Skirt Idea: Add some weights to the hem!

[Coder]

Just learned this today:

https://itch-to-stitch.com/make-skirt-d ... autifully/

Pennies, "hem chain" or other such devices can help tame a floaty skirt. I'm probably going to give this a try on a few skirts of mine that are too "wispy" for me.

[r.m.anderson]

Excellent idea to control an unruly skirt hem blowing in the wind.
Think a sort of it like a kilt pin for controlling the flapable outer apron.

A caution - I remove the kilt pin from my tartan kilts skirts - found undue wear on the fabric in washing (machine) and drying
The idea of coins wrapped in a fabric pouch is a good idea to avoid wear and tear on the skirt fabric.
In lieu of coins could also use (hardware) washers.

[Jim]

The idea of coins wrapped in a fabric pouch is a good idea to avoid wear and tear on the skirt fabric.
In lieu of coins could also use (hardware) washers.

I would be concerned with washers rusting and making stains that were hard to remove. I've accidentally left safety pins in something as I washed it and had that problem. Coins don't rust and are cheaper than washers.

[r.m.anderson]

The idea of coins wrapped in a fabric pouch is a good idea to avoid wear and tear on the skirt fabric.
In lieu of coins could also use (hardware) washers.

I would be concerned with washers rusting and making stains that were hard to remove. I've accidentally left safety pins in something as I washed it and had that problem. Coins don't rust and are cheaper than washers.

Good point about rusting of ferrous based metals - but - consider using stainless steel - copper or nickle granted a tad more expensive.

[Coder]

My “money” would be on stainless in either chain form or removable washers/discs. I suppose if one wanted a hoop effect, you could use braided stainless cable.

[crfriend]

I suppose if one wanted a hoop effect, you could use braided stainless cable.

They key here is flexibility. Using chain as a weight work well as the chain is inherently flexible. For a hoop effect, you'll need to use spring steel because that will keep the shape of the hoop. Braided cable is deformable and will tend to retain the shape it was last bent into -- not what you want from a "hoop" if you're a klutz and bump into things occasionally (never-mind what would happen when getting into/out of a car).

[Barleymower]

My “money” would be on stainless in either chain form or removable washers/discs. I suppose if one wanted a hoop effect, you could use braided stainless cable.

I have had a go at hem weights and ... failed. I bought some clip on weights but the additional weight took some getting used too. Also the weights kept banging into my legs, it got old quickly and I took them off.
Then I got some curtain weights. They are little pellets of lead with a string running the middle. The finished rope is then put into a little cotton sock. I sewed them into the hem of a light weight pleated skirt. The rope spoiled the shape of the skirt, felt heavy and more banging into my legs.
As a aside with flyaway skirts I have found that the worst culprits are lightweight with lots of fabric (of course).
A full lightweight skirt but with less fabric is much more manageable. So now I only wear my pleated grey skirt when there's no wind. Same with some of the rest of my little collection.
All fairly obvious really.

[Modoc]

I enjoy wearing a skirt that's blowing in the wind. If I expect that's going to be the case I wear boxer briefs and enjoy the breeze.

[denimini]

Just don't wear floaty skirts on windy days unless you enjoy the fun of sailing when you are just walking as some of us do. Weights banging on legs does not sound comfortable and a hoop could be worse in wind as it could go like an inverted umbrella.

[pelmut]

A friend who was a theatrical costumier went to a folk event in a pub wearing a skirt from the chorus of Carmen, with a chain-weighted hem. It was circular with a huge amount of material and formed a disc when spun. She demonstrated this with a vigorous twirl -- the skirt spun out flat and the hem cleared all the drinks off the pub table. She had to pay for the lot.

[familyman34]

My “money” would be on stainless in either chain form or removable washers/discs. I suppose if one wanted a hoop effect, you could use braided stainless cable.

