You’d be surprised how easy it is to whip up a cute and summery circle skirt with just a few basic tips and a pattern that you can customize to your measurements. Follow these instructions to create your own circle skirt pattern, and then check out the video below for tips on how to put your garment together!
Related Video: How to Make a Circle Skirt
Step 1: First, measure your waist or where you would like the skirt to sit near your waist or hips. Record this as your “waist measurement.”
Step 2: Next, measure from where you took your waist measurement to where you would like the bottom of your skirt to end, record this as your “length measurement.”
Step 3: Now for a little math: Take your “waist measurement” and divide by 3.14 (pi), then divide that number by 2. Record this as your “waist radius” measurement.
Step 4: If you are constructing a pattern piece out of pattern paper, place the paper on a flat surface. If you are drawing the pattern directly onto your fabric, place your fabric on a flat surface with the fold at the top. This will make drawing the lines easier.
Step 5: Tie a length of string to a marking pen or pencil. The length of string, after it is tied to the marking utensil, should be the length of the “waist radius.”
Step 6: Place the loose end of the string along the folded edge of your fabric or long edge of your pattern making paper. If you are comfortable with this process, and your fabric is not too light-weight that it will move around, you can simply hold the string in place. If not, secure the string with tape or pins.
Step 7: Stretch the string until it is taut, and then move the marking utensil back and forth until you have drawn a nice semi-circle.
Step 8: Tie another length of string around your marking pen, this time the string should be the “length measurement” plus the “waist radius.” Pull the string out taut and then move back and forth to create another semi-circle.
You now have your circle skirt pattern piece! Cut out the semi-circle piece, and then cut along one folded area, either all the way or the length of the zipper you plan to insert.
Happy sewing!
Related Video: How to Make a Circle Skirt
Get in touch! Leave a comment or email editor@nationalsewingcircle.com
I am also a Gold Member, I need help with following a pattern, I would love to make the circle skirt but it doesn’t say how much material I need or a pattern, please help me with this situation. I would like to find other easy patterns like culottes to make if you can. Thanks so much
What adjustments would you make if you wanted an elastic waist and no zipper?
Dear Dale,
Thank you for your patience. In response to your question-
You will need to make the waist larger, closer to the hip measurement when cutting out the fabric. That will then, of course, get gathered down when you attach it to the elastic.
Cheers,
Ashley
National Sewing Circle
Fold fabric in half across the width. Cut pattern so one side of skirt runs along the fold. The other side should be along the side should be in same direction as the selvedge. No the side are cut so you have 2half circles. Place one selvedge side against the horizontal cut and seam. This prevents the bias in the skirt from sagging. I made MANY square dance skirts this way and the hem was ALWAYS even.
CORRECTION. Disregard “should be along the side”. Should say “other side should be in same direction as the selvedge. Both sides are cut and you will have 2 half circles.” Place the selvedge sides against the horizontal sides and seam.
I have no comment I just started.
You just joined, prepare to be disappointed 😞. You are asked to pay for everything, unless you really have never used a sewing machine and have no imagination, then you will possibly be happy!
I am being truthful, I do not nee d to be shushed!
Dear Ann,
Thank you for contacting us. I show you are a Gold Member with us! Your Gold Membership gets you access to all of our Gold and Premium content on our website when logged into your account on our website. You also received Video Downloads, Classes and Patterns added to your Account Dashboard to your Classes and Downloads icon.
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Sincerely,
Taylar
National Sewing Circle Video Membership
Want to know how to make a skirt pattern
Thank you for the pattern, it is quick and you can style it many ways
I am also a paid member why am I requested to fill this information out for you?
Dear MaryLee,
Thank you for contacting us. The information you filled out is to comment about the pattern. Other member can reply to your comment and you can also see what other members have to say as well. I hope this helps!
Sincerely,
Taylar
National Sewing Circle Video Membership
So this a part for site?
I have been a Paid member for quite some time and I’m always gettingpop ups and then sometimes I can’t get them to go away! When we are to download a pattern, I get a pop up telling me I have to buy a PDF program – I already have a private one that works very well. PLEASE if we pay for your to membership can’t you ensure we have an enjoyable and uninterrupted time with sewing and NOT getting so frustrated with pop ups asking us to buy more when we’ve already paid!
Hi Dorothy,
Your comments are important to us and your feedback has been forwarded to the proper department. We are very sorry for your frustration and any inconvenience this may cause. We will continue to work hard for your satisfaction.
