Brewing in the back of my mind has been this pink and orange circle dress. I've had the fabric for months, it's just been such a busy couple of months I was almost too scared to start on it.
I certainly shouldn't have been scared. This thing took 2 hours to make from start to finish. Clean studio to clean studio, I might add. I didn't test anything out before I started sewing, and I ended up paying for it a little bit with the waistline, but overall everything worked like a dream.
I included a high-low circle hemline here because I had enough requests for a tutorial, I thought I would do it again so I could better explain it. It's really easy. So easy that I've made a printable pattern. Not printable from home, (it takes forever to format to print on 8.5x11 paper) but you can easily take the file to your local copy shop and they can print it out on their gigantic plotter for something like 15¢-50¢ per square foot. Or you can draft your own using the instructions after the jump.
The two colors are very similar in content and weight, the orange being a bit heavier. I wanted to have the pink on the bottom when I first conceptualized this dress, but I didn't have enough fabric for it. You'll need at least a yard and a half if you want it to come close to hitting at the knee. I'm a knee length gal, so more yardage was required.
I drafted my own skirt and used the Renfrew tee as a base for the bodice. I took in the Renfrew tee about 3/8 inch at the fold line, none at the shoulders or arm pits then just about 3/8 inch at the waist line. I wanted the top to be form-fitted so I can wear the dress sans belt.
I made the mistake of cutting the bodice too short, so I ended up adding a waistband for the needed length. It worked out just fine, and looks like it's supposed to be there in a way. Next time my dress won't have one. And I will be making another one of these. I sort of wish I had made this skirt last year or the year before in the height of the orange/pink craze, but I still love it regardless of what's trending.
The jersey is crazy comfortable, it feels like I'm wearing lounge clothes. I can't wait to make another one. Next one will be out of a print, I think. Now I need to find the right print.
Outfit details:
- earrings: Brazil
- necklace: Annily Green
- skirt: handmade
- belt: hand-me-down from grandma
- leather bracelets: handmade
- bangle: c/o Apricot Lane
- shoes: thrifted
Click to read more for the full how to make this skirt!
Supplies:
- 2 yards jersey with 40-60% stretch, preferably 4-way
- 1 inch elastic cut to waist measurement
- sewing machine and matching thread
- pencil
- ruler
- large roll of paper
Take your measurements and write them down. Or if you want a 22 inch skirt with a 26 inch scoop in the back, just click the free pattern at the end of the post. It's graded by waist measurement, every 2 inches from 24-36 inches.
Find your waist radius by using the first equation in the image above. Write down the waist radius.
Subtract your back measurement from the front and find the difference. With the 22" front and the 26" back, the difference was 4 inches.
Divide the difference by two, that's the magic middle, or 2 inches.
Add the magic middle, 2 inches, to the front measurement, 22 inches, and your waist radius, 3.75 inches and you get your skirt radius. Write down the skirt radius.
With a ruler and pencil, draw out your skirt radius. Find the center line of your skirt radius and measure to the left that magic middle number, 2 inches. Draw out your waist radius. The shorter side is the front and the longer side is the back. See the above diagram for grainline and fold. Cut one piece out.
Sew elastic right sides together and pin to the circle skirt. Zig zag stitch the two pieces. Since you're working with a jersey, there's no need to finish your hemline.
If you want a more polished hemline, get some
knit hem tape and iron your hem before stitching it. This will make stitching a curved hem much easier. A straight stitch is nice here, since you don't need the seam to stretch. Iron. Wear.
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