The 5 Circular Skirt Patterns Variations. Drafting Tutorials.

In this post, you will learn how to draft each of the different Circular Skirt Pattern Variations step-by-step and with a visual graphic.

This post is the continuation of the Full Circule Skirt Pattern Tutorial, in which I showed you exactly how circular skirts work. In that post, I showed you how to fold your pattern paper and how the formulas changed depending on whether you used knit or woven fabrics.

I also gave you the Circular Skirt Pattern Calculator, where you can insert your measurements and get the math done for you.

And as I told you there, circular skirts have five different pattern variations. We will see how to draft all of them and how they are different here.

How Much Fabric is Needed for a Circle Skirt?

The amount of fabric you need for a circle skirt depends on the pattern you choose for it. A full circle skirt at knee length can take about 2 1/2 yards of fabric.

When as for a double circle skirt you will need 3 yards or more.

The amount of fabric you need also depends on your size and the length you want you skirt to be.

• More Skirt Patterns and Tutorials:
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• Free Downloadable Wrap Skirt Sewing Pattern and Tutorial
• Half Slip Skirt Pattern and Tutorial

What are the Circular Skirt Pattern Variations?

You can make a circle skirt in 5 variations: Double, Full, Half, ¾,  and 1/4.

All of these Circular Skirt Pattern Variations come from the same basic pattern formula. And they are drafted similarly but with slight alterations to their formulas and the pattern fold.

I will teach you how to make these circular skirt patterns. If you want to know how to draft a full-circle skirt pattern, go here.

What makes them different is the amount of fullness each skirt has, even though they are all (or part of) circle shapes.

Once you modify the waist formula, the amount of fabric you need will change too.

Let me explain where each one of them comes from.

Double Circular Skirt.

This double-circle skirt pattern is made using two complete circles. And it is the skirt with the most fabric and fullness. In this case, we will modify the circle skirt formula so the center circle of each skirt is half of the entire waist girth measurement. Each circle will have a cut line that will go from the hem to the waist forming the side seams. In this case, we add the seam allowance into the waist girth measurement so we can have the final pattern with the seam allowance included. This way, you will just need to add the seam allowance of the waist and the hem at the end and cut your fabric.

What is the Double Circular Skirt Pattern Formula?

The double circular skirt pattern formula is: (Waist Girth + 4 times the seam allowance) divided by 6.28

How to draft a Double Circular Skirt Pattern?

1. Fold your pattern paper four times.
2. Mark the waist girth measurement + 4 times the seam allowance, divide that amount by 6.28, and mark that measurement from the corner out, forming a semicircle. This will be your waistline.
3. From the waistline down, measure the length of your skirt, forming another semi-circle.
4. Add ½ seam allowance on the waistline and 1” on the skirt’s hem.
5. Cut this pattern twice to form the skirt’s front and back.
6. Join the patterns from the side seams.

3/4 Circular Skirt.

The 3/4 circle skirt is made from 3/4 parts of a circle. The pattern is drafted the way you would draft a full circle skirt (making a full circle) and subtract 1/4 of that circle. The difference is that you must modify the waist formula so the remaining 3/4 waist has the complete waist measurement. This skirt is the one I recommend above the full and half circular skirts. I believe that this is the one that has just the right amount of flow and fullness. It is easier to draft, cut and sew.

What is the 3/4 Circular Skirt Pattern Formula?

The three-quarter circular skirt pattern formula is (Waist Girth/6.28)/3 plus (Waist Girth/6.28) – ¼.”

How to draft a 3/4 Circular Skirt Pattern?

1. Fold your pattern paper into four equal parts.
2. Make the following formula. The waist circumference is divided by 6.28. Add the result of the (waist girth/6.28)/3 to that measurement and subtract ¼”. 
3. Mark the resulting amount of the formula from the folded corner of the paper out, forming a semicircle. That will be your waistline.
4. From the waistline down, mark your skirt length and form a new semicircle.
5. Open your pattern and join three parts of the circle. 
6. Add the following seam allowances: ½ on the waistline and closure seams on the center back and 1” on the skirt hem.

Half Circular Skirt.

The Half Circle skirt is made using only half a circle with a full waist measurement. You can draft it by drawing half of the circle from the top edge to top edge. And on the top edges are going to be the back (or side) seam. It’s better and easier if you only make one seam for this skirt. But you can also cut the pattern in half again and have two side seams instead.

What is the Half Circular Skirt Pattern Formula?

The Half Circular Skirt Formula is the measurement of the (Waist Girth/6.28)(2) – ¼.”

How to draft a Half Circular Skirt Pattern?

1. Fold your pattern maker’s paper into two parts.
2. From the top folded corner, mark the result of the (Waist Girth/6.28)(2) – ¼” to form a semicircle. This is your waistline.
3. From the waistline down, mark the length you want your skirt to be.
4. Unfold the pattern and add the seam allowances: ½” on the waistline, ½” closure seams of the center back, and 1” on the skirt hem.

1/4 Circular Skirt Pattern Variations

The 1/4 circle skirt has less movement and flow than all circle skirt variations. It falls almost straight from the waist to the hem. The hemming line will increase as the length goes down. 

What is the 1/4 Circular Skirt Pattern Formula?

The one-quarter circular skirt formula is (Waist/6.28)(4) -¼.”

How to draft a 1/4 Circular Skirt Pattern?

1. Fold your pattern paper into two equal parts.
2. From the folded corner, mark the result of the (waist circumference/6.28)(4) -¼” to form a semicircle. This will be your waistline.
3. From your waistline down, mark the length of the skirt.
4. Unfold the pattern and add the following seam allowances: ½” on the waistline and closure seams of the center back and 1” on the skirt’s hem.

I hope you liked this tutorial. Please let me know if you have any doubts at all about this topic in the comment box below. Go here if you want to know how to add a waistband to your circular skirts.

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