How to Sew a Full Circle Skirt for an 18-Inch Doll---Step-by-Step Sewing Tutorial with Free PDF Printable Sewing Pattern

Today, we will see how to make a full circle skirt for 18-inch dolls. 

I have posted the free PDF printable sewing pattern for this skirt here. Instructions on how to print the pattern pages are given in that post.

The measurements of the doll I used are

Chest 11.5 inches

Waist 11 inches

Hip 11.75 inches

This pattern will fit most of the18-inch dolls like Our Generation dolls and American Girl© dolls.

Check the tutorial at the link below to learn how to print and assemble PDF pattern pages.

Click here to learn how to print and assemble the PDF pattern pages. 

Once you have have downloaded the pattern pages, cut out the margins and tape the pages together. Now carefully cut the skirt pattern out from these taped pages.

Now, as we have our pattern ready, let's move on to the next step.

How to Cut the Pattern Pieces from Fabric?

This is how you will cut the skirt and waist band from the fabric. Cut the waist band separately. 

Place the pattern piece on the fabric folded twice.

Trace around the pattern.

Cut through the traced outline.

This is how the circle skirt will look like after it's cut out from the fabric and opened up---like a donut. :-)

Cut the waistband 20 inches long and 2 inches wide.

Suggested fabrics and fabric measurements:

You can use  lightweight fabrics such as cotton lawn, gingham, linen, seersucker, crepe, silk, etc. to make this skirt.

An 18 x 18-inch (45 x 45-cm) fabric is needed to make this circle skirt. 

Now, let's start sewing the skirt.

How to Sew?

Step 1:

Hem the skirt. Fold the hemline down the wrong side by 0.25 inch and press.

Then fold again by 0.25 inch and pin.

Sew along the folded edge. 

Step 2: 

Sew the waistband to the skirt.

Start by pinning the bottom edge of the waistband to the top edge of the skirt right sides together. Start from the center back of the skirt. Leave a trail of 1 inch of the waistband and start pinning all around the skirt.

And once you are back at the starting point, match both the ends of the waistband and pin them together. 

Cut the trails of fabric from both ends of the waistband leaving only 1/2 inch for seam allowance on both ends.

Now sew the ends together, with the 1/2 inch seam allowance. 

Now trim the seam allowance to 1/4 inch. This is how it should look now.

Sew the waist band's lower edge and the skirt's top edge together.

This is how it looks on the right side.

Turn it to the wrong side

Step 3: 

Create the casing for elastic:

Next, fold down the top edge of the waist band by 1/4 inch.

And then fold the waistband in half. 

Sew 1/8 inch from the folded edge leaving a small gap to feed the elastic in.

Take a 0.5-inch-wide elastic. Mark 10 inches from the end. See the yellow line in the picture below.

Grab a safety pin and attach it to one end of your elastic.

Insert the safety pin end of the elastic through the opening in the casing. Scrunch the casing and bring the safety pin through the other end of the opening.

When both the ends of the elastic meet, cut the elastic at the marking we made, and overlap the ends of the elastic by 0.5 inch and sew them together. Sew the gap in the casing closed.

Now you have made a beautiful swirly circle skirt for your adorable little doll.

If you want to create a special wardrobe for your daughter's 18-inch doll, here are some free PDF printable sewing patterns for you.

Reversible bolero vest

A-line skirt

Empire waist dress

Spiral skirt

Night pants (pajama pants)

For your easy reference, I have organized my blog posts under the following sections. Hope it's useful to you:

Free printable PDF sewing patterns 

Pattern drafting tutorials

Sewing tutorials

These links appear at the top of my blog on the navigation bar as well.

Happy sewing!  

---Flora

Kids' 8-Gore Flared Skirt---Sewing Tutorial + Free PDF Printable Sewing Pattern---Size 1 to 12 Years

I'm so excited to share this new 8-gore flouncy skirt PDF sewing pattern I have created for girls' sizes 1 to 12 years. 

This skirt can be made from a light weight fabric for summer or from a medium weight fabric for winter.

