Learn How to Sew a Circle Skirt
I’m going to be teaching you how to sew a circle skirt. Circle skirts are really easy to make. I’ve made a few for my daughters this summer and am excited to make a few more to donate.
My oldest daughter just spent the summer on a study abroad program with her University. She spent 6 weeks visiting various museums in Europe. The whole thing left me wondering why moms don’t get to chaperone those field trips!! *wink*. We didn’t chaperone, but found a steal on tickets ($450 round trip, hello!) and decided that she had to be dropped off in person. Before she left, she asked me to make some simple skirts that she could take with her. She knew it would be hot; she’d have to pack light and would not have access to laundry facilities.
She also knew they would be attending church each Sunday and wanted to make sure she had a few things to wear. Last winter, after LOTS of back and forth via text, we finally decided that I’d make her a few half-circle skirts. I texted her photos of fabrics that I had on hand, and she texted me when she liked one. I ended up making 3 skirts. Two from rayon and one from seersucker.
How to Sew a Circle Skirt Tutorial:
I’m going to share with you a tutorial for the one I made from rayon, but the instructions are the same for the seersucker (if you make one from seersucker, I recommend hemming it by hand).
Just a note: I did not line these skirts. She decided that she’d rather take a simple white slip. The seersucker one could have used a lining, but it was ok with the slip. If you choose a light fabric, you may want to consider lining it. Personally, I think it’s easier to wear a slip since there’s a bit more construction involved in adding a lining to a skirt.
The beauty of these skirts is that they are incredibly easy to make, and you can draft your pattern. Once you have the pattern made, you can whip one out in about an hour flat. These are made from summery fabrics, but they would also be adorable made from wool or chambray for fall or winter.
Before you begin, you will need to gather a few items. I don’t like buying supplies all the time, but these things, in particular, will make your project a MILLION times easier to sew (contains affiliate links). This circle skirt is technically a half-circle skirt, which means it’s slightly less full than a full-circle skirt. It’s a great size and volume for a summer skirt.
Learn How to Sew a Circle Skirt
Equipment
- Invisible Zipper Foot (machine specific, check with your manufacturer to see which one you need)
- Measuring Tape
- Microtex Needle
- Pencil
supplies
- Pattern Paper I buy mine on a roll from Amazon.
- Thread to match your fabric
- 2 hooks and eyes.
- Scotch Tape
- 2-3 yards of fabric depending on the size you will make; you may want to purchase it after drafting your pattern. You will also need less if you buy 60″ wide fabric (mine is made with 44″ wide). You can now find rayon at many quilt and sewing shops, as it’s very popular. If you can’t find it there, try online (I got mine on Etsy).
- 7-9" invisible zipper
Instructions
Step One:
- Measure your model (if you are making this as a donation, I’d pick a measurement between 28-35″). Note the waist measurement and the length from the waist to where you want the skirt to hit on their leg (22 inches is a good length for a knee-length skirt).
- Before you begin, you need to do some math. I found this SUPER handy tool to do circle skirt math FOR YOU. Just CLICK here, enter your waist measurement and length. Also, be sure to select “half circle skirt”.
- Don’t worry about the part where it says it won’t fit on a 45″ fabric; we can fix that.
- Make a note of the waist radius (WR).
- Add your waist radius measurement (WR) and the length you want your skirt to be, to get your fabric length measurement (LM) (the calculator defaults to 20″ if you want it a bit longer, just ignore the measurement, you only need the waist radius).
- For example, my waist radius (WR) measurement was 7 1/2″. I wanted the skirt to be 22″ long. My fabric length measurement (LM) was 29 1/2 inches.
- Cut your pattern paper so that you have a square that is approximately 2 inches bigger than your LM. For example, my square was 32″ x 32″ – I had to tape two pieces of paper together to get a piece that big.
Step Two:
- Next;
- Draw two lines in an L shape (starting in the corner), each line will be as long as your LM.
- Now, from the corner measure down your WR (waist radius). Mark it on both lines.
- Place your pencil inside the hole in your measuring tape. Hold the measuring tape so that it is exactly at the corner of your pattern piece, and the pencil is exactly at the WR mark on your pattern.
- Draw an arch using the measuring tape like a compass. Make sure you keep your tape taught, and the part in the corner doesn’t move.
- Do the same thing for your LM. You should have a piece that looks like this:
- Along one of the sides, write FOLD.
Step Three:
- Cut a piece of fabric (if it’s 44 inches wide) that’s your LM x 2, plus a bit extra. So, if your LM was 29 1/2 inches, cut a piece of fabric that is 60 inches long. Fold it in half along the 44″ side. You are folding it the OPPOSITE way from how it came on the bolt. The selvages are not together but folded on top of each other.
- Place the FOLD line of the pattern on the fold of the fabric. Pin in place and cut out. For rayon, I prefer to cut with a rotary cutter.
- Next, cut a waistband piece that is 3″ wide by your waist measurement plus 1/2″
Step Four:
- Fold your waistband piece in half, right sides facing, and press.
- Run a row of gathering stitches along the top of your skirt piece.
- Pin the waistband to the skirt right sides facing. Ease the skirt to fit the waistband. You do not want to gather the skirt. Just ease it to fit.
- Stitch in place with a 1/2″ seam allowance.
- Finish the seam with a serged edge or zigzag stitch.
Step Five:
- Read the directions on your invisible zipper package to see if you need to “prep” your zipper before you install it.
- Pin the invisible zipper to your skirt with the right sides facing each other and the coil of the zipper facing inward.
- Stitch with your invisible zipper foot.
- Repeat for the other side.
- Zip the zipper and ensure it works properly.
Step Six:
- If it works, then bring the skirt’s side seam together right sides facing, and stitch the rest of the line of the side seam. Starting right under where the zipper seam stopped. Tack the end of the zipper to the seam allowance to keep it from moving around.
- Fold the bottom of the skirt over a scant 1/4 inch and stitch it in place.
- Fold it over again on itself and stitch.
- Press it well with steam, and it will lie flat for you.
- To finish the skirt, stitch two hook-and-eyes to the waistband, just above the zipper.
- That’s it! Enjoy making your skirts!
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