Step 1: Input your waist size in inches. (the measurement of the circumference of your waist, or how large you want the middle of the circle to be.)
Step 2: Choose how full you want your skirt to be. You can make it a full circle, 3/4 circle, half circle, or quarter circle skirt.
Step 3: Input the length in inches that you want your skirt to be.

I make no guarantee that information on this website is always 100% accurate, so make sure to double check your work! Measure twice, cut once!

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Table Of Contents
What Width & Length of Fabric Do I Need For A Circle Skirt?
What Can I Make Using A Circle Skirt Calculator?
Circle Skirt Formulas
How To Calculate The Length Of Fabric Needed For A Circle Skirt
How To Fold Fabric For a Circle Skirt (Diagrams)

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What Width & Length of Fabric Do I Need For A Circle Skirt?

The width and length of fabric needed to make a circle skirt depends on the fullness and size of skirt you are making.

• To make a full circle skirt, you will need fabric that is both 2 times as wide and 2 times as long as the “fabric length” measurement, plus a few inches for wiggle room
  As an example, to make a skirt that requires a 30 inch fabric length (as determined by the calculator above), you will need fabric that is at least 60 inches wide and 60 inches in length (or 1 2/3 yards of 60 inch wide material.)

• To make a half circle skirt, you will need fabric that is twice as long and once as wide as the “fabric length” measurement.
  For example, to make a skirt that requires a 30 inch fabric length, you would need fabric that had the dimensions of at least 60×30 (which would barely fit on one yard of 60 inch wide material, or fit with generous space on 1 2/3 yard of 45 inch material.)
• To make a quarter circle skirt, you will need fabric that is both the width and length of the “fabric length” measurement.
  For example, to make a quarter circle skirt that requires a 30 inch fabric length, you need a piece of fabric that is at least 30×30 inches.

Remember that “skirt length” and “fabric length” are NOT the same! Fabric length is made up of the radius PLUS the skirt length.

Remember to add seam allowances, as they are NOT included in the calculator!

Remember that the fabric length is measured from the bottom left corner of the fabric when folded (except for when making a quarter circle skirt, which has no folded sides.)

In general, 2 -2.5 yards of 60 inch wide material should be enough to make a full, long length circle skirt for a medium sized waist. If you can’t find fabric wide enough for your skirt, you can make a full circle skirt by making two halves for a front and a back.

What Can I Make Using A Circle Skirt Calculator?

This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.

Circles and fractions of circles make some really interesting shapes when draped, cut open, twisted, or even laid flat. For example, you can make a:

• 1950’s Poodle Skirt
• Tu-Tu
• Cape (the waist measurement is replaced with the neckline measurement)
• Full Circle Sleeve
• Trumpet Sleeve
• Flamenco Skirt (double or triple circle skirt!)
• Flounce/ruffles
• Poncho
• Christmas Tree Skirt

Circle Skirt Formulas

There are multiple ways to write circle skirt formulas, and every circle skirt calculator I have ever used comes up with a slightly different result based upon how it rounds the numbers. For this reason it may be a good idea to do a practice run of your project if it requires great accuracy.

If you are calculating your circle skirt manually, you can use 3.14 to equal pi, and 6.28 to equal 2π, but the most accurate way to make the calculation would be to use the π button on a scientific calculator.

Full Circle Skirt Formula:

The formula to find the radius for a full circle skirt is: C/2π

In words this is written: Circumference or Waist measurement divided by (two times pi).

Remember to multiply 2 and pi first, then divide your waist circumference by it.

3/4 Circle Skirt Formula

The formula to find the radius for a 3/4 circle skirt is: (4/3 × C)/ 2π

In words this is written: (four thirds times circumference or waist) divided by (two times pi).

Half Circle Skirt Formula

The formula to find the radius for a half circle skirt is: 2 C / 2π

In words this is written: (Two times circumference or waist) divided by (two times pi).

Third Circle Skirt Formula

The formula to find the radius of a third circle skirt is: 3 C /2π

In words this is written: (Three times circumference or waist) divided by (two times pi).

Quarter Circle Skirt formula

The formula to find the radius for a quarter circle skirt is: 4 × C/ 2π

In words this is written: (Four times Circumference or Waist Measurement) divided by (two times pi).

Here is a Pinnable image you can print or save to Pinterest to reference later!

How To Calculate The Length Of Fabric Needed For A Circle Skirt

After finding the radius of your circle skirt, the fabric length is quite easy! You simply have to add the radius to the skirt length measurement (how long you want your skirt to be) and add a seam allowance as well.

The formula to calculate the fabric length for a circle skirt is: r+skirt length.

How To Fold Fabric For a Circle Skirt

Folding the fabric for a circle skirt depends on what type you will make. You can also make a circle skirt without folding, but by using a string tied to a pen or marker and making marks outward from a center point.

Full Circle Skirt

To fold the fabric for a full circle skirt, fold the material in half, then in half again the opposite direction. It should have two folded edges, like a square paper dinner napkin.

Half Circle Skirt

To fold the fabric for a half circle skirt, fold the material in half once with the two short edges aligned.

Quarter Circle Skirt

To make a quarter circle skirt, you do not need to fold any fabric. The left side and bottom edges of the fabric will make the two seam edges of the quarter circle.