Friday 20 July 2012

DIY: Circle Skirted Dress

Update: I have uploaded much better instructions for making these dresses here.


I'm going to show you today how I make my circle-skirted dresses. These are pretty easy to make, which I suppose is why I've made so many of them! For example, here's four of my circle-skirted dresses below (and they're clearly fun to swish around in too):
I'm not going to go through all the steps of the actual construction of the dress, because it would be a monstrously long post (and I'm pretty sure no one would bother reading it all the way through). I am, however, going to show you the main steps I go through in order to construct a circle-skirted dress, in hope of inspiring budding sewers (you will need basic sewing knowledge to do this, i.e. it's probably better if you've made a shirt/skirt before) to give dress-making a go, because this method takes the two easiest parts of making a dress and mashes them together.
Basically, making this style dress consists of using any kind of cheap vintage store dress pattern to get a bodice and joining it up to a circle skirt! If you want to know what goes on in the making of these dresses, then read on...

what you need
1. a pattern whose pattern pieces for the bodice are separate from the skirt
2. two fabrics which go together and/or clash (depending on what you want)
3. sewing equipment
4. a zipper of about 35cm length

Making your bodice
  • Take out your pattern pieces and find the front, back and interfacing (and collar if it has it) pieces. Put the skirt and the sleeve pieces back into the packet - you won't need them for this.
  • Shorten the bodice pattern front and back if doesn't already stop at the waistline. The bodice only need be short!
  • Place the pattern pieces onto your fabric and cut them out! Make sure to place the front bodice piece on the fold so that you get one piece instead of two (unless you want a zip/buttons up the front).
  • Once you have your shapes, sew on the interfacing for the neck/collar.
  • Place the front and back bodice pieces together (right sides together) and sew at the shoulders, and down the sides of the bodice.
  • I get lazy with the armholes, and just fold them inside the bodice about half an inch, notching as I go, and sew them down (though if you can be bothered with armhole interfacing then do this instead - it'll look nicer inside the dress):

  • If the back section is intact, slice it right up the middle. If it's already in two pieces, then that's good - this is where you need to insert your zipper.
  • I am no good at explaining how to do a zipper. Just make sure that the zipper is a little bit longer than the bodice. Follow these steps, and, if you're lazy like me, don't bother with basting - just fold the material over at the edge, glue or pin to the zipper in the right place, and use a zipper stitch or foot (just moves the needle slightly to the left or right of the foot) to sew in the zip.
  • You should have a little bit of zipper hanging out the end of the bodice. This will be hidden by the skirt later on. (Okay, so in the polka dot dress in the photos I continued the zipper into the skirt, but that is not what we are doing here today. We are only having the zipper go down the bodice and not the skirt, like on this dress:)

Now you have a bodice. Iron flat the seams and the interfacing. Then put it aside and begin on your skirt.


Making your skirt

So I don't have to put all the steps here again, follow this tutorial I wrote for making a circle skirt, but stop just before the waistband-adding part. (The material need not be velvet, either. Use any fabric you want.) Then come back here.


Attaching the skirt to the bodice

This part seems a little bizarre at first but it works!
Turn your bodice inside-out.
Slide it over your skirt upside-down (skirt needs to be facing up and not inside-out).
Pin together. If the bodice is too wide for the skirt, take it in at the sides until the two are just about matching in circumference. (Your skirt should be perfect for your waist measurement if you measured it right.)
 
Sew together with a normal straight stitch. Don't sew over the top of the zipper - but go right up to the edges of it.
Turn the right way around and BAM! You now have a dress (if all went well!)

Summary: Make bodice from a pattern. Make circle skirt. Attach the two.

Oh man. That was actually probably completely confusing. If these instructions make sense to anyone, you're probably a genius, because I'm pretty sure they're really too stupidly convoluted. Well... enjoy anyway! If all else fails you can skim through the pictures and pretend you're reading a comic book about a sewing superhero.

Update: I have uploaded much better instructions for making these dresses here.

Hope you all have a marvellous weekend!
xxx Annika

53 comments:

  1. Actually, I think these are pretty easy to follow. But then I have experience in making clothes.

    This is a great tutorial. I haven't made anything for about 2 years and I really, really want to get back into it. This is the perfect way to start! So thank you!

