This gem of a skirt can be worn with a t-shirt, a denim jacket, and a pair of cute sneakers, or pretty heels and a sweater. However you choose to wear it, it will make you twirl! Did I mention this is a super easy sewing project?! It is!

Let’s spend the afternoon together making something pretty.

Sew Easy! How To Make A Tulle Circle Skirt

Supplies

Notes

1. Read this pattern completely before you begin.
2. You can purchase a similar pattern.  Simplicity #1427.

Tulle

• My pattern is based on a 22″ desired length with a 6.25″ waistline cut, and a preferred five layers of stacked tulle. Yours will vary depending on your desired length, waistline, and favored number of tulle layers. 
• If you are not cutting on the fold of your material and cutting on the selvage edge because your tulle is not wide enough for your waistline and desired skirt length, you will need:

13 1/2 (+/-)  yards of flexible tulle in your favorite color. (This may vary depending on how many layers you want.)

OR

• If you are cutting on the fold because the flexible tulle is wide enough for your desired skirt length and your waistline, you will need:

8 (+/-)  yards of flexible tulle in your favorite color (This may vary depending on how many layers you want.)

1.5 yards of a knit material, in a color that matches your tulle. (A knit will not have to be hemmed.)

1 1/2 inch elastic, enough to fit comfortably around your natural waistline.

scissors, sharp for a smooth cut

yard stick

straight pins

thread to match your fabric

brown craft paper

pen

fabric chalk

sewing machine (I have this one because I heart to monogram things.)

optional: trim for skirt liner, yardage will depend on your desired skirt length. 

There is going to be a little simple math! Are you ready? We can do this together!

Pattern Instructions

 

STEP 1. How to determine the dimensions for your “waist” pattern cut:

• Decide the length of your skirt. Let’s say you want your Sparkling Charm DIY Tulle Skirt to be 22″ long; measure the fullest part of your hips with a measuring tape (the skirt must fit over your hips when you pull it on).
• Divide that number by 3.14.
• Take the resulting number and divide it by 2.
• Round the number up to the nearest 1/4.

Example:

• If the widest part of your hips measured 39, the equation would be 39 ÷ 3.14, then 12.42 ÷2 = 6.21. Rounded to the nearest 1/4 = 6.25.  So, your “waistline measurement” would be 6.25″ or 6 1/4″.

STEP 2. How to determine the dimensions for your “length” pattern cut:

• Add the length to your “waistline” pattern cut to your desired length. (The result from the above equation.)

Example for a 22″ length:

• 22″ + 6.25″ = 28.25″

STEP 3. Make your craft paper pattern:

• Cut your craft paper in a large square that measures larger than your final length measurement. For example, the final result above was 28.25″. Cut the craft paper at least 30″.
• With the ruler and a pencil, measure your hip out from one corner. Keep pivoting the ruler as you move inward and make lots of dots as you go to form an arc on the paper.
• Connect your dots with a pen.
• Repeat the process from the same corner of your paper to find the bottom of your skirt line using the length measurement you added above.
• Cut out your craft paper pattern.

STEP 4. How to Cut your Material

Not Cutting on the Fold:

• Sew two pieces of tulle side by side.
• Fold the sewn tulle in half.
• Fold your material in half again to make a smaller square that is 1/4 the original size.
• Using the example numbers above, you would need a rectangle of tulle that was 57″ wide (28.5 + 28.5 = 57) when unfolded. *Note: The number of squares you have determines the number of layers your skirt will have. So, your tulle yardage may vary depending on how many layers your desire.

Cutting on the Fold:

• Cut squares of tulle that are big enough to fit your paper pattern when the square is folded in half.
• Fold your material in half again to make a smaller square that is 1/4 the original size.
• Using the example numbers above, you would need a rectangle of tulle that was 57″ wide (28.5 x 28.5 = 57) when unfolded. *Note: The number of squares you have determines the number of layers your skirt will have. Your tulle yardage may vary depending on how many layers your desire.

Use fabric scissors to cut along the waistline and bottom hemline. Unfold the tulle, and you will have a giant tulle donut! Make as many tulle donuts (layers) as you desire.

STEP 5:  Repeat Step 4 to cut the lining. If you are using the trim option, I recommend cutting your lining a bit shorter.

 

STEP 6. (Optional) Pin and Sew the Trim:

If you are choosing to add a trim to your lining:

• Pin your trim along the hemline of the lining.
• Sew the trim to the lining.

 

STEP 7. Stack your Layers

• With the liner at the bottom, stack your layers.

 

Step 8. The Waistband:

• Pin the elastic around your natural waist so that it feels snug but not too tight.
• Trim the ends to 1/2″ long.
• Fold the ends down and pin them in place. Sew those down to flatten them.
• Use marking chalk to mark 4 equal sections on the waistline of your tulle circle. Do the same with the inside edge of your waistband.
• Use the marks to line up your waistband with your fabric and pin with 4 straight pins at each mark.
• Pin the bottom inside edge of the waistband onto the top of the fabric layers.

If your elastic waistline is smaller than your fabric opening, that is okay. In this case, simply pin the middle of each gap to the middle of the elastic section so you have 8 pins total holding your layers together.

Step 9. Sew your Skirt:

• Carefully, turn your pinned skirt inside out.
• Sew a few stitches where a pin is holding the layers together.
• While the needle is in the down position, pull the elastic towards you without stretching it until the fabric gap straightens out.
• Sew along the waistband with a 3/4″ seam allowance on the fabric layers.
• Continue this process of pulling the elastic and the fabric straight and sewing until you get all the way around the waistband.

Tip: Keep an eye on the number of layers you have making sure they stay tucked in line and are sewn down.

Step 10. Try on your new Sparkling Charm DIY Tulle Circle Skirt and give it a twirl. Consider making yourself the Sparkling Charm Sweetie Martini and sip it in your new skirt. Be sure to give yourself a pat on the back for your accomplishment.

PIN IT

Copyrights & Credits//Author, Stylist, Photographer, Creator: Gwyn @SparklingCharm.com.
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Thank You For Spending Time On Sparkling Charm! 

This easy sewing project originally appeared on Sparkling Charm in February 2017. Refresh: January 25th 2021