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Petticoat Questions
Pettipant Questions
Skirt Questions
What
kinds of petticoats are available for purchase on the market today?
Petticoats that are generally available on the market today fall into one of
the following categories which are based upon the fabric a petticoat is made
out of: Nylon Chiffon, Organdy (organza), Metallic Lame’, Organdy and Metallic
Lame’, Organdy and Mother of Pearl, Net, Net and Organdy, Aurora, and Crystal
(crystalline). The fabric gives a petticoat a unique set of characteristics,
look and feel. In order to purchase a petticoat, you must first determine what
fabric you want your petticoat made out of.
What is an adjustable top petticoat and how is it adjustable?
Many of the Malco Modes and Sam's Manufacturing petticoats come with an adjustable
top. An adjustable top allows you to easily change the length of the petticoat
and/or the tightness of the waistband. It gives your wardrobe greater versatility.
You can wear the same petticoat with skirts of different lengths and they will
all look great. These petticoats typically have 3 rows of casing which are open
at one of the seams. When the waistband elastic is thread through the top casing,
the petticoat is at its longest. You can easily remove the elastic from the
top casing and thread it through the middle casing to shorten the length of
the petticoat by 1 inch or thread it through the bottom casing to shorten it
by 2 inches. All you need is a safety pin to pull the elastic through the casing.
If you find the elastic in the waistband is not tight enough, reposition the
button in the elastic to obtain the desired tightness.
What
does a nylon chiffon petticoat look and feel like?
A nylon chiffon petticoat is very soft and comfortable to wear. The fabric is
100% nylon, sheer, and feels soft against the skin. They swish and swirl freely
and easily when you dance and move about.
What
choices and options are available when buying a nylon chiffon petticoat?
The nylon chiffon petticoats are made by two different manufacturers in the
USA, Sam’s Manufacturing (styles 835, 885 and 500) and Malco Modes (style 580
and 582). Depending on the brand you select,
you can purchase a 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 70 or 100 yard square dance length petticoat
with a hem made of lace or three-inch ruffling (rusching or fluff). Both manufacturer’s
make these with an adjustable waistband and an adjustable length. For the least
full nylon chiffon petticoat, select a 30 yard petticoat with wide lace (the
lace lays flat). By far the most popular of the chiffon petticoats is the 40
yard Malco Modes with ruffling (adds fluffiness and bounce).
Should
I buy the Sam’s Manufacturing or the Malco Modes nylon chiffon petticoat?
Malco Modes brand petticoats are available in standard and fixed styles, colors,
sizes and lengths while Sam’s petticoats are made to order. If you need something
quickly and Malco Modes offers exactly what you want, then you should purchase
the Malco Modes brand petticoat. If you want a petticoat that is shorter or
longer than the standard lengths, with either more or less yardage, with other
color options and you can wait for delivery of your order, then you should consider
purchasing the Sam’s Manufacturing brand petticoat. Both manufacturers offer
high quality, durable petticoats suitable for square dancing.
How
do I wash and dry a nylon chiffon petticoat?
Wash your nylon chiffon by hand in warm water and do not use bleach. They must
be air dried. They do not wrinkle. When drying, lay the petticoat flat, do not
hang to dry. By drying this way the petticoat retains its bounce and fluffiness.
If you have a large umbrella, you can lay the petticoat on the umbrella top
to dry. Once the petticoat is dry, it is ready to wear again.
How
do I store and care for my petticoat?
Store your petticoats so that the air can move freely through the fabric. Do
not store in cardboard or plastic and do not hang them on a hanger. If the petticoat
fabric does not wrinkle or crease, then you can stuff 1 or more petticoats into
a single petticoat bag for easy,
more compact storage. If the petticoat fabric wrinkles and creases easily, then
put no more than 1 petticoat into a petticoat
bag and do not compress the fabric. Use a hand steamer to remove creases
and wrinkles from a petticoat. New net petticoats, organdy or crystal petticoats
stuffed into boxes for shipping will most likely need steaming. When wearing
a petticoat, be careful of and do not sit on or near anything that might snag
the fabric. Sitting on a wooden bench would be a bad idea. Over time you may
find that the elastic in the waist band has lost its elasticity. You can purchase
a replacement elastic waistband
complete with button and button hole from ReSashay or purchase a drawstring
cord for cinching up the waistband.