    Becky
    xx

    http://www.beckybedbug.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. That dress is so cute, and you've made the DIY look relatively easy so I think I might take the plunge and give it a go :) One question though: what materials did you use for the bodice and skirt?

    http://shortand-sweet.blogspot.co.uk/
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the top was just polycotton I think... whereas the skirt was a kind of slippery, shiny meshy material (which doesn't crease, which I think is good for the skirt) but I've also used a canvas-like material for the skirt part before and that also works really well.
      For this dress, I got both the fabrics on super-special so the types weren't advertised... and I'm real bad with fabric types as I am so not an experienced sewer, haha.
      i hope that helps a little!

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    2. Okay thanks, I could sort of tell by the photos but thought I'd ask just to be sure. I've bought some simple and cheap cotton (or polycotton) from a fabric store for now, to try out the tutorial, just in case I mess up :)
      xxx

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    3. Awesome!! that's so cool that you're trying it out! You should totally send me a picture when you do it :)

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    4. Here it is :D http://shortand-sweet.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/diy-dress.html

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  3. The dress are so cute! Thanks for that great tutorial :)

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  4. As a college girl on a budget, I think it's awesome that you DIY fashion (and share how-to with us)!

    I have a fashion, food, and lifestyle blog, too - do you want to follow each other? If you follow me on GFC and leave me a note that you did, I'll follow you right back!

    xx,
    LLE
    http://living-learning-eating.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  5. I agree with Becky, this is a fairly straight forward and easy, but I too, have experience in dress making.

    I have so badly wanted you to make a tutorial on these dresses. You always look so lovely in them.

    http://www.katielikeme.blogspot.com

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  6. Oh my god oh mygod. This is so perfect. It seems so easy! Thank you!

    http://www.katrinaspice.blogspot.com

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  7. you're so talented, you always surprised me, even if i was like: oh no, she's not gonna surprise me anymore' earlier ;) well done honey. i really want this tshirt and i need to sew this on my own <3 LOVE YOUR BLOG.
    http://coeursdefoxes.blogspot.com/ come and say hi :) xo

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  8. RAD!! I can't wait to give it a go.

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  9. I made this months ago and it didnt turn out as pretty as yours so I only wore mine once :ppppp

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  10. wowwwww such gorgeous!!!1 great great idea!! i'll take it! :D
    and you look beatiful, as always ^^

    xoxoxox

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  11. great tutorial! Just found your blog and it's awesome, and I love your hair!

    http://amyvalentinex.blogspot.co.uk/

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  12. cool diy! and love your hair colour :)

    http://www.tseparfait.com/

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  13. Hi Annika! I just realised that you left me comment today and I was like OMG OMG Annika replied me! and it really made my day <3 You're great and I'm your fan no1 hah. Anyway. Thank you so much and I'm really glad you visited my blog :)

    http://coeursdefoxes.blogspot.com/
    http://www.facebook.com/CoeursDeFoxes

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  14. Ahh I love your style! I wish I was as crafty as you.
    I love love your blog.
    xx,
    Sierra
    Oh, Just Living the Dream

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Annika,

    Can you perhaps try to make a video tutorial of making a circle skirt and circle-skirted dress. This would be awesome if you could. Love your blog.

    Thanks

    Christina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i don't have anything like a video camera unfortunately... (except for on my phone, and the quality would be awful unfortunately)

      one day!

      Delete
  16. Thank you for the toturial Annika!. I love those dresses that you post and I'm so happy to see how you do it. Now if only I had those basic sewing skills you were talking about!

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  17. WHAT. I'm so gonna try this. Thank you.

    monsoficial.blogspot.com

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  18. Well I know what I'll be doing this afternoon...

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  19. hey annika .
    do you think that that blue poka dot top .would look good with a peter pan collar? I am currently making it to wear as a shirt :)

    thanks for le tutorial
    xx
    much love
    Ariana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh cool! Yeah I think it would, but maybe you should make the neckline just a little bit lower than it is on my dress. I was considering a peter pan collar on this dress but didn't want to get rid of the high neckline.
      But i'm sure that'll look gorgeous! Send me a photo when you're done?? xx

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  20. I just wanted to say that i love this design and your circle skirt tutorial. i just made a dress like this is an all black stretchy fabric and i love it! I'm planning to make more of these in contrasting colors and with different tops. i love them!

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    Replies
    1. Awesome!! I really should try stretchy fabric - it would work out so well ;)

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    2. you really should. it's super comfy!

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  21. If the zip stops at the end of the bodice (waist), then how does the skirt fit over your hips? I'm a little confused. I love your blog though x

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    Replies
    1. I always throw it on over my head so that's not been a problem, haha. I also make the waist a little bigger than my actual waist and belt it up. My patterns are nowhere near perfect yet - i'm still just learning! I just wanted to share how i make my dresses, basically :)

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    2. Oh thank you, it makes sense now, I think your clothes/diys are brilliant! They really inspire me.

