"The fabric arrived and it is beautful and we are very pleased. I made my grand daughter a duvea cover out of the large piece and pillows from the other. Looks just beautiful and she loves it. Her room is all decorated in Hawaiian colors - so pretty. Your Materials are beautiful."
-- Phyllis

Monthly Project for April, 2003

Pa'u Skirt (Hula Practice Skirt)

Skirt Panels

1. Determine the length of the skirt panels. Measure from waist to mid-calf. To this measurement, add 7 inches. This is the panel length. (For a children's skirt, add 5 inches. See additional instructions below.)
2. Determine the yards needed. Multiply the panel length times three. (Multiply by four or five if you prefer to have a four or five panel skirt.)
   
   Example: Waist to mid-calf is 23 inches. 23+7=30 inches. This is the panel length. 30x3=90 inches of fabric required for a three panel skirt. Divide by 36 to get yards need. 90/36=2.5, which would be 2-1/2 yards for a three panel skirt. A four panel skirt would be 30x4=120 inches. 120/36=3.33, which would be 3-1/3 yards for a four panel skirt. A five panel skirt would be 30x5=150 inches. 150/36=4.167, which would be 4-1/6 yards for a five panel skirt.
3. Measure panel length along selvage edge and cut panels.
4. With right sides together, stitch panels together along salvage edges to make one long horizontal piece. Do not join last panels together into a skirt.
5. Finish top and hem by surging or sewing a rolled hem the top and bottom (cut edges) along the entire length.

Casing

1. With right side facing down, fold over (towards you) 7 inches from the top and press. This will be the casing.
2. Measure 1-1/2 inches from top of fold and stitch. This will be the top ruffle of the skirt casing.
3. From your first stitching row, measure 3/4 inches and stitch again the entire length. Measure another 3/4 inches for a total of five. In all you will have six rows of stitching in the casing band. The top row will be 1 1/2 inches, and the bottom five rows will be 3/4 inches.

Elastic

1. Measure waist and add two inches. This is the length for cutting the elastic.
2. Cut three lengths of elastic.
3. Insert 5/8 inch non-roll elastic into second casing, using a safety pin to full through. The top casing is the ruffle. Insert the next elastics into the 4th and 6th casings.
4. Adjust the fit of the elastic.

Finish

Seam the final panels together, right sides together to finish skirt.

Children's Pa'u Skirt

To make a child's Pa'u skirt, add 5 inches to the measurement from waist to mid-calf. Fold over 5 inches for Casing in STEP 1. In Casing STEP 2 measure 1 inch from top. In Casing STEP 3 measure additional stitches 1/2 inch from the last row of stitches. Use 3/8 inch elastic.