Welcome back! So far, we’ve learned how to pick the perfect fabrics and get the perfect fit. And today, we are diving right in and cutting into your beautiful fabrics. And we are also going to be sharing TWO new options for the skirt portion. So before you cut, maybe you’ll want to consider these “hacks” as well!
Let’s get started!
The circle skirt is the trickiest part of the pattern to cut. But once you realize how to fold your fabric for cutting, it is actually pretty easy! The pattern includes a full circle skirt and has the option to cut with a pattern piece, or to save on some paper and just cut with a small guide and your own measurement.
I prefer to cut my own circle skirt length, by just using the cut out piece provided. It gives me full control of the length I really want. But it is purely preference in this case. When you are using the cut out, make sure you’re measuring from the end of the circle you’d cut out…and not from the corner of your folded fabric. Otherwise your length will be off by several inches. (Ask me how I know this.)
We wanted to provide a couple of fun alternates for your circle skirts. So before you cut into your fabric, consider these alternatives!
Alternate #1: Full Circle Skirt with Waistband.
You can take the skirt portion of the Sweetheart + Me Hearties patterns, skip the bodice, and add a waistband. And it’s super easy to do! We are providing you with measurements for a yoga-style waistband…no elastic required.
Alternate #2: High-Low Skirt
Getting a higher cut in the front, and lower dip in the back of a circle skirt is SO EASY. It’s as simple as moving the waist cut-out to a different place on the skirt itself. Three steps and you’ll have a fishtail-esque skirt! (This would also work well with the skirt-only adjustment that we explained above. ^^^)
1.) Open up your skirt so you’re seeing a folded semi-circle. Slide the very top layer until it’s the length that you want for the front of your skirt (be sure to take into account the waist cutout!). Sturdier fabrics are way easier to handle with this process. My skirt above was a slinky rayon blend and it took a lot of patience to get into place. So go slow. Make sure everything is flat and even before you make your cut!
2.) Carefully, fold your skirt in half again, so that it is quartered. You will be back to four layers of fabric, just like when you were originally cutting the circle. Take your waist cut-out piece and cut your opening.
3.) Open up your skirt. You should now see a large circle with a smaller waist circle cut out, somewhere off center. Your high-low skirt is now ready to attach to the bodice!
Is your fabric all prepped, cut and ready for tomorrow’s next step?
Show us your pretty stack of fabrics, just begging to be sewn into something amazing! If you’re sewing along with us, be sure to tag @PatternsforPirates and #P4PSWEETSAL on Instagram. And don’t forget to join us on the P4P event page: Sweetheart SAL on Facebook.
Thanks for sewing along with us! We are having a blast sewing with you this week!
Day 1: Fabric Selection.
Day 2: Printing + Measuring.
Day 3: Cutting Fabric.
Day 4: Bodice + Sleeves.
Day 5: Skirt + Hemming.
Day 6 & 7: Catch-Up Days.
Day 8: Recap + Winners Announced!
[…] 1: Fabric Selection. Day 2: Printing + Measuring. Day 3: Cutting Fabric. Day 4: Bodice + Sleeves. Day 5: Skirt + Hemming. Day 6 & 7: Catch-Up Days. Day 8: Recap + […]