What
is a Crystal petticoat?
A crystal or crystalline petticoat is made with a special crystal fabric that
sparkles and shimmers. These petticoats are beautiful to behold. Wear this petticoat
with a peek-a-boo lace skirt to show off it's color and beauty. There is a huge
price differential in the crystal petticoats available for purchase on the market
which directly correlates to the beauty of the fabric and the yardage of crystal
fabric in the petticoat. Less expensive crystal petticoats may have an organdy
bottom layer with crystal ruffles of fabric while the more expensive versions
are 100% crystal fabric.
What
length petticoat should I buy to wear under my skirt?
The length of a petticoat is measured from the top of the waistband to the bottom
of the hem (do not pull and stretch the petticoat fabric when measuring). The
length of a square dance skirt is measured from the bottom of the waistband
to the bottom of the hem. Given the measurements are taken in this manner, purchase
a petticoat which is the same length as the length of your skirt. The petticoat
should be just as long as your skirt or just a tad bit shorter when worn. If
the petticoat is too short it may not support the skirt well and the skirt hangs
like a lampshade over the petticoat. If the petticoat is too long, it peeks
out excessively from underneath the skirt and detracts from the overall appearance
of your square dance ensemble.
What
length skirt and petticoat should I wear?
The square dance industry has standardized skirt and petticoat lengths based
upon waist size. Most readily available square dance apparel is sized based
upon this standard. For example, if you require a size medium square dance length
skirt, the length of the skirt will be 22 inches. The same applies to petticoats.
Take a peek at the Malco Modes skirt
size charts for more size information. If you are short and require a larger
size, you may find that the skirt falls below your knees and is longer than
you might like. If you are tall and require a small size, you may find that
the skirt falls well above the knee. Most square dancers prefer to wear their
skirts at or just above the knee. This is really a matter of personal preference.
If the industry standard sizes do not fit well, you may want to have your apparel
custom made to your specifications. Either way, you will serve yourself well
and save money if all of the skirts and dresses in your wardrobe are of the
same length. Alternatively, purchase petticoats with an adjustable top so you
can shorten them when wearing your shorter skirts
What
kinds of pettipants are available for purchase?
Malco Modes and Sam's Manufacturing make pettipants out of nylon or polyester/cotton
fabric, in brief, sissy, mid-thigh, knee or mid-calf length. All but the Metalic
Lame' pettipants are shirred in multiple rows of lace. There are other makers
of pettipants, including Fashion Magic. The Fashion Magic pettipants are made
with a polyester/cotton body and are custom made per your specifications.
What
kind of pettipants should I wear with my petticoat?
Most square dancers like the sissy pant or the mid-thigh length pettipants,
in either nylon or polyester/cotton. The fabric and length you chose is a matter
of personal preference. Possibly the polyester/cotton is cooler in hot weather
while the nylon is very soft and comfortable and has a nice shiny look. Pettipants,
when worn for square dancing, are typically the same color as the petticoat,
or of a coordinating color. A basic black and/or white is a wardrobe essential.
How
do I select the right size pettipants?
Select the pettipant size based upon your waist size. The pettipant
size chart provides a correlation between pettipant size and waist measurement.
If you are in-between sizes, select the larger size. The pettipants don't look
good and are uncomfortable when stretched too tight.
Which
is the front side of the pettipant?
The Sam's Manufacturing and Malco Modes brand pettipants, except for the briefs,
do not have a front or a back, there is no front side. When you wear their pettipants,
the fabric in the front will sit slightly above your waist. Pettipants made
by Fashion Magic are made with a seat and will fit more like typical underwear.