This beginner-friendly skirt features 8 panels (also known as gores) that flare at the bottom. These panels are attached together to give an overall twirly effect. 

Fabric Suggestion:

Choose plain fabrics or fabric with tiny prints to make this skirt. You can choose light weight woven fabrics like quilting cotton, poplin, satin, etc., or medium-weight fabrics like cotton chambray, linen, or cotton twill.

Size Chart:

This is the size chart I have used for making this sewing pattern:

Select the correct size according to the hip round measurement in the size chart.

How much fabric do you need for this skirt?

You will need about 1 yard of fabric for sizes 1 to 4  and 1 1/4 yards of fabric for sizes 5 to 12. Please refer to the fabric requirement chart below.

And here is the download link for the free PDF sewing pattern:

How to Print and Assemble the PDF Pattern Pages:

Click here to learn how to print and assemble the PDF pattern pages. 

Print the pages on A4-size papers. Make sure you have set page sizing to "Actual size" before you print the pattern.

Do not select the "Custom scale" option or the "Choose paper size by PDF page size" option.

You can measure the 1 inch x 1 inch square in the pattern page to check whether the page has printed correctly.

Pattern Assembly:

This is how you will assemble the pattern.

Seam and Hem Allowances:

Seam and hem allowances are included in the pattern.

Front and back center gores: 3/8 inch for the top seam and the side seams, and 3/4 inch for the hemline.

waistband: 0.25 inch for the top fold, 1/2 inch for the side seams, and 3/8 inch for the bottom seam.

Pattern pieces:

Front center gores:

Front side gores:

Repeat the same for the back.

How to Sew:

Step 1: 

Serge the raw edges of the sides of each panel before joining them together.

Step 2:

Join the center gores with a 3/8 inch seam allowance.

Step 3:

Join the side gores to the right and left of the already joined center gores from step 1, with a 3/8-inch seam allowance. 

Open the seams and press them flat like so.

This will look like this on the right side.

Then join the side seams with a 3/8-inch seam allowance.

Lastly, sew stay stiches on both sides of each seam (about 1/8 inch from each seam).

Step 5:

Hem the skirt.

Fold the hemline down 1/4 inch. Press. And fold again 1/2 inch. Press. Then sew close to the folded edge (about 1/8 inch). If you prefer, sew another row of stiches close to the hemline as well. This will give a beautiful finish to the hemline.

Step 6: 

Join the waist band to the skirt.

Fold the top edge of the waistband down 1/4 inch.

Join the sides of the waist band with a 1/2 inch seam allowance and match the lower edge of this side seam with either the right or left side seam of the skirt. Pin them together. And then proceed to pin the lower edge of the waist band with the top edge (waistline) of the skirt. Join these with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. 

Fold down the waist band in half to cover the waistline seam you have just sewn. Then sew close to the folded edge (about 1/8 inch) leaving a gap of 2 inches to insert the elastic.

Step 7: 

Insert the elastic into casing.

Take an elastic that has a length of 1 inch less than your kids waist circumference and has a width of 1 1/2 inches. Attach a safety pin on one side.

Insert the safety pin edge of the elastic into the casing through the 2 inch opening.

Overlap the ends of the elastic by 0.5 inch and place a few stitches over the overlap to secure the ends of the elastic. Sew the opening closed.

Done! Now you have it--the 8-gore flouncy skirt for your little angel!

Do check out these free PDF sewing patterns, if you are interested:

Kids' A-line Skirt---Size 1 to 12 Years

Kids' A-line Dress---Sizes 6 to 12 Years

I have posted loads of free PDF printable sewing patterns for kids, women, and 18-inch and 12-inch dolls on this page on my blog. Browse through this page to find the patterns you are looking for. You can download and use them to make your own clothes.

You can also click the Free Sewing Patterns Page at the top of this blog page (under the blog title) to find more free sewing patterns.

Click the links below to browse through all the pattern drafting and sewing tutorials on my blog.

Pattern drafting tutorials 

Sewing tutorials 

Happy Sewing!

---Flora