Sincerely,
Kate
NSC Video Membership
I’am very happy to find us
I used to make these skirts for myself years ago but wrap a round style. Easy to make and wear! Very useful when I was pregnant as the waist grew with me
I used to make these skirts for myself years ago but wrap a round style. Easy to make and wear! Very useful when I was pregnant as the waist grew with me 🙂
Greetings to you all, I am glad I finally understand how to make a circle. Now to use that to make a skirt will really be awesome. Using the instructions here, I did find a sample piece of cloth and folded it like the instructions stated. I then used a pen and some twine and make the instrument to be used to make a circle for my waist remembering that it is on the fold so it will be bigger than it looks. After I wrote down my measurements, I used tape to attach the string to the fold and the pen to the string as directed. My material is thin so I had to hold it down and then use the pen to make a circle. I was pleased with that. I then figured that the length of the circle was determined by moving the top of the string to the bottom of the first circle and repeat what I had done for the waist. And know what? It worked fine. I now know how to make a nice circle for whatever I want to use it on or for. Thanks much.
Your Comment here..l love the skirt bt how do l do it on a paper.?and how do l measure waist, hip and length. How do l come with that circle.? Thank u
Hi Zodwa. Here is a video that may help you better see how to draw the pattern and take the measurements.
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/how-to-make-a-circle-skirt-006370/
The measuring formula here seems correct to me – But the drawing here is not done to real measurements. For example If your waist measurement is 32″ and you want a skirt length about 20″ long. The radius measurement would come out to 5.09 and the skirt would be 22 or 23″ inches long depending how deep a hem would want to make. Look at drawing 2 and 3 – neither reflect that the skirt would be of sufficient length. AND – these instruction don’t allow for any turn over of fabric along the waist in applying either a waistband or elastic…Sorry but I think these are very poor instructions. Maybe fine if you are using felt which doesn’t need to be hemmed. Better make this out of paper or muslin first and measure the overall length of the skirt when folded in half so you know how much fabric to buy! My suggestion – Buy a pattern – you will have better results.
Thank you for your feedback, it is important to us. I will forward your comments on to the proper department.
can I get video’s I leave in south Africa
Hi Nomathemba. Yes you can. Here is the link to the National Sewing Circle site. http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com
I feel the same way as Cat. I am a member now. I would like free access to those videos that I have been promised.
Hi Doris. We would like to assist you. Which videos are you trying to access? You also can call our customer service at 1-855-208-7187 for assistance.
The waist size looks to big.
It does doesn’t it? I would suggest making the paper pattern or cheap fabric & test it to see if it works. I chuckle when people claim we never use more than adding & subtracting in’real life’.
I am also a paid member & am always asked to log in to view full video. I am logged in & still only get the short review video. All the skirt videos are supposed to be free so they should be full length when I am logged in. I have been considering becoming a Premium Member as well, this these problems have deterred me from doing so.
Also those Ads in the beginning of a video are so loud & there is not volume button for them or a “skip ad” button.
I have trouble hearing some the videos as well. There is a lot of potential for this to be a super wonderful site but a few things need to be improved for this to happen.
Dear Subscriber,
I don’t show you are a Premium Member to the National Sewing Circle. Non-members have access to all of our Free videos. Our Free videos do have ads at the beginning of them and some of the videos end asking subscribers to become a Premium Member. Our Premium Membership includes access to all of our Premium videos and content on our website. I apologize for any misunderstandings.
Sincerely,
Taylar
National Sewing Circle Video Membership
The same thing happened to me, I bought my Membership but nothing changed, I’d log in but was never able to see the full video version. I got so frustrated I finally contacted their Customer Service Department. Here is their “solution”:
“‘Thank you for contacting us. I am so sorry about the issues that you’ve been having loading your Premium Membership Benefits. Below is the link to the coupon code for the Premium Membership at $2.99.
https://go.nationalsewingcircle.com/c18163
This link will take you to a Checkout page.
Be sure to click on ‘Returning Customer? Click here to login’ and enter your username: ********** and your password to login.
I will check your account tomorrow to make sure everything went through and then refund you $1.99.’”
I never did become a Premium Member, why would I? It’s not because I’d have to pay $2.99 vs the original amount if $1.99, it’s because they should have resolved the issue at their end.
Don’t get me wrong, this is a great group, I’m just 100% happy with them.
Why do I get popup’s to join, saying it’s free…. I am a logged in and paid member, please fix your site
Hi Cat, Thank you for your comment. This issue is currently being looked into. We apologize for the inconvenience.