| DIY Circle Skirt!!! |
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| Circle skirt - Adapted from a DIY gothic fashion site, Antimony and Lace - I don't think its up anymore though :( I simplified it and now its much less of a headache to make - and looks just as good if not better - this version eliminates the need to sew any seams except for the elastic waist and the hem Needed: Once you make one of these you'll make a ton of them in no time flat. Solids, prints, plaids, stripes, they all look great. I tend to use fabrics like jetset or other dense knits that don't like to ravel so easily for this one - stretch knits work as do all non-stretching fabrics too! Start out with something not too heavy or thick though as this can make it all bunchy at the waist. Get good at it and you'll have some great trading fodder as well as comfy clothes to wear. Let's Start!!!! First off, measure your waist. divide this length by 4 and write it down or remember it/ Let's call this length "W" Determine the desired length of your skirt - the longest it can be is about 20" from waist (or hips which is where I wear mine!) to hem. I'd suggest making your first skirt pretty long so that you get the hang of it and so that you are using most of your wonderful fabric.  Lay your fabric out on the floor - folded in half so that the cut ends match up and the selvages on either side match up.  On the fold, the length of which should measure 60" make a mark right in the center with the soap. Your mark should be at 30" exactly. Now, measure out your length "W" from this point. from the left of the center mark and from the right of the center mark. You should have 3 marks on the edge of the fabric fold now. Now, measure your length "w" from the center mark straight toward the cut ends and make a mark there too. You now have 4 marks on the fabric, if you connected the three measurement marks you just made, it should form a half circle - you can trace this half-circle if you would like to make cutting easier. Do not cut at this point. Double check to make sure your fabric is still lined up and matched up.  Tie one end of your string around the bar of soap and hold the other end on the fold center line with your thumb. Adjust the length of the string to determine the length of your skirt. Make sure that the soap does not pass the ends of the fabric on either selvage side, if it does, shorten your string. Holding the string still with your thumb carefully trace a half circle from selvage to selvage with the soap - do not press to hard or you'll mess up your fabric's alignment. After this half circle is traced, carefully cut it out - being sure to cut thru both layers of fabric. Then cut out the half circle you measured out for your waist. If you pick the fabric up you should have a donut shape - the waist part should be a bit bigger than your actual waist - don't panic!!!!! Determine which side of the fabric you want to show the world, we'll call this the "right side". Turn your fabric over to the "wrong side" take the waist line and fold over about 1 1/4" from the "right side" Pin this down all around the waist - making sure you're pinning it onto the "wrong side". Make sure this folding and pinning is done evenly - this is where your elastic is going to go! Stitch the fold down either by hand with small stitches or on your sewing machine - Only leave about 1/4" to 1/2" hanging free - so your elastic casing is about 1" in width. Leave open about 2 inches - so you can put in the elastic. Take the elastic and wrap it around YOUR waist - somewhat tightly - how you would want the skirt to fit, then add 1 inch to that measurement and cut. Save the scrap - elastic is useful. Attach the large safety pin to one end of the elastic and thread this through the open part on the elastic casing you just stitched. Make sure you don't lose the other end of the elastic as you are threading it through. When it is through the casing, put the two ends of the elastic together and stitch well - you don't want this to come out! Trim the elastic close to the stitching and then close the elastic casing by stitching. Spread the skirt out evenly along the elastic. Finish the bottom edge or "hem" by turning under at least 1/2" of fabric from the right side to the wrong side and stitching. Or you can use that iron-on stitch witchery stuff. Decorate and enjoy! 
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