Can a skirt be added to a leotard?

[hopskipjump]

We are hitting a gap where the dress might not fit for a last comp.  rather than get a new skating dress for one event, can I buy a leotard at a dance store and add a skirt?  Any idea of how to do that?  By getting the cheaper leo and doing it myself I have a bunch of crystals I can add to it.

A leo like this one... http://www.dancewearsolutions.com/images/products/MT3596_4.jpg is only 24.  I'd need a yard at most of fabric I think (about ($10).

[Isk8NYC]

How is the current dress tight?  Could you let out a seam or extend the crotch for growth?

[Clarice]

Sure you can.  If you don't want to figure out your own pattern, use just the skirt from a commercial skating dress pattern.  Make the skirt, then have the skater put the leotard on and "hang" the skirt on them, pinning it into place.  I usually attach the skirt just by zigzagging over the top edge - this isn't the most polished finish, but you can't see it out on the ice.  It's easiest if you use fabric that doesn't ravel, like lycra or mesh.

[hopskipjump]

It's really tight.  I bought it second hand.  It's small all over.  She is a solid 10 and her dresses are 8's.  If I knew her music for next season I would order a dress now, but it's still a mystery!

[Skate@Delaware]

Could she borrow a dress from someone? That might be a better option rather than try to squeeze in and skate in a dress that's too small. You should ask the other mom's if they have one that would work. We do it at my rink all the time.

[Sk8tmum]

We've been able to pick up simple short-skirted dance dresses and stone them; the effect is quite impressive, and it is very cost effective, with skirts that are cut beautifully and with a nice flow. Stalking the sales racks at your local dance store can be very useful; the bodywrappers ones are very easy to work with.

If you do put a skirt onto a leotard, you can do a quick-and-dirty coverup of the "join line" where you've sewed on the skirt by using an iron-on trim.  We picked up a gold glitter iron-in trim, ironed it on, and in under 10 minutes had a very fancy and very practical and sturdy "waistband" that worked very well. 

[jjane45]

If you do put a skirt onto a leotard, you can do a quick-and-dirty coverup of the "join line" where you've sewed on the skirt by using an iron-on trim.  We picked up a gold glitter iron-in trim, ironed it on, and in under 10 minutes had a very fancy and very practical and sturdy "waistband" that worked very well. 

Wow, such an excellent idea!

[hopskipjump]

I ended up buying a dress online from Carrie Jones.  It needs to be altered - it's a little too big, but I think for the next comp, it will be fine.  Dd is right at the girth cut off for one size and the next and I went up.

It will be her next season dress.