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    3. Aww, thank you! I'm really only just learning so my instructions are not so great some of the time.. haha but if they can a least be a little inspiring, that can only be a good thing :)

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  22. this is awesome I probs think i'd get this wrong though! Love your style!

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  23. Love your DIYs! I think I'm going to try this one. What Simplicity pattern did you use? What's the name of it?

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    Replies
    1. I have looked everywhere for it but I can't find it!! :( All I can go off is the photo: Simplicity 6001. Maybe that'll help? I'm so sorry!

      Delete
  24. I'm so excited to try making one of these! Do you think it would work to use a more "empire-waist" bodice? I have a few vintage dress patterns, and I was wondering if the dress would still turn out okay if I decided to make more of these in the future with different bodice designs.

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    Replies
    1. I don't see why not, although I'm not sure if a circle skirt is the best way to go if you have a raised-waistline (circle skirts fly upwards on the slightest breeze!)

      Delete
  25. Went shopping the other day at American Apparel and I don't think any amount of food can show my gratitude for this. This is such a money saver.<3

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  26. Thanks so much for posting a tutorial that REALLY shows how to attach a bodice to a skirt! I'd been searching like mad for something that explained how to turn the bodice inside out - and leave the skirt right side out. You saved my project. THANK YOU. (The pattern maker just said, "sew the bodice to the skirt." Not helpful.) My project isn't a circle skirt, but your instructions translate extremely well for just about any skirt and bodice combo, I think. Very cute stuff you make - looks just great on you too. Wish I was so stylish. :-)

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    Replies
    1. :D Well that is very okay! I am glad my photos and instructions could assist you! It took me soooo long and many, many attempts to figure out how to attach the two properly, haha.

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  27. Hi! I love this but I have a question, how did you make the skirt look like that? (like the mint green one), I mean, so "fluffy" or "puffy" (omg sorry I do not speak english, but I hope you get the point!) Thanks (:

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    Replies
    1. the amount of fabric in the skirt makes it that puffy :) it's all just down to the design!

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  28. Hi Annika! Thank you so much for making the videos and tutes.
    I love your style! I love sewing, but i am just a beginner. Ever since I found your blog, I became very inspired and more motivated. I love yourvideos and fabric choices! I have almost finished making my very first dress, adapted version of the ones in your videos.
    And by the way, I agree with you, we all need to do our part when it comes to making the world a better place( i iknow youdidnt say that,but thats how i see it). I hope your blog inspires other people, not only in sewing but also to become less consuming and do more diy/recycling instead of buying lots
    Raissa xx

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  29. Hey there. I've been thinking of taking up sewing for such a long time now. And I was wondering if you have the patterns for this dress? Because your blog is really making me think of taking the plunge :)

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    Replies
    1. Have you seen my youtube tutorial? You can make your own pattern! :)

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    2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkIhKWmbnfc&list=TLORQucUSf3OvRZnnirSX79CkF-IawYrp5

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  30. Hi, I think I've now read/watched all of your tutorials, and can I just say THANK YOU. I have made masses of circle skirts with your birdeemag tutorial as my guide, and I just made a fancy party dress by combining your youtube tutorial on how to make a circle skirt dress, with the added inspiration of the diamond shaped cutout on the back of your dotted top here... You can see the results in my blog here:
    http://somescoundrel.blogspot.fi/2014/08/look-i-made-fancy-dress.html

    I'm only learning how to sew my own clothes, so your tutorials have been a massive help. Thanks again! :)

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  31. Dear Annika,
    I love your dress and videos on your Youtube channel! I was wondering if you could tell me the pattern from simplicity you used for this tutorial. I love that style. :) Eitherway, I adore your YouTube channel! Oh, I also was wondering where you get your fabric. Do you have any suggestions on cheap alternatives to fabric? I am a beginner sewer aspiring to make my own clothing. I appreciate your easy, yet fabulous tutorials and adorable website. Thanx girl and keep up the great work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's 6001? (I don't have the pattern anymore, unfortunately!)
      Thank you so much though :D
      For fabric for a beginner, use thrift shops and buy old sheets with interesting/nice patterns on them! They're cheap & so it doesn't really matter if you stuff up, plus they provide you with a LOT of fabric to work with! xx

      Delete
    2. Thanks so much for answering and taking your time to read my words! I'm probably going to mess up a lot so the fact that they provide a lot of fabric is definitely a plus. Again, thank you!

      Delete

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a message! I read every single one. Don't forget to check back for a reply if you leave a question! ♥

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