61st NSDC Convention Outfits
Ladies Skirts: The women’s skirt design was initially created by Beth Barnes, who is known for “Creations by Beth”, and a seamstress and creator of square dance outfits from Spokane, Washington. Beth chose to feature a popular square dance design often referred to as the star / pinwheel skirt. Beth added rows of bias tape to this skirt for a unique creation of the “Circulate in Washington State” design for the 61st National Square Dance Convention® in June 2012. When the skirt was seen by Bonnie Harry of “Petticoat Junction Dance Shop”, Bonnie suggested adding a touch of black to the outfit. Everyone was impressed with the overall pizzazz that the black added to the skirt design and the sense of excitement that the third color added to the outfit. The skirt features eight gores in alternating red and white colors, accented by bias tape stripes in red, white and black. The hemline is finished in red piping. The skirt can be made in either traditional square dance length or in prairie skirt length. Dancers can choose to accent the skirt with blouses and petticoats in red, white or black. Dance partners can choose to wear the matching 61st NSDC Men’s Shirt, or they can choose a solid colored red, white, or black shirt of their choice.
Men's Shirts: The men’s shirt design was sketched by the General Chairman, Don Pruitt, after the women’s skirt was designed. The sketch was shared with Pat Hoot, a square dancer who is also known for her sewing abilities. From these original sketches, the final design for the men’s shirt was developed. It is created from the same fabric as the women’s skirt. The shirt features diagonal stripes of flat biastape in white, black, and red beginning from the right shoulder and continuing to the left side hemline on both the front and back of the shirt. The diagonal stripe is on both the front and back of the shirt. On the right side of the diagonal stripes is red fabric and on the left side is the white fabric, including one sleeve of each color. The black bias tape stripe covers the seam that joins the two colors of fabric on the body of the shirt. The black fabric accent is also found in the collar, neck band, center front band, and sleeve cuffs.

Click on the links below for the fabric and sewing directions to make your own
61st Convention dance outfit. These are the same directions included in the
sewing kits available from our Ways and Means Committee.

Women's Square Dance Skirt Directions | Women's Prarie Length Skirt Directions

Men's Shirt Directions | Men's Extended Size Shirt Directions

For these and other square dance sewing items, click here.