I have had a go at hem weights and ... failed. I bought some clip on weights but the additional weight took some getting used too. Also the weights kept banging into my legs, it got old quickly and I took them off.
Then I got some curtain weights. They are little pellets of lead with a string running the middle. The finished rope is then put into a little cotton sock. I sewed them into the hem of a light weight pleated skirt. The rope spoiled the shape of the skirt, felt heavy and more banging into my legs.

Are these "curtain weights" the same as the ones that are often used along the bottom edge of shower curtains?

We find that cheapish shower curtains only last for two or three years before they become yellowed (hard water supply, cleaned with bleach every two months or so before being machine-washed on a white cottons programme).

I reckon that I could probably re-use the weights from a now-abandoned spare/emergency shower curtain in a light skirt - at least they won't rust!

[Barleymower]

My “money” would be on stainless in either chain form or removable washers/discs. I suppose if one wanted a hoop effect, you could use braided stainless cable.

I have had a go at hem weights and ... failed. I bought some clip on weights but the additional weight took some getting used too. Also the weights kept banging into my legs, it got old quickly and I took them off.
Then I got some curtain weights. They are little pellets of lead with a string running the middle. The finished rope is then put into a little cotton sock. I sewed them into the hem of a light weight pleated skirt. The rope spoiled the shape of the skirt, felt heavy and more banging into my legs.

Are these "curtain weights" the same as the ones that are often used along the bottom edge of shower curtains?

We find that cheapish shower curtains only last for two or three years before they become yellowed (hard water supply, cleaned with bleach every two months or so before being machine-washed on a white cottons programme).

I reckon that I could probably re-use the weights from a now-abandoned spare/emergency shower curtain in a light skirt - at least they won't rust!

Exactly that. They are made of lead and don't rust. Just the ticket if you don't mind the extra weight.

[Uncle Al]

FYI - SOME shower curtains use magnets as weights.
The last one's we purchased would hold to the tub(shower) when closed.
If the curtain was moved away from the tub(shower) by 1/2 or 1 inch,
the magnets stopped holding onto the tub.

I'ld suggest being careful if using 'Shower Curtain Weights'.
Your skirt could end up with a "Magnetic" personality of its own
Also, if traveling, the weights will set off the scanners at the airport.
My kilt pin and buckles set it off, had to do a hand-scan

Uncle Al

[r.m.anderson]

FYI - SOME shower curtains use magnets as weights.
The last one's we purchased would hold to the tub(shower) when closed.
If the curtain was moved away from the tub(shower) by 1/2 or 1 inch,
the magnets stopped holding onto the tub.

I'ld suggest being careful if using 'Shower Curtain Weights'.
Your skirt could end up with a "Magnetic" personality of its own
Also, if traveling, the weights will set off the scanners at the airport.
My kilt pin and buckles set it off, had to do a hand-scan

Uncle Al

kilt pin and buckles set it off, had to do a hand-scan

And yup those magnets will do it every time - creating an attractive nuisance to the screening device

Interesting how the TSA handles kilt wearers -
The kilt pin could be used as a weapon of sorts but I have never had any problems - some big ole safety pin !
Now the sgian dubh that is a whole nother issue - absolutely verboten !

The kilt buckles when the agent realizes that undoing the buckles means to disrobe from the kilt
best use the ole hand scanner or possible the discrete private booth screening.
I generally wear the velcro closure kilts when traveling to avoid this problem.

Then again I have not seen any kilted terrorists.
There is no evading the body scanner for hidden items within the apron folds of the kilt.
Kilted passengers certainly don't fit the profile and I must admit that I have the Global Entry card (advanced TSA clearance)
and pass through with the breeze although I am not commando.
I did get the treatment one time with all the TSA PRE-CHECK credentials - asked the agent he said I was randomly picked
out of a undisclosed number of passengers - just part of the job.

Wearing the kilt passing the TSA check points not much of an issue - beware however making strange gestures that may
cause one to be observed and selected for more than the usual search (perhaps wearing that itchy wool kilt commando) LOL !