Create a new raster layer (from the menu: Layers > New Raster Layer) at the top of the list and name it skirt.

Load the skirt.sel file and flood fill with black.

Deselect before starting the next step.

Create a new vector layer and name it struts 1a.

Set the background color to black (#000000) and the foreground to null.

Choose the preset shapes Rectangle, with these settings:

Retain style = checked
Create as vector = checked

Draw out a rectangle at the bottom of the skirt, the same width as the skirt, approximately 30 pixels high. Duplicate the layer, and rename it struts 1b.

After ensuring that only layer struts 1a is active, hold down the Ctrl key, grab the deformation handle at the bottom left corner of the object, and drag the rectangle approximately 15 pixels (more or less) to the right (Fig. 8).

Hint: When vector layers are duplicated, it can look as though only one layer is active when, in fact, both are. Click on the plus (+) sign next to the original and duplicated layers (circled in green in Fig. Hint 1) to expand both layers.

Note that only the duplicated layer is highlighted (Fig. Hint 2). However, the vector object name (Rectangle) is in bold on both layers. Click once on the the object name for the layer that you want to activate.

Now you will see that only one vector object name is in bold (Fig. Hint 3), and you will be able to work with that object without involving the one on the original layer.

On the struts 1b layer, drag each side so that the deformed rectangle is only as wide as the bottom of layer struts 1a (Fig. 9).

Duplicate each of the struts layers and rename them struts 2a and struts 2b, respectively.

Flip the struts 2a object (Fig. 10).

Move the struts 2a object down. But, instead of grabbing it and moving it with your cursor, you'll have better placement control by using your keyboard, and it will stay in alignment with the other struts. Hold down the Ctrl key and click the down arrow on your keyboard. You'll see the object gradually move down on your image. Stop when the top of the object is aligned with the bottom of the struts above it (Fig. 11).

Extend the length of the struts 2a object. Grab the deformation handle at the bottom center of the object marquee and pull straight down until the object is approximately half again as long as its original size (Fig. 12).

Move and extend the struts 2b object in the same manner, until it's the same length as struts 2a. (There's no need to flip it.)