There are some printed skirts, attractive in themselves, that somehow do not appear to belong with any sort of contrasting top. The skirt above falls into this category, providing a reason for recycling the cummerbund into a halter.

Opened and pressed flat, the cummerbund measured 16 by 30 inches—sufficient material to make a bare-midriff halter top but not enough to make the waist-length model preferred. The scant amount of matching print raised the question of how to carry through a border effect from halter to skirt without apparent interruption.

The solution required an additional 1 yard of fabric 45 inches wide, commercial pattern pieces for a halter bodice with a set-in midriff band, and determination to salvage every scrap of print. By making a print halter out of the cummerbund and lining it with the white background color, it is possible to create a means of linking the top with the skirt.

Cut both layers of the halter top. With right sides facing, stitch the print and the white sections together around the neckline and sides; then turn the top right side out and press. Stitch the seam at the center back of the neck by hand. Try on the halter to adjust the fit under the bustline. Hold in excess fabric with pins. Take off the top, and machine or hand gather the halter under the bustline.

The midriff pattern was for a band 2 3/4 inches wide excluding the 5/8-inch seam allowances
(Figure G). From the scraps of print left over after cutting out the halter top, choose a piece large enough (4 1/2 by 14 3/4 inches) to form a center front panel for the midriff band. Cut a piece of white fabric the same size to line the print. Then cut four layers of white fabric to make the two streamer ties. Each white piece is 4 1/4 by 41 3/4 inches, including a 3/8-inch seam allowance.

Join the three front sections, placing the print between the two white sections. Then join the three lining sections, all white (Figure H). With right sides facing, sew along all sides, leaving only the top of the center section open. Turn right side out. With right sides facing, join the center of the print midriff section to the center front of the halter, and stitch (Figure I). Fold under the seam allowance on the reverse (white) side of the band, and stitch it to the halter by hand.