In my last post, we made a beautiful and classy DIY lace belly drape for your belly dance bra.
And in this post, we’ll create this matching colour block mermaid skirt skirt by hacking my favourite mermaid skirt pattern! Let’s get started!
Learn how to make your own Goddess Skirt pattern here and try this lace panel mermaid skirt!
And/Or
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To make this color block mermaid skirt, you need:
1yd (1m) of stretch lace
1yd (1m) of stretch nude mesh – I like using powermesh for making dance skirts with.
1yd (1m) of stretch fabric
Mermaid skirt pattern – In this video, I’ll show you an easy hack for my Goddess Skirt pattern from my Belly Dance Costume Workshop. You can make yours tailored to your size at the link 😉
Pattern paper – any paper would do. I’m using leftover wrapping paper here.
DIY Lace Side Panel Mermaid Skirt
Begin by folding the pattern paper and your skirt pattern in half.
Then line up the folds which is the centres of your skirt pattern and pattern paper and trace the skirt pattern.
Mermaid skirt patterns come in many shapes, so see how you can hack your pattern by watching my example. I love this Goddess Skirt pattern because it’s a very simple and versatile 8-panel mermaid skirt and it’s easy to create colour blocks and variations.
For this pattern, I created a notch where you attach a chiffon insert for the Goddess Skirt. But in this case, I measure 15 degrees here and extend the line. If you are using a different pattern, start the flare about 4in (10cm) above your knees (Learn why here).
Measure the length from the notch to the bottom, and measure it along the line you just drew. From that point, keep marking the measurement, and draw a nice curve to connect to the bottom.
Also smooth out the lines at the notch so that the line is a nice curve.
Cut the pattern along the line.
So as I said, this skirt has 8 panels. My plan is to make 2 solid panels in the front, 2 lace panels at the side, 2 solid panels at the back and 2 lace panels at the side. That means I’ll need 4 solid panels and 4 lace panels.
Place the pattern on your stretch solid colour fabric, and cut out 4 panels.
Also 4 of mesh and lace panels.
Take each set of the mesh and lace panels, and place them wrong sides together. And baste each set with a 1/4in (5mm) seam allowance along the sides and bottom edge. Leave the top edge separate so it will remain stretchy. By basting these 2 layers together, you can treat them as 1 layer. Do this for all 4 sets.
Sew together the solid panels and lace panels according to your skirt instructions. For this skirt, all you do is sew the side seams together at a 1/2in (1cm) seam allowance. And follow the order of 2 solid panels, 2 lace panels, 2 solid panels and 2 lace panels.
Then finish up the top edge and the hem. If you use my Goddess Skirt pattern, this pattern fits anyone perfectly and doesn’t require an elastic waistband. You know an elastic waistband creates a muffin top and takes an extra step to create it, so I like to avoid it wherever I can!
And now you have a color block mermaid skirt that matches your belly drape top! It’s a pretty simple costume, but the lace side panels and the beautiful edges created by lace make the costume look very sophisticated! If you want this Goddess Skirt pattern, check my Belly Dance Costume Workshop. The workshop enrolment is limited, so check it out now!
I didn’t decorate the costume so you can see how each part looks without decoration, but feel free to decorate it, and of course, you can change up the colours, textures and patterns for different panels and have fun hacking your mermaid skirt pattern!
Hope this DIY lace side panel mermaid skirt sparked ideas in your head, and if it did, please share this post with your dancer and costumer friends!
And if you want to learn more about belly dance costume making, sign up for Sparkly Belly newsletter from the link below and you’ll get access to my free course, Belly Dance Costume Making 101!
Sign up for my free course here!
Thanks for reading, and keep sparkling! 😀
P.S. Pin this image for your future projects 😉
Like what you read? Want to make more costuming bits yourself?
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Dear Mao, I so look forward to your e-mails and have saved every one since subscribing to Sparkly Belly. Thank you so much! We don’t have much going on around here for dancers, but I take classes and participate in the recitals when we have them. I often joke that when I’m an “old lady”, I’m going to make belly dance costumes for a living! I love to make beautiful things. When I am having coffee in bed, I use the time while waking up to do elaborate beading on bras and belts. Before you know it, the hours have passed and it looks like I have slaved away over it! Also, TV is just so dumb, that while my husband winds down his day, I sit on the couch and “slave” some more at night! I keep my machine set up most of the time, but that is not so successful because I’m still pretty new and still figuring it out. Every time I get one of your e-mails, though, it makes me want to try harder! Thank you, Mao! Denise
Aw thank you so much, Denise! Sorry, I didn’t see your comment until now, but I’m so touched by reading your love for making beautiful things! And look at you now – you’ve made a whole mermaid skirt and you’re working on a dress! You might be making costumes for a living way before you’re an old lady, Denise! 🙂
Hi Mao,
Can you share the link to where you get powermesh from. Thank you so much for all the wonderful tutorials and helpful hints. I have been sewing and making costumes for many years and I always learn something new from you.
Hi Nikki! So happy and I feel honoured to hear that 🙂 I usually pick up my powermesh from a local store, but if you are in the United States, Joann Fabrics usually carries some: https://www.joann.com/performance-fabric-power-mesh-tango-red/zprd_10655256a.html#q=powermesh&start=1
Another great source for power mesh (and any stretch fabric) is Spandex World. Looks like they have more colour options 🙂 https://www.spandexworld.com/c3/catalog/browse/category/15?cid=42