve the curve. Write a note for yourself to add a seam allowance at the bottom of the skirt and one at the top of the band. When you cut them out, they should fit together just fine. This preserves the bottom skirt edge with the curve you like.

If you want to add length, I'd just extend the skirt pattern evenly (so add 3 inches all the around) to preserve the curve. Then do the same as above with cutting it off and noting to add seam allowances.

JEF

ETA: Like she said! I'd written this earlier but forgotten to hit "post" - hence the repetition!
-- Edited on 4/30/10 3:51 PM --
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Member since 3/6/09
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Posted on: 4/30/10 4:36 PM ET
You could also sew a bias strip of the contrast fabric onto the skirt, if it's a fairly narrow band, and the flare isn't crazy huge. Maybe sew it on like an inside-out deep hem?? Hard to explain, but it looks good in my head.
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Member since 3/28/09
Posts: 3
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Posted on: 4/30/10 5:05 PM ET
Thank you ladies!

JEF I thought about that, I just did not try it because the first 2 attempts I made did not work.

I figured I would be better off asking.

  
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Posted on: 4/30/10 7:37 PM ET
In reply to jojo smiley
How did it not work? Maybe we can sort out the trouble.
JEF
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Member since 3/28/09
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Posted on: 5/2/10 8:42 AM ET
It worked pretty well.

The center front/center back is maybe a quarter inch shorter than the sides because of the curves, but since it is such a slight difference it is not too obvious.

It will work for me.

  
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Posted on: 5/2/10 10:05 AM ET
Glad it worked out! Got a review? Pictures? If it's a baby dress, it's bound to be cute!
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