In this post, you’ll learn how to sew a quarter circle skirt .
A quarter circle skirt is a versatile and flattering garment that can be worn for any occasion. It has a smooth and flared shape that hugs your waist and flows around your legs. Plus, it’s very easy to make, even if you’re a beginner at sewing. You don’t need any complicated patterns or techniques, just some basic math and sewing skills.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to sew a quarter circle skirt from scratch. You’ll learn how to:
- Measure yourself for a perfect fit
- Draft your own pattern on paper
- Cut and sew your fabric of choice
- Add a waistband and a zipper
By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a gorgeous quarter circle skirt that you can wear with pride and confidence.
Let’s get started!
What do you Need to Sew Circle Skirt
To sew a circle skirt, you’ll need
- a half circle skirt pattern,
- a fabric of your choice,
- an elastic band,
- a zipper or buttons,
- a sewing machine, learn more on how to use sewing machine
- a needle and thread, learn on sewing needles here
- scissors, check out my post on scissors in sewing
- pins,
- a ruler, grab my free rulers for pattern drafting and sewing
- a compass,
- and an iron.
You can use my free template with a circle skirt pattern in 8 sizes, or you can make your own pattern following these instructions:
Step 1: Measure Yourself for a Quarter Circle Skirt
The first step to sew a quarter circle skirt is to measure yourself. You only need two measurements: your waist and your length.
Your waist is the narrowest part of your torso, usually around your belly button. Use a measuring tape to wrap around your waist and note down the number in inches or centimeters.
Your length is the distance from your waist to where you want your skirt to end. You can choose any length you like, such as knee-length, midi, or maxi. Measure the length with a measuring tape and write it down.
Keep these two measurements handy, as you’ll need them to draft your pattern.
Check out my detailed post on how to measure yourself for self pattern drafting.
Step 2: Draft Your Own Pattern for a Quarter Circle Skirt
The next step to sew a quarter circle skirt is to draft your own pattern. Don’t worry, it’s not as hard as it sounds. You just need to do some simple math and draw some curves.
First, you need to calculate the waist radius and the hem radius of your skirt. The waist radius is the distance from the center of your waist to the edge of your skirt. The hem radius is the distance from the center of your waist to the bottom of your skirt.
To find the waist radius, divide your waist measurement by 6.28. For example, if your waist is 28 inches, your waist radius is 4.5 inches.
To find the hem radius, add your length measurement to your waist radius. For example, if your length is 25 inches, your hem radius is 29.5 inches.
Next, you need to draw your pattern on a large piece of paper. You can use any kind of paper, such as newspaper, wrapping paper, or butcher paper. Just make sure it’s big enough to fit your pattern.
Fold your paper in half and mark the folded corner as point A. This is the center of your waist. Then, use a ruler and a pencil to measure and mark the waist radius from point A along the folded edge. This is the waistline of your skirt.
Next, measure and mark the hem radius from point A along the folded edge. This is the hemline of your skirt.
Finally, use a pencil to draw a smooth curve connecting the waistline and the hemline. This is the side seam of your skirt.
Cut along the curve and unfold the paper. You have your quarter circle skirt pattern!
Free Pattern with Size Chart
Free PDf pattern for a quarter circle skirt.
Check out as well:
How to print and assemble free PDF patterns
How to cut out sewing patterns with tips and tools
How to add seam allowance in sewing
Step 3: Cut and Sew Your Fabric for a Quarter Circle Skirt
The last step to sew a quarter circle skirt is to cut and sew your fabric. You can use any fabric that has a nice drape and flow, such as cotton, linen, rayon, jersey, or chiffon. You’ll need about 1 yard of fabric, depending on your measurements and the width of your fabric.
Fold your fabric in half, right sides together, and place your pattern on top of it. Align the straight edge of your pattern with the fold of your fabric. Pin the pattern to the fabric and cut around it, leaving a 5/8 inch seam allowance. You’ll have one piece of fabric that looks like a quarter of a circle.
Next, sew a basting stitch along the curved edge of your fabric, using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. This will help you gather the fabric and fit it to the waistband. Pull the bobbin thread to create gathers until the curved edge matches the length of your waistband.
Sewing TIP: Hang the garment up for at least 24 hours. This gives your fabric a chance to relax and stretch. The bias grain will stretch out overnight and all the irregularities will come out, which you can easily cut out and even out the bottom of the skirt.
To make the waistband, cut a strip of fabric that is 2 inches wide and as long as your waist measurement plus 1 inch. Fold the strip in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew along the short ends, using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Turn the strip right side out and press it flat.
To attach the waistband to the skirt, pin the raw edges of the waistband to the gathered edge of the skirt, right sides together. Make sure the seams of the waistband and the skirt are aligned. Sew along the pinned edge, using a 5/8 inch seam allowance. Trim the excess fabric and press the seam allowance towards the waistband.
To add a zipper, cut a slit along the side seam of the skirt, about 7 inches long. Pin the zipper to the slit, right sides together, and sew along the zipper tape, using a zipper foot. Then, fold the waistband over the zipper and sew along the folded edge, enclosing the raw edge of the waistband.
To finish the skirt, hem the bottom edge by folding it under twice and sewing along the fold. Press the hem and the zipper for a neat look.
Check out my detailed post on how to hem.
And you’re done! You’ve just sewn a quarter circle skirt in 3 easy steps. Now you can enjoy wearing your new skirt and show off your sewing skills.
You’ve just learned how to sew a quarter circle skirt in 3 easy steps. You’ve measured yourself, drafted your own pattern, and cut and sew your fabric. You’ve also added a waistband and a zipper for a professional finish. Congratulations, you’ve just made a beautiful quarter circle skirt that you can wear for any occasion.
More Tips ,Tricks and Hacks
For more hacks , tips , tricks check out my ealier post on sewing circle skirt. I explain there how to add different fastenings , how to do pattern grading to adjust waistline , how to lengthen a skirt pattern, how to size up a skirt pattern or change a skirt into an elastic waist or gathered skirt and much more.
How to Sew a Circle Skirt ?
You may also be interested in my post on how to sew a circle skirt, where I share a detailed tutorial, some useful hacks and tips, and a free pdf pattern in 8 sizes.
How to Sew a Half Circle Skirt
If you want to learn more about sewing a half circle skirt, check out my post where I give you a comprehensive guide, some handy tricks and advice, and a free printable pattern in 8 sizes.
A quarter circle skirt is a versatile and flattering garment that can be customized to your style and preference. You can choose any fabric, color, print, or length you like. You can also add pockets, buttons, lace, or other embellishments to make it more unique and fun.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and learned something new. If you did, please share it with your friends and leave a comment below. I’d love to see your quarter circle skirts and hear your feedback. And if you want more sewing tutorials and tips, don’t forget to subscribe to my blog and follow me on social media.
Thank you for reading and happy sewing! 😊
In this post, you have learned how to sew a quarter circle skirt with free pdf pattern in 8 sizes.
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