TUTORIAL + VIDEO: Circle Skirt with Enclosed Waistband

We’ve sewn A LOT of circle skirts together over the years.
Looking back at the original tutorial it’s crazy to compare little Lucy twirling around in a plaid flannel skirt, with older Lucy today (almost 15 years-old) twirling around in another flannel skirt….in front of a white wall. Haah. So many pictures in front of white walls.
Life is flying by! The kids are growing up! I guess that’s why I’ve made a lot of circle skirts. They keep growing out of them.

CIRCLE SKIRTs we’ve made:
Kid skirts
Adult Skirts
BABY Skirts — with downloadable pattern piece
Double-Layer Skirts + Double-Layer BABY Skirts
Costume Skirts
Poodle Skirts!
How to Hem a Circle Skirt
How to Cut Curved Lines

One of the most frequent questions I get is:
HOW DO I MAKE A CIRCLE SKIRT WITH AN ENCLOSED ELASTIC WAISTBAND?
You’ve come to the right place!
Let’s do it.

If you’re a VIDEO person, you can watch this project by clicking the play button below (or watch it on my channel here.)

And you can watch the original circle skirt video here:

If you prefer step-by-step photos, here you go!

HOW TO MAKE A CIRCLE SKIRT WITH AN ENCLOSED ELASTIC WAISTBAND

SUPPLIES:
• 1-2 yards of fabric (cotton, flannel, chambray, lightweight denim, knits)
• 1-inch-wide elastic (I prefer braid elastic–similar to this)

PATTERN: You need to create a “1/4 of circle pattern piece” to fit your waist size (or hip size). See the graphic below for figuring out your measurements. For additional detailed info, watch my video here and tutorial here.

***NOTES***
For kids – I would go with the waist measurement. The extra 2-5 inches depends on how gathered you’d like the waistband to be.
For adults – I would go with the hip measurement. Or try the waist measurement + 2 inches. It’s a bit of trial and error since everyone has a different hip/waist ratio.
Fabric Width – It can be hard to find fabric wide enough to make a full circle for adult sizes. If you can find 60″ wide fabric, that’s a good option. If not, you can cut 2 semi-circles and sew them together with side seams. Bonus to that, is that you can add side seam pockets! Check out my detailed video here.

STEPS:
1. Cut out your fabric. Fold your fabric in fourths (fold it in half, and in half again). Place your 1/4 circle pattern piece on the folds, and cut around the curved areas. If you’ve folded properly, you have a full circle when you’re done! For more help see my detailed video.
2. Cut out your elastic, the same size as your waist measurement. You do not need to add any extra length for seam allowance. I find that the elastic tends to stretch just a bit as it holds up the weight of the fabric.

3. Cut out your Waistband Piece: 3.25″ wide x (the waistband circle + about 5 inches of tail) long We need to add a separate piece of fabric for the waistband, rather than simply folding the skirt fabric under (as we’ve done with a simple skirt). If you remember from math class, convex and concave lines won’t lay flat when folded over like that. So….
• Length: Measure around the inner circle of your skirt—the waistband circle—then add about 5 inches to that length. This is how long we want to cut the strip of fabric. We don’t need to be precise with the length right now.
• Width: If you’re using 1-inch-wide elastic, cut your strip 3.25″ wide. How did I get that number? The elastic is 1 inch wide and the fabric will go around it on both sides (it will be folded in half). So let’s give some wiggle room there and say 1.25″ +1.25″ for the elastic areas. We’re at 2.5″. Then add a .25″ seam allowance for each side. Now we’re at 3″. Then add one more .25″ for extra wiggle room as we’re sewing. 3.25″
If you’re using 2-inch-wide elastic, you’ll need to make adjustments.

• Press the two long edges of the strip over 1/4″ to the wrong side of the fabric, then fold the whole thing in half, length-wise. And your waistband piece is ready to go!

