Homemade Girl’s Piupiu Skirt

I am a bit behind on my blogging and have so many little things to show but haven’t had the time to blog.  This month I am part of the Multicultural Fair at the elementary school.  We basically make a station about another country that has a craft, food, posters, flags, and more about a particular country.  This event came about because our town is mostly Irish and every year the school has an Irish Fair.  The PTA decided it was time for other countries to have their spotlight.  Last year, I was crazy and tackled both our own local native culture of the Lenni Lenape and Ghana.  Running two tables was complete madness so this year I am just doing one, New Zealand.  I chose New Zealand for the simple fact that my sister went on vacation there in February and I knew I would have some great pictures to share.

To represent the Māori people, I am making Suuki a Kapa Haka costume but ordering one for them to wear would use up my entire table’s budget.  I started thinking of how to make at least the Piupiu skirt myself and the idea grew to much more.

Homemade Girl’s Piupiu Skirt (on a budget) :

You will need:

• 1 white half apron($5.99 at the Michael’s)
• 1 fat black fabric marker($4.99 at the Michael’s)
• 1 black permanent marker ($.99 each at the Michael’s)
• 1 tube of liquid stitch($3.29 at A.C. Moore) – optional
  
• Scissors
• Pencil

1.  Using a pencil, mark on the apron where you plan to put your black lines. (My lines were spaced out from the top of the bottom fold:  1.5 inch, 2.5 inch, 3.5 inch, 6 inch, 7 inch, 8 inch, 10.5 inch, 11.5 inch, 12.5 inch and then a line below the belting and one in the middle of the belting.)
2. Take your fabric marker and using the widest side, draw the lines horizontally across the apron.  Don’t worry if it is not dark enough because we will fix that later.
3. Using the black permanent marker, clean up the edges of the lines and fill in any gaps.
4. Take your scissors and cut vertical strips up to the belting but do not cut into the belt.
5. (Optional) Using liquid stitches, curl your strips into tubs and glue shut to give it a cylindrical look like the flax they are really made from.

Now that the Piupiu skirt is pretty much completed I am ready to take the harder part, the bodice.

Homemade Girl’s Pari Bodice

Homemade Girl’s Tipare Headband

Tags: costume, diy, homemade, how to make, kapa haka, maori, new zealand, piupiu, piupiu skirt