Creating Your Own Hula Skirt

Prepare your materials. You'll require raffia or ribbon (2-4 large packages), scissors, a measuring tape, and a durable string, such as yarn or twine. Additionally, you'll need a sink or bowl for soaking your raffia / ribbon, and a flat surface for drying.

• For a densely layered hula skirt (opaque in appearance), approximately 4 large packages of raffia or ribbon are necessary. Alternatively, 2 large packages should suffice for a lighter skirt.
• All these supplies can be easily acquired online or from your local craft store.

(optional) Moisturize your raffia or ribbon by soaking it in water. Begin by unwinding your raffia / ribbon. It's likely to be bent, curled, and twisted from being tightly wound in its packaging, so soaking it and laying it flat to dry will straighten it out. Submerge the raffia or ribbon in a sink or bowl filled with hot water for 5 minutes.

(optional) Air-dry your raffia or ribbon. Once removed from the water, lay your raffia or ribbon on a towel on a flat surface to dry. It will take a few hours to dry completely, and should feel dry to the touch before you start attaching it to your skirt.

Determine the length of your hula skirt. While the raffia / ribbon is drying, use a measuring tape to measure the length from your waist to your knees (or your desired length for the hula skirt). Note down this measurement to ensure you don't forget it.

Trim your raffia or ribbon to the appropriate length. Refer to the measurement you noted down in the previous step, then double this number and add 2 inches. For instance, if you want the skirt to be 15 inches long, cut your raffia / ribbon into 32-inch pieces. Doubling the length is necessary because each piece will be folded in half, resulting in two fringe strands for your skirt.

Assess your waist to determine the width of your skirt. Wrap the measuring tape around your waist to find out how long you need to cut your string. Then, add 12 inches to accommodate tying and untying the skirt. This extra length will serve as the waistband for your skirt.

• For example, if your waist measures 30 inches, cut your string so that it is 42 inches long.

Attach each piece of raffia or ribbon to your waistband string individually using Larks head knots. For visual instructions on tying Larkshead knots, refer to this guide on Larkshead knots.

• To tie a larks head knot, start by folding a piece of raffia or ribbon in half.
• Slide the looped end of the folded raffia or ribbon under your waistband string, ensuring the looped end is below the waistband and the loose ends are above it.
• Next, fold the loose ends of your raffia or ribbon towards you, around the waistband string.
• Thread the loose ends through the loop and pull tightly to secure the raffia or ribbon to the waistband.
• Repeat this process with each piece of raffia or ribbon until your hula skirt is complete. This typically requires 2-3 entire packages. Leave 6 inches on each end of your waistband string for tying and untying your skirt.

Tie the skirt around your waist. Use a bow instead of a knot to allow for easy tying and untying of your skirt. Enjoy your new hula skirt!

Collect all your materials. You'll require paper grocery bags (usually 1-2, depending on your waist size), scissors, a pencil, a thick string (such as yarn or twine), and either packing tape or a stapler. While a ruler can be helpful, it's not essential.

Trim your paper bag. Begin by cutting along one of the corner seams of the bag down to the bottom. Then, remove the entire bottom of the bag by cutting around its perimeter. Your bag should now resemble a long rectangle.>

• If using multiple bags, repeat this process with each one.
• To determine the number of bags needed, wrap one horizontally around your waist. If it encircles you completely, only one bag is necessary. If there's significant excess, add another bag.
• You may not always need complete bags. For example, it might require one and a half bags to fit around your waist. Since it's just paper, you can cut and tape the exact amount needed.

Place your paper bag flat on a surface, ensuring it's horizontal / landscape orientation. If the bag has any text or logos, keep them facing upwards. This side of the bag will be the interior of your hula skirt, ensuring that any text or logos won't be visible when you wear the skirt.

Sketch the waistband onto your bag. Outlining the waistband helps guide your cutting when creating the skirt's fringe. Use a ruler to measure 1-2 inches down from the bag's top edge (depending on your desired waistband thickness), and mark it with a pencil. Then, horizontally align the ruler with the mark (parallel to the bag) and trace a straight line across the bag's top edge. This line defines your hula skirt's waistband.

Create fringe by cutting strips into your bag. Start from the bag's right end, cutting upward from the bottom to the waistband outline. Strips should measure 1/2 inch - 1 inch, depending on your preferred fringe thickness. Repeat this process across the entire bag.

• Repeat for any additional bags, keeping them flat for the next step.

Cut your string. Wrap the string around your waist to determine its length, ensuring a few extra inches for tying and untying. Then, cut the string and position it along the uncut waistband section of the skirt. Center the string to leave enough length on each side for tying and untying.

• If using multiple bags, lay them side by side and fasten the waistband ends together with tape or staples. Lay the string across the entire skirt width.

Secure the string onto your skirt with tape or staples. Ensure the string is firmly attached to prevent the skirt from slipping off.

• Use heavy-duty tape such as packing or masking tape, applying it along the entire waistband.
• If using staples, place them approximately every 2 inches for better security.

Time to wear the skirt! Lift the skirt and tie it around your waist. Opt for a bow for easy tying and untying. Ensure that any tape or staples are positioned inside the skirt, away from view on the outside.