Hula skirts are great for costumes, fun summer outfits, and arts and crafts projects.The most popular way to make hula skirts is to use paper bags or raffia, which is a natural material made from strips of the raffia palm trees.These skirts can be made at home with a few basic supplies.
Step 1: Take care of your materials.
You will need a sturdy string, a measuring tape, scissors, and raffia or ribbon.You will need a sink or bowl to soak your ribbon in, and a flat surface where you can lay the ribbon out to dry.If you want a dense hula skirt that you can't see through, you'll need about 4 large packages of ribbon or raffia.2 large packages is enough for a lighter skirt.You can purchase all of these supplies at your local craft store.
Step 2: You can dampen your ribbon by soaking it in the water.
Wrap your ribbon around your raffia.It will most likely be bent, curled, and twisted from being rolled into its packaging, so soaking it and laying it flat to dry will fix it.Take 5 minutes to get the hot water out of the sink or bowl.
Step 3: Dry your ribbon.
Remove your ribbon from the water and put it on top of a towel to dry.It will take a few hours to dry, and feel completely dry to the touch before you attach it to your skirt.
Step 4: Measure the length of your skirt.
If you want your hula skirt to be long, take your measuring tape and measure from your waist to your knees.You don't want to forget this measurement, so write it down.
Step 5: You should cut your ribbon to the right length.
Double this number and add 2 inches after you find the measurement you wrote down in the last step.If you want the skirt to be 15 inches long, you should cut your ribbon into pieces.You have to double the length of your ribbon because each piece will end up being two strands of fringe for your skirt.
Step 6: Determine the width of your skirt by measuring your waist.
To find out how long you need to cut your string, wrap your measuring tape around your waist.Take that measurement and add 12 inches.This extra length will be used to tie and untie your skirt.You will have this string on your waist.If your waist is 30 inches, cut your string so that it is 42 inches long.
Step 7: Use Larks head knots to tie each piece of raffia or ribbon to your string at a time.
Instructions on tying Larkshead knots can be found here.To tie a larks head knot, you need to take a piece of raffia or ribbon and fold it in half.Take the looped end of your ribbon and slide it under your string.The loose ends should be above the waistband.Take the ends of your ribbon or raffia and fold them around you.Pull the ends through the loop and secure the ribbon to the waistband.Attach each piece of ribbon or raffia to your hula skirt.It should take a few packages.If you want to tie and untie your skirt, leave 6 inches on each end of your waistband string.
Step 8: The skirt should be tied around your waist.
You can tie and untie your skirt if you use a bow instead of a knot.Have a good time in your hula skirt.
Step 9: Take all of your materials.
You'll need packing tape or a stapler, as well as a pair of scissors, a pencil, and a thick string.It isn't necessary to have a ruler.
Step 10: The paper bag needs to be cut.
Start by cutting the corner seams of the bag all the way to the bottom.Cut around the perimeter of the bag to remove the bottom.The bag should be in a shape that is long.If you plan on using more than one bag, repeat this step with each bag.Wrap a horizontally around your waist to see how many bags you need.You only need to use one if it goes all the way around you.You'll need to add an additional bag if the bag leaves more than a couple inches showing.You don't need to use entire bags.It might take a bag and a half to fit around your waist.You can cut and tape the exact amount of paper bag that you need, because it's just paper.
Step 11: If you want your paper bag to be horizontal, place it on a flat surface.
Leave the words or logos on the bag facing upwards.The inside of your hula skirt can be found on the upward facing side of the bag.The words or logos won't show when you're wearing a skirt.
Step 12: The bag has a waistband on it.
When you're making the fringe of your skirt, drawing an outline for your waistband will show you where to stop.To make a small mark with a pencil, take your ruler and measure 1-2 inches down from the top of the bag.Place your ruler on the mark and trace a straight line across the top of your bag.Your hula skirt's waistband will be marked off by this line.
Step 13: The fringe of your skirt can be created by cutting strips into your bag.
Cut strips into your bag by starting at the bottom of the bag and cutting upwards until you reach the waistband outline.Depending on how you want your fringe to be, strips should be 1/2 inch.Cut the bag in half.You should repeat this with any additional bags.While you do the next step, lay the bag flat.
Step 14: Attach your string to something.
To see how much you need, wrap the string around your waist.If you want to tie and untie your hula skirt, be sure to include a few extra inches of string on each side.Next, cut the string.After the string is cut, lay it on top of the skirt that wasn't cut.To tie and untie your skirt, center the string to leave a few inches on each end.If you are using multiple bags, lay the bags side by side and tape or staple the end of the waistbands together.The string will be laid along the entire width of your skirt.
Step 15: Attach your string to your skirt.
Your skirt will not stay on if the string is not secured well.Heavy-duty tape can be used, like packing tape or masking tape.The string should be taped down along the entire waistband.It's best to add a staple every 2 inches.
Step 16: The skirt needs to be put on.
Put the skirt on your body.It is easy to tie and untie your skirt if you use a bow.If you put the tape on the inside of your skirt, you can't see it from the outside.