Turn any Stretch Bodice Pattern into a Dress by adding a Circle Skirt!
I've added Circle Skirts to many bodice patterns - it's a nice way to make a comfortable easy-to-wear dress. I do interchange skirts and bodices from the same designer but it you want to create a Circle Skirt Pattern from scratch, here's how you do it! Don't be scared by the maths but you will need a calculator.
Measure the full waist of your finished bodice (the circumference) and divide this number by 6.28 (2π) to get the radius.
Determine the length you want the skirt to be, taking into account seam allowance.
Fold your fabric in half (left to right) and then fold again (top to bottom).
From the folded corner mark your radius length at various points, creating an arc shape. This will be the waist.
From the waist line mark your skirt length at various points, creating an arc shape. This will be the hem.
Pin the fabric to prevent it from moving and cut through all four layers. Using a rotary cutter on a cutting board will give you really smooth accurate results. That's it!
Once you have this pattern you will be able to use it in lots of different ways:
Cut the skirt length short to create a peplum
Graduate your length from short to long to create a hi-low hemline
Cut the waistline but not the hemline to create a handkerchief hem.
There are so many possibilites, I hope you find this post helpful!
