A circle skirt is a style trend from the 1950s - a full skirt, flowing and flared. :) Sewing a full circle skirt will create a very full skirt. The 1/2 circle skirt is very similar, a little less full and requires less material. This Instructable will teach you how to sew a 1/2 Circle Skirt. A full circle skirt didn't work for me here because I only had one yard of fabric per skirt (I made a total of 4 for all my nieces). It could have worked if I had wanted to make them knee-length circle skirts, but I wanted these to be long skirts. My nieces just turned 5 (they're triplets) and I wanted to make them beautiful skirts for their birthday party. I didn't want to leave the older sister out, so I made her one too!
This instructable will take you through the process of creating a pattern for your skirt, based on a waist measurement & length you want the skirt to be. It is very easy and once you create the pattern, you should be able to complete the skirt within 30 minutes! The materials needed are based on creating a skirt for a child. I created 4 skirts and the sizes varied as the girls were between a child's size 6-8. I purchased the fabric on sale, so each skirt's cost was about $6. The last step is a quick photo walk through on how to make the grey shirt with ribbon straps, which you can see in many of the photos. It is also fast and easy!
Materials Needed:
- 1 yard of fabric (I used Glitter Satin and it was beautiful) - it's best if your fabric is thicker, so you don't need to create a lining
- Elastic for waistband - I used a 1 inch knit elastic
- Ribbon 5/8 inch thick for the bottom of the skirt (or you can use bias tape)
-Ruler, fabric or regular
-Iron and ironing board
-Sewing supplies, sewing machine
This instructable will take you through the process of creating a pattern for your skirt, based on a waist measurement & length you want the skirt to be. It is very easy and once you create the pattern, you should be able to complete the skirt within 30 minutes! The materials needed are based on creating a skirt for a child. I created 4 skirts and the sizes varied as the girls were between a child's size 6-8. I purchased the fabric on sale, so each skirt's cost was about $6. The last step is a quick photo walk through on how to make the grey shirt with ribbon straps, which you can see in many of the photos. It is also fast and easy!
Materials Needed:
- 1 yard of fabric (I used Glitter Satin and it was beautiful) - it's best if your fabric is thicker, so you don't need to create a lining
- Elastic for waistband - I used a 1 inch knit elastic
- Ribbon 5/8 inch thick for the bottom of the skirt (or you can use bias tape)
-Ruler, fabric or regular
-Iron and ironing board
-Sewing supplies, sewing machine
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Signing UpStep 1: How to Make a Pattern for 1/2 Circle Skirt
First, you will need the waist measurement for the person you'll be making the skirt for. You'll then need to do a little math to calculate the radius for your pattern. Please see example below....
1/2 Circle Skirt Radius:
waist + 2 = ___/3.14
25.75+2=27.75/3.14 = 8.8 Radius
Now, you'll need to take a newspaper & tape a few extra newspaper sheets to it to make it pretty large as it will become your skirt pattern piece. Or, you can use wrapping paper or regular paper taped together.
Take your ruler & hold it at the edge of the newspaper and mark a dot on the newspaper at your skirt radius length (ie: 8.8). Continue doing this until you reach the end of both sides and you will have created an arch. You can then use your pen or marker to connect the dots. If you're using a fabric ruler or tape measure, you can put a pin in at the end near the corner (see image below), hold it with one hand and glide it around while marking spots with your other hand.
Figure out the length you want the skirt to be. Be sure to measure your subject from their waist to their ankle or whatever length you want the skirt. Once you know this number, you'll do the same thing with the tape measure but you'll be starting your measuring from the partial circle you just created, rather than from the corner. Before you start marking, add two inches to the total length (just to be safe) and make your marks. It will be trickier than the first time because this will be so much larger. It doesn't need to be perfect!
Cut out your pattern piece.
1/2 Circle Skirt Radius:
waist + 2 = ___/3.14
25.75+2=27.75/3.14 = 8.8 Radius
Now, you'll need to take a newspaper & tape a few extra newspaper sheets to it to make it pretty large as it will become your skirt pattern piece. Or, you can use wrapping paper or regular paper taped together.
Take your ruler & hold it at the edge of the newspaper and mark a dot on the newspaper at your skirt radius length (ie: 8.8). Continue doing this until you reach the end of both sides and you will have created an arch. You can then use your pen or marker to connect the dots. If you're using a fabric ruler or tape measure, you can put a pin in at the end near the corner (see image below), hold it with one hand and glide it around while marking spots with your other hand.
Figure out the length you want the skirt to be. Be sure to measure your subject from their waist to their ankle or whatever length you want the skirt. Once you know this number, you'll do the same thing with the tape measure but you'll be starting your measuring from the partial circle you just created, rather than from the corner. Before you start marking, add two inches to the total length (just to be safe) and make your marks. It will be trickier than the first time because this will be so much larger. It doesn't need to be perfect!
Cut out your pattern piece.
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Cute skirt. The heart detail is also a nice touch! =).