If you're going to a luau party, or if you are just looking for a fun and simple costume to throw together, try making a traditional looking Hawaiian hula skirt. You can make them out of inexpensive materials found in any craft store. They're easy to make, even if you don't have any sewing skills, and they look great when you're ready to get out and shake your grass.
Instructions
1. Purchase raffia from a craft store in traditional hula skirt colors---brown or green---or in fun colors if you want to add a bit of flash to your outfit. The natural raffia is more traditional, but synthetic fiber raffia is less expensive and still looks great, and it comes in the funky colors. The choice is yours.
2. Purchase elastic long enough so that it will fit around your waist. Measure your waist if you're not sure of your size to ensure you buy a length that will fit around you.
3. Unwrap the elastic and wrap it around your waist. Don't pull it too taut; you don't want it to be tight, but it should fit snugly. Add an additional inch, and cut off any excess.
4. Stitch the ends of the elastic together to form a waist band. Try it on again. If it is too loose, stitch it again to tighten it. When it feels comfortable, you're all set.
5. Measure from your waist to below your knee, or as long as you want the skirt to be. Lay out the raffia evenly and cut it to be about 2 inches longer than the length you want your skirt to be.
6. Fold each raffia strip over the elastic band and tie it into place. Continue adding raffia strips until the skirt is as full as you like it. This method is a bit time consuming, but the raffia will hold best.
7. If you prefer to glue your raffia to save time, take a handful of raffia and bend the top 2 inches over the elastic, to what will be the inside of the waist line. Glue them on with a hot glue gun. Be careful when stretching the elastic so that you don't pull off the raffia.
8. Try your skirt on for size when it is finished. Shake your hips a bit to make sure the raffia is staying in place.
Tags: your waist, around your, around your waist, craft store, hula skirt, over elastic, that will