4. Attach the waistband piece. Start with the WRONG side of the skirt fabric, and the RIGHT side of the waistband fabric together (I know that sounds wrong in your head, but the waistband will eventually fold over to the right side of the skirt. Note: my fabric does not have a technical wrong or right side. But if yours does, pay attention to that detail)
• Start in the middle back of the skirt, leaving a 2-3 inch tail on the skirt, with the raw edges of the fabric aligned together (unfold the previous creases made with the iron). Pin the strip of fabric around the waistband circle, pinning all the way around:

• Sew the ends of the waistband piece together. When the two ends of the fabric join back up, there will be a tail of fabric on each side. Match the pieces together and mark a line where we need to sew the waistband together (you can use a fabric marker, or place a line of straight pins to guide you). This will enclose our waistband piece for a nice precise fit. You can see this in-action in my video above.

5. Sew the waistband to the skirt with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Sew right along the previous crease that we made, which gives you a 1/4″ seam allowance.
6. Fold the waistband in half (along the previous crease) so it folds over to the RIGHT side of the skirt and pin it in place. Make sure the final creased 1/4″ edge is tucked under as well, so all the raw edges are enclosed.
7. Sew the waistband in place, leaving a 2 inch opening in the waistband. I like to mark this with double-pins so I don’t accidentally sew it closed.

8. String elastic through the skirt. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and push it through the waistband opening. Attach the other end of the elastic to the skirt with another safety pin. Push the elastic around the casing (careful not to twist the elastic) till it comes out the other side of the opening.
9. Overlap the ends of the elastic 1 to 1.5 inches and sew them together with a zigzag stitch.
10. Sew the opening closed. Pull the waistband taut, and sew along the same the stitch line from earlier, sewing the gap closed.

11. Hem the skirt. Fold and press the edge under 1/4″, all the way around. Then fold it over another 1/4″. And sew it in place! If you’re having trouble with this step, watch my How to Hem a Circle Skirt video here.

And you’re done! 
One gathered up circle skirt, with an enclosed waistband.
It kind of looks like a giant scrunchie!

Enjoy your twirl!

  1. 1) Dara

    SO CUTE, Dana. Thank you sew much!Your daughter is Beautiful just like her Mama!

    • 2) Dana

      Thanks Dara! It’s fun to sew for her :)…when it’s not too overly involved. Haha

  2. 3) Julie

    Every time i take a look back at what had happened to me i will always appreciate the great Dr Agbazara ( agbazara @ gmail . com ) for what he has done for me. This spell caster brought back my lover, who left me just for no reason. I met the great spell caster and he told me all i need to do! Now am glad Dr Agbazara brought him back and he love me more than he used to! you can also contact him on his active Email address ( agbazara @ gmail . com ) or add him on Whats-app: ( +234 810 410 2662 ).

  3. 4) Mary

    This is a great tutorial! I can’t wait to break out my machine again.

    Also, do you know where your daughter’s shirt is from? I have been looking for a non-see through white shirt for ages and can’t find one!

  4. 5) Gabby

    I saw a comment here a few weeks ago about Dr Agbazara and i decided to contact him as instructed, thanks to this man for bringing joy to me as wished for. i followed instructions which he gave in other to get my lover back who left me and the kids for 3years now, but thanks to Dr Agbazara because they are back to me now for good and we are happy together. please do contact him for help too if in relationship problem via email at: ( agbazara @ gmail . com ) OR Via WhatsApp on: ( +234 810 410 2662 ). And testify for yourself.

  5. 6) ME

    I saw a comment here a few weeks ago about Dr Agbazara and i decided to contact him as instructed, thanks to this man for bringing joy to me as wished for. i followed instructions which he gave in other to get my lover back who left me and the kids for 3years now, but thanks to Dr Agbazara because they are back to me now for good and we are happy together. please do contact him for help too if in relationship problem via email at: ( agbazara @ gmail . com ) OR Via WhatsApp on: ( +234 810 410 2662 ). And testify for yourself.

  6. 7) Roxanne ford

    I am working with a knit fabric. Cotton with 5% spandex. Should I use the same math to come up with the circumference, since it’s a stretch fabric?

  7. 8) Bt

    Never made a circle skirt before but reading this, I can tell you that you don’t need to measure your inner skirt circle for the waistband. It literally is the circumference of the circle which is the waist measurement you used to calculate the radius to cut that inner circle. So basically, just add 5 in to your waist /hip measurements!

  8. 9) Darcy

    So I measured my waist/hips and I use your equation to make a pattern but it’s very large around my waist before I add the elastic-will the elastic shrink it enough or did I measure wrong?

  9. 10) LKC

    Hi!

    I have used this tutorial so many times and love the detail in attaching the waistband. I didn’t get it at first and then it clicked. Thank you! Any special considerations I need for 60 inch fabric with diagonal stripes? Can I still use one piece? Will it look weird?

  10. 11) vicki

    I am wanting to make an adult style pinafore dress. I have watched various videos of different strategies with circle skirts adding a bib top with two cross over straps at the back with a button closure or zip closure. I was wondering if a circle skirt or half circle skirt could be made with a flat front waist with an elastic back waist, so that there is only elastic at the back of the skirt, then I would add the bib and straps. Do you think this is possible? I prefer elastic because of my shape but I don’t like the look of elastic at the front of my clothing as it make me look and feel uncomfortable. I was wondering if you may even be able to do a video with a half circle skirt with a half elastic waist?

  11. 12) Juliana Divas

    I want to testify to what Dr Ughulu did for me. I did everything I could do to bring my partner back but he didn’t come back he was with someone else luckily I saw a comment which directed me to a very good powerful and kind man called Dr Ughulu that helped me bring my partner back and now he loves me so much more than ever i am so happy with life now thank you so much Dr Ughulu, I’m really appreciate you for bringing back my partner to me in my life, all these years has been very sad for me now I have been the most happiest woman in this world all because of Dr Ughulu he has done a lot for me. You can contact through his email: drughulupowerfulspelltemple at gmail.com or Call/Text: +1(252409-1841

  12. 13) Bettie

    “I’m so grateful for this tutorial! “designing clothes online” has always been a dream of mine, and this circle skirt with an enclosed waistband is a fantastic starting point. Your explanations and tips make it feel approachable. Time to get sewing!

  13. 14) Kelsey Zachow

    Great news about Dr ughulu who made me win my Mega millions. All my friends have been telling me about this great man who made them always win their lottery by casting a winning number for them. My friends keep telling me to contact him so I can also win my mega million. Actually I really also text him to help me. Text/Call: +1(252409-1841 and I explained to him it’s my friends who Introduced me to him. And I told him the reason I came to his temple and Dr really made me the happiest woman and cast me a mega million winning number, so I really played it and won the prize of $66,000.000 millions dollars. Thank you for making my life possible Dr ughulu. His email: drughulupowerfulspelltemple@ gmail.com

  14. 15) Linda Anthony

    GET RICH WITH BLANK ATM CARD, Whatsapp: +18033921735

    I want to testify about Dark Web blank atm cards which can withdraw money from any atm machines around the world. I was very poor before and have no job. I saw so many testimony about how Dark Web Online Hackers send them the atm blank card and use it to collect money in any atm machine and become rich I email them also and they sent me the blank atm card. I have use it to get 500,000 dollars. withdraw the maximum of 5,000 USD daily. Dark Web is giving out the card just to help the poor. Hack and take money directly from any atm machine vault with the use of atm programmed card which runs in automatic mode.

    You can also contact them for the service below

    * Western Union/MoneyGram Transfer

    * Bank Transfer

    * PayPal / Skrill Transfer

    * Crypto Mining

    * CashApp Transfer

    * Bitcoin Loans

    * Recover Stolen/Missing Crypto/Funds/Assets

    Email: darkwebonlinehackers @ gmail . com

    Telegram or WhatsApp: +18033921735

Leave a Comment