The Poodle Skirt

Activities Corner

VIDEO: History of the Poodle Skirt - 1950s
(Source: You Tube, Decades TV Network)

A poodle skirt is a wide swing felt skirt of a solid color displaying a design appliqued or transferred to the fabric. The design was often a coiffed poodle.

It quickly became very popular with teenage girls, who wore them at school dances, and as everyday wear.

The skirt originated in 1947 in the United States, designed by Juli Lynne Charlot. The idea for the skirt began as Charlot needed it last-minute. With little money and little ability to sew, she made the seamless skirt herself out of felt. As Charlot's skirt caught on, she was asked to make a dog-themed skirt, as dogs were popular. 

We have attached a traditional poodle outline that you can use to make your own poodle skirt out of felt. 

Items Needed:

• Felt

• Poodle Design Cutout

• Safety Scissors

• Glue 

DOWNLOAD: The Poodle Outline

VIDEO: How to Make a Poodle Skirt
(Source: You Tube, MADE Everyday)

Additional Instructions:

Step 1. Print out pattern
Step 2: cut out pattern
Step 3: pin to piece of felt & trace along out side of pattern with marker
Step 4: cut along traced lines
Step 5: if wish, color poodle details with permanent markers
Step 6: glue or sew to a skirt near lower edge

Sources:You tube, MADE Everyday, Decades TV Network, Valer ka, Bill Haley & His Comets, The Chordettes, INgrooves (on behalf of K-Tel); Kobalt Music Publishing, PEDL, ASCAP, UMPG Publishing, LatinAutor, UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, Warner Chappell, LatinAutor - Warner Chappell, and 12 Music Rights Societies, RiulDoamnei

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(Please choose from the links below to enter the exhibit room of your choice.)

1. Exhibit Entrance

   1. Welcome to Mid-Century Jewish Life in Phoenix

2. Featurette

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3. Social Life in Phoenix

   1. Social Calendar

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   3. Jewish Festivals, Plays, Dances

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6. Jewish Engagement in Civil Rights

   1. Camelback Inn

   2. Establishment of the State of Israel

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7. Activities Corner

   1. The Poodle Skirt

   2. Paper Dolls

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VIDEO: Mr. Sandman - The Chordettes
(Source: You tube, INgrooves (on behalf of K-Tel); Kobalt Music Publishing, PEDL, ASCAP, UMPG Publishing, LatinAutor, UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, Warner Chappell, LatinAutor - Warner Chappell, and 12 Music Rights Societies, RiulDoamnei)

VIDEO: Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around The Clock (OST, 1956)
(Source: You Tube, Valer ka)