THIS AND THAT - I NEED HELP!

[jimmie w.]

I NEED HELP!!!

I have to make a Poodle Skirt for my 14 year old granddaughter by Dec. 1, 2009. I need suggestions for fabric - construction - and petticoat fabric. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Jimmie.

[Gloria H.]

If I remember right, the skirt was made from felt and it was a circle. Petticoat was probably a stiff (shoot-I'm having a brain freeze) mesh? Hope this helps. And I almost think you can buy patterns for it.

[Karen M.]

Yep...I remember my sister making an under slip out of net fabric then starching it very very stiff so it stood out full. It was very simple with an elastic waist and with a full net ruffle around the bottom. As for the skirt just about any fabric will do...I made one in high school out of gray cotton fabric then cut a poodle out of felt and sewed it on with embellishments like a ribbon leash and collar. What fun for your daughter!

[Diane O.]

Do a Google search for "poodle skirt directions" and you should come up with a list of websites that have suggestions for fabric and how to make them. The ones I looked at just briefly, didn't say anything about the petticoat but perhaps if you do a little more in depth looking, you may be able to find out more about it as well.

Diane in Colorado Springs

[Sue R.]

Hi Jimmie,

I know the major sewing pattern companies have carried poodle skirts pretty frequently--usually in the costume section. It's basically a big circle forming the bottom circumference of the skirt, with a small circle inside for the waist.

There are so many fabric choices you could use for the skirt---I think it will depend on what you choose for the petticoat/slip and how swirly you would like it to be. A lambskin type fleece or boucle fabric would make a great poodle to applique.

DMIL used to square dance and they have really exaggerated petticoats---she called it her crinoline, but looking at it closely, it was just layers of tulles with a simple elastic waist.

Hope something here helps you,

Sue

[Sue R.]

One of my DDs had one made for her. A large piece of felt (I think it measured 60" wide) cut in a circle; elastic waist band; and pompoms for the poodle.

[Sue R.]

I also made one using felt. Walmart had a poodle applique, but that was before they got rid of all the fabric. Pretty much as stated before a circle with a hole in the middle. I alos put a pretty ribbon around the edge.

[jimmie w.]

Thanks everybody for all of the suggestions. I can't wait to get started. Jimmie

[jimmie w.]

JoAnn's carries the poodle appliques in 2 sizes. There are several patterns by McCalls, Simplicity, etc. Felt is the tradition and it comes really wide, so its simple to cut it big enough. Good luck!
Nancy inNY

[jimmie w.]

I wore one when I was 12 in the early 60s... Pink felt with a black applique poodle made from satin and pom poms on the ears, head topper and tail.... smaller pom poms on the ankles of all four legs just above the feet.

It was really cool!.... Of course I had white sneakers / bobby socks and /or saddle shoes to compete the ensemble... do not forget the circle pin worn on the left shoulder of your cashmere ( fake) sweater... we use to button them up the back and tuck them in to be reallllllly cool.

[Liberata T.]

Golly that brings back memories. Actually it was my sister who had the full skirts with crinolines. She was a teen ager in the 50's & I am a 60's girl. The skirts are big circles with small circles for the waist. The crinolines are the stiffest netting you can find generally made of several layers. The petticoat is more difficult to construct than the skirt. Possibilities are wedding shops and square dancing outfitters.

[Liberata T.]

I never had the Poodle skirt. Didn't want one at the time. ops:
MyDA made me the petticoat anyway. It was made out of regular
net in a 3teir pattern as it was a pattern used by The lead lady on
Lawrence Welk Show, the bottom of the petticoat had a satin or
ribbon The skirt was made out of felt in a circle/w/ the poodles out
of pink and pom-poms to make it look like real poodles :roll: Oh well
now you know my age ops:
Marilyn in Okla

[Pat G.]

If you use felt, you may not need much of a petticoat. I made one for a friend's daughter years ago and the felt was stiff enough that it looked great by itself. Pattern companies like Simplicity etc have had patterns for this in their Halloween section. Piece of cake to make. Hardest part is elastic in a felt waistband but that's do-able too. It turns out so neat you'll really be proud of yourself! Get a white cardigan to wear with it and of course the neck scarf (like in the movie Grease). I not only had my own poodle skirt when I was a kid but I ended up with my sister's hand-me-down, unfortunately after they had gone out of style. My mom couldn't figure out why I never wore the hand-me-down version. Thanks for the memories!