I am so excited to (finally!) announce I’ll be hosting another sew-along here at Elegant Musings! If you were here for the voting we did last winter on what sew-along to do first, you’ll know that the Swing Dress and a circle skirt were the contenders. The Swing Dress won out, but I have gotten so many emails and requests since then (literally once-a-week!) for a circle skirt or “beginner level” sew-along. It’s a great sew-along because it can be as simple or complicated as you’d like, and is perfect if you’re rather new to sewing and want to try out a few different techniques.
The basis of the circle skirt sew-along will be on this how-to I posted previously, with a few tweaks from me (we won’t be using the base pattern that is supplied in the article). I’ll be covering everything from supplies and fabric, to drafting your skirt pattern, adding a waistband and zipper, and hemming. They’ll be lots of tips and tricks packed in each post, and of course I’ll be happy to answer questions and troubleshoot if you run into a hiccup.
Because this style is essentially a blank canvas, I think it’ll appeal to both beginner and advanced sewers. Those new to sewing can stick with the basics: selecting pretty fabric and focus on learning the techniques that we’ll go over (drafting a custom pattern, adding a straight waistband, inserting a zipper, sewing a baby hem). More intermediate to advanced sewers may want to expand their project with surface embellishment (applique, soutache, embroidery), quilting, creative hem edges, wider waistbands, piecing, etc. I’ll be posting about inspiration shortly, so hopefully that will get your creative juices flowing!
Here is the tentative schedule for the sew-along:
August 24: sew-along announcement (that’s today!)
August 26: inspiration and details
August 27: taking measurements (yes, we have to do this before buying fabric!)
August 29: suitable fabrics & supplies
September 2: drafting the circle skirt
September 7: laying out and cutting the skirt pieces
September 9: sewing the side seams and inserting the zipper (various methods)
September 12: constructing and attaching the waistband
September 14: hemming (machine and hand-stitched methods)
September 16: bonus post on petticoats (a tutorial is tentatively planned)
September 21: circle skirt party!
I’ve given a gap of about 10 days between the supply list post and the first drafting post, so those who have to mail order their materials have time to do so. That was one problem I ran into with the last sew-along, and I hope will be remedied in this one! Since this is a fairly easy project to draft and sew, the schedule is otherwise fairly grouped together (about three posts a week). We should be done within a month.
As with the last sew-along, I’ve also set up a Flickr group to post your pictures to. We’ll also be doing a circle skirt party at the end to show off our new creations. Unlike the last sew-along, I’d love to actually showcase some of the pictures of finished skirts here, so be prepared for me to have a “call for submissions” towards the end of this sew-along!
Below are buttons if you’d like to post one on your blog during the sew-along; please save to your own computer and upload to your own hosting space. Feel free to link back to www.elegantmusings.