Circular Skirts – Making the most of your pattern
Circular skirts are wonderful garments, quite simple in one way, but quite complex in others. The simplicity of the final garment and its wonderful folds of fullness at the hem disguise the mathematical calculations of Pi and the complexities of dealing with the varying behaviours of the fabric grain.
The garment utilises all the advantages and disadvantages of the warp, weft and bias grain, each fabric you choose will give you a different silhouette and form different folds.
Whether you have drafted your own circular skirt pattern, or whether you have one of my patterns sheets, the information below will help you understand and make the most of your skirt.
A PDF instant download of my full circle skirt and a fully illustrated sew along can be found here:
Physical Full Circle Skirt Block Sheet Size ( There is also an option for a half circle version in this listing)
I also offer a bespoke made to measure circle skirt service if you would like a skirt pattern made to your own waist measurement for just ten pounds per draft! The skirt will be e-mailed to you as a PDF file for you to print at home.
GRAIN LINE EXPLANATION:
Due to the nature of a circular skirt pattern piece, the pattern section encompasses all the grains within the fabric, that is the straight grain, the cross grain and the bias grain.
The three alternative grainlines illustrated below will each give the skirt a different appearance in terms of where the folds of fullness appear.
- GRAINLINE 1 – has two major points of fullness, one to the side of
the center front and one at the side seam in each quarter section. - GRAINLINE 2- one main area of fullness between center front and
side seam in each quarter section - GRAINLINE 3-has three points of fullness, at the front, the middle
and the side in each quarter section.
I hope this has helped you understand and also make the most of your circular skirt!
Nicola x
Please feel free to ask me any questions!
