Created by: Sweet Red Poppy

Hi, I'm Kim from Sweet Red Poppy and I'm excited to share one of my favorite tutorials with you today! Circle Skirts are super easy to make and oh SO comfortable! My little girls and I love wearing them and the best part is they transition from season to season perfectly! Throw on a pair of boots and a button up in the winter, or a v-neck tee and sandals in the summer, to get all-year wear out of this closet staple!

Once you start making these skirts you won't want to stop!

Supplies Needed

• 1-2 yards of knit fabric (use the skirt calculator below to determine the exact amount)- we used Art Gallery Swifting Flora Boho, Aqua Di Rose Boho, Observer OverShot Gold
• 1 yard of 1" Elastic
• Sewing Machine or Serger
• Coordinating thread
• Iron

I used Art Gallery knits for this tutorial. They are some of my favorite knits to work with because they have great recovery, thanks to their blend of cotton and spandex. I find that the cotton spandex blend creates a more stable knit fabric which makes it much more beginner-friendly than most knits!

Before choosing a fabric, decide what type of a circle skirt you want. The type of fabric makes all the difference in the way the skirt drapes. If you want a really full skirt with plenty of body, try a scuba knit like these. If you want a skirt with less volume that's more drapey, try out a lighter weight rayon knit like these.

Let's Get Started!

First, head over to By Hand London to use their circle skirt calculator . This tool is a huge help and saves you from having to do all the math yourself! Insert your waist measurement into the calculator. You'll need to choose the full circle skirt and your desired length. When determining the length keep in mind the width of the fabric you will be using. Have the calculator do the math and make a note of your waist radius.

Lay your knit fabric out on a large table and fold the fabric in half so the selvage edges are aligned.

Using a ruler and a washable marking pen, trace out your waistline circle using the radius measurement that coordinates with your waist measurement.

I like to slowly drag the ruler along the fabric while I use my other hand to keep the end of the ruler lined up with the edge of the fabric.

Once the waist is marked, it's time to move on to the hem.

First, you'll need to determine how long you want your skirt to be. The skirt will sit at the smallest part of your waist, so measure from there and add a half inch for the hem.
Add the skirt measurement to the radius measurement and mark the next cutting line. I typically use a string or a skinny measuring tape for this step.

Cut the hem of the skirt and repeat this process to create the back of the skirt.

Cut out the waistband length (waist measurement) x height 3"

Lay the skirt front and back on top of each other with right sides together.

Place pins along the side seams. Sew with a half inch seam allowance. Don't forget to take your pins out as you sew! You can also use a regular sewing machine for this project, I just prefer to use a serger with knits.

With right sides together sew the short end of the waistband together. Flip it right side out and fold in half so that the wrong sides are on the inside. This will create the casing for the elastic.

Flip the skirt right side out and divide the waist into 4 equal sections. Mark the middle front and back with a pin. This will help you to accurately line up the waistband and skirt together.

Section the waistband into 4 equal sections and mark with pins. Line up the skirt pins and the waistband pins, stretching the waistband so it's on the outside of the skirt. Sew around the waistband leaving a 2 inch opening to thread the elastic through.

Cut the elastic the same length as the waist measurement.

Attach a safety pin to the end of the elastic and thread it through the casing.

Pull both ends of the elastic out and overlay them on top of each other by 1 inch. WIth a zigzag stitch, sew them together.

Pull the elastic back into the casing (try on the skirt to make sure it fits) and stitch the opening closed.

Now it's time to work on the hem!

Set your sewing machine to the longest stitch length and baste along the perimeter of the skirt hem.

Gently pull on the top thread and ease the fabric so it begins to fold on top of itself. The basting stitch allows the excess fabric to be eased in, which creates a beautifully even hem with no puckers.

Fold the hem up one-half inch and pin in place.

Sew 3/8th's of an inch from the bottom of the hem all the way around the skirt.

Press the hem and the waistband with a hot iron and plenty of steam.

If you enjoyed this tutorial, check out my Mommy & Me Tote Bags tutorial!