DIY Circle Skirt Pattern

Check http://bdancewear.com for all the dancewear featured in this episode. NOTE: While the pattern will be made of non-stretch material, you should make the skirt itself out of a stretch fabric such as Lycra. We are going to show you how to make a pattern for a circle skirt. The circle skirt is perfect for a 50’s costume, for an ice skating skirt, to make a dance skirt, to make an Irish dance skirt and more. It is the same technique for each of them. We even make them long just to wear around every day. They are very comfortable and look great! This particular circle skirt will have no seams going down the back or sides. The only seams will be where the waistband is sewn together and where the waistband is sewn to the skirt. Supplies: 1. Old sheets, old material, etc. 2. Paper 3. Measuring Tape 4. Yard stick 5. Scissors 6. Pins 7. Sharpie, tailor’s chalk or a small piece of soap Directions: 1. Determine Dimensions of Skirt The first thing we need to do is figure out how big a hole you need in the center of the pattern to accommodate the dancer’s waist. So we need to determine the circumference of the hole. The circumference is the measurement around the area where the skirt will sit – either on your waist or on your hips or somewhere in between. Let’s say that the waist’s measurement is 20 inches. If you do not have a measuring tape, you can take a piece of ribbon, or bias tape or even a string and wrap it around the body at the point that you want the skirt to sit. Do not have it tight or loose and baggy. Have it fit just right. To make the pattern, we will need to find the diameter and the circumference of the hole that we will have to make for the skirt. Instead of dividing the circumference exactly like you would need to find that out, this will make it easier for you to find the circumference. Usually you put a little ease in a pattern. Instead of dividing it exactly to figure out the radius and the diameter, we will use the method shown. This will give you an automatic ease. Take the tape or string of whatever you use, divide it evenly into thirds. Then, cut one of those thirds off leaving you a piece two thirds the original size. This will give you a little bit of ease so that it is not real snug against your waist. That will give you the diameter. Now, to get the radius, we will take the piece that represents the diameter and cut it in half. Remember, we determined the waistline is 20.” That will be important at a later time. 2. Creating pattern We like to use old sheets, old fabric, or something of that nature for this pattern, just not the fabric that you are going to use for the skirt. Once you are confident making patterns, you can use the fabric you will use for the skirt. Until then, we suggest you make a separate pattern. Fold the pattern material in fourths (in half lengthwise and then in half the other direction) Make sure that all edges and folds match up and that the material on the inside of the folds are pulled up even. You will end up with one fold that has two layers and you need to make sure that both layers of the fold are even. The other folded side will be two separate folds on top of each other. You need to be careful because it is really easy for the fabric to move and then the skirt will be messed up. Take a pin and stick the small tape representing the radius into the corner where all of the folds come together. Lay the paper tape (radius) down with the edge at the corner and mark the pattern material at the end of the paper tape. Keeping the pin and the tape in place, move the other end over a little to the side and make a little tick mark. Keep doing that and you will end up with a quarter pie circle marked in the corner. This will be ¼ of the circle that will go around. Measure the distance from the corner of the pattern paper to the marked ¼ circle that will represent the radius. In this case, it is 3 ½ inches. Next, we will need to determine the length of the skirt. Let’s say we want the skirt to be 14 inches long. Add the 3 ½ inches to the 14 inches and we will need to mark 17 ½ inches from the corner. It is much easier if you take a piece of tape and put it at the measurement (in this case 17 ½ inches). That way you will not accidentally mismark the pattern material. So, place the end of the yardstick in the corner where all the folds come together (same corner as radius marking) and mark the pattern material 17 ½ inches from the corner. Keeping ... B Dancewear is now partnering with our fabric supplier Blue Moon Fabrics to bring our subscribers a discount! Use our code BDANCEWEAR or use the link below to get 5% off all of their quality fabrics! https://www.bluemoonfabrics.com/discount/BDANCEWEAR Follow Us On Social Media: Instagram: @bdancewear Facebook: B Dancewear Pinterest: @bdancewear1