Making a Circular Skirt or Semi-Circular Skirt

Full skirts are cool and breezy for summer. Making a circular skirt is easy. They also look great on tots and adults alike. Just a great fashion item to add to your wardrobe.

To make the pattern you will need:  

• Large square piece of paper – approx 100-120cm for an adult skirt, smaller for a child’s skirt
• Tape measure
• Marking pen  

Instructions for a circular skirt pattern:  

• Measure your waistline firmly but not too tight. Divide by six.
• Mark the measurement on to the sheet of paper, measuring from one corner A in an arch to B as shown on the diagram.
• Make the pattern on paper by using a simple compass of a piece of string - the length of a 1/6 of your waist measurement - attach a push pin to one end (A) and a marking pen to the other (the length from A to B).
• To ensure the waistline is correct, measure the drawn waistline on the paper.
• Measure the length of the skirt, add this from point B and mark as C on the sheet of paper.
• Use the string and the compass again to mark the hemline in an arch from C to C. 

For a semi-circular skirt divide your waistline by 3 and follow the instructions as above.

Materials: 

• To estimate the amount of material needed use the measure from A to C as a guide.
• For an adult’s circular skirt, you will need a little over four times this measurement using 112cm wide light to medium weight fabric and twice that measurement for the semi-circular skirt.
• You will also need a zipper, 18cm long for the adult’s skirt or 15cm long for a child’s skirt.
• You also need a large size snap button or hook and slide. 

How to make the skirt 

The circular and semi-circular skirts are both made the same way.

• For a circular skirt cut pattern twice on the fold of the fabric allowing a little extra for seams and a narrow hem (see diagram 1) 

• For a semi-circular skirt cut pattern just twice from the fabric (see diagram 2) 

The grain of the fabric for both skirts can be either at the side seams or in the centre.

• Cut a waistband the length of your waist plus 2.5cm for underlap and approx 10cm wide (or desired width).
• Sew seams and insert zipper in left side seam.
• Pin and sew waistband on waistline leaving underlap on back.
• Make buttonhole on overlap and sew button on underlap to correspond, or alternatively sew on hook and slide.
• Now hang skirt on a coat-hanger overnight or longer if your prefer to allow for dropping (skirts cut on the bias have a tendency to drop).
• After hanging, measure skirt from waistband and trim away an excess.
• Make a narrow hem all around.