Half-Circle Wrap Skirt With A Ruffle
This garment is actually 3 in 1: skirt – dress – wrap. The wrap skirt can be turned into a strapless beach dress, a sleeveless wrap with a bow tied around your neck or around the waist, but it can also be a kimono wrap with sleeves.
Wrap skirts have so many advantages:
- They fit different waist measurements
- They can be tied at the front, at the back, or at the side
- The overlapping may be on the left or right side, and when the garment is asymmetrical, like this one, the shorter or longer side can be placed at your knees, your hip, or anywhere you feel like depending on your current mood.
- All in all, if your weight varies like mine, wrap skirts are the ultimate solution for a constantly oscillating waist
level
Basic level. To make this skirt you will need basic knowledge in sewing and using your home sewing machine. Drafting/tailoring the skirt is very easy and suitable for beginners.
material
- About 2.5m / 2.5yd of thin cotton fabric, 1.5yd in width
- Machine thread in the matching color
- Fusible interfacing for firming the waistband
- Scissors
- Ruler, pencil and a pair of compasses
- Tracing paper
- Sewing machine
- Pins
size
All sizes
The pattern can be adjusted to any size
instructions
Introduction
This tutorial teaches you how to construct and sew a wrap skirt with a ruffle. The pattern shows 1/2 of the skirt and 1/2 of the ruffle, both of which are cut on fold.
The pattern is suitable for any size, and the instructions are a detailed guide for drafting the skirt in your size.
Seam Allowances
1.5cm / 0.5in for all seam allowances.
1cm / 0.4in for waistband.
Skirt Construction
Following the drawing above, as well as the video that you will find below, let’s construct the pattern according to your measurements.
Draw a right angle. Length OA = OG. Calculate this length like this: Waist circumference x 1.4 = W.M. (waist measure). Being a wrap skirt, this garment’s waist must be larger than your actual waist to wrap around your body.
OA (OG) = W.M. x 2 / 6.28
On tracing paper measure this length and mark dots A and G. Using a pair of compasses, from dot O draw 1/4 of a circle from dot A to G.
AB = length from waist to 1/3 of your thigh
GH = from waist to knee
Measure curve AG using your measuring tape and divide it in 3. Mark dots C and E.
Calculate lines EF and CD like this:
EF = GH / 1.2
CD = AB x 1.2
Constructing The Ruffle
Curve HB of the ruffle is identical to curve HB of the skirt. Sides HK and BL are at 90 degrees one to the other. HK = BL = 23cm / 9in.
Draw curve KL so that it’s parallel to curve HB, i.e. make the whole ruffle 23cm / 9in wide.
You have already measured curve HB, so now divide it in 8, and mark all 8 dots. Measure curve KL and divide it in 9, mark all the dots. Connect the dots on curves HB with their corresponding dots of curve KL like shown in the diagram.
Cut the ruffle along its outer edges. Next, cut each of the 8 inner lines starting from curve KL, but make sure not to cut to the end; leave about 2-3mm / 0.1in uncut. Then lay the ruffle on a new sheet of tracing paper, spread the cut pieces 5cm / 2in apart, secure with some masking tape (or selotape) and draw a new ruffle. Curve the bottom edge of the ruffle freehand. Cut the new finished ruffle.
Constructing The Waistband
The waistband with tying ribbons are 2 rectangles 10cm / 3.9in by 140cm / 55in. The finished waistband will be 4cm / 1.5in wide. Before sewing the waistband, fold it in half along its longer side.
Cutting The Fabric
The skirt is to be cut on fold along its GH side. The ruffle should also be cut on fold along the edge HK. If you don’t have enough fabric for the ruffle, cut the paper pattern in half, lay the 2 pieces on fabric and cut them separately. Also, in case you can’t fit the ruffle to be cut on fold, lay it in any direction on the fabric and cut it with a seam at the center back. With colorful materials, especially if they have randomly positioned ornaments/motifs, cutting the ruffle pattern won’t be visible. My ruffle is made up of 4 pieces with a seam at center back because I bought the material in leftover pieces.
Sewing
With right sides facing pin down the upper side of the ruffle to the lower side of the skirt – side HB onto HB. Stitch, work the zig-zag on the seam allowance and press. If you are making a skirt from a see-through material, you can cut another piece of the skirt pattern. In that case pin down the 3 layers like a snadwich: lay the ruffle between 2 skirt pieces. The 2 skirt pieces should lay face to face.
Fold both edges of the skirt ABL to the inside twice, press, and stitch down.
Use a zigzag stitch to work on the lower edge of the ruffle. This will give you a nice, wavy hem.
Pin down the 2 short sides of the waistband and stitch them together with right sides inside. This will be zour center back seam. Press the seam. Apply fusible interfacing on the wrong side of the waistband. Fold the waistband in half along its longer side and press.
With right sides facing, pin down one side of the waistband to the upper side of the skirt, making sure the center seam is on the center back of the skirt. Stitch down.
With right sides facing stitch down the ribbons which are the extensions of the waistband. Turn them right side out and press. Also press the seam allowance of the waistband upwards so it goes inside the waistband. Press the unsewn seam allowance inside and then stitch it down to the skirt from the right side. Press the whole waistband with the ribbons.
Wear the wrap – skirt – dress in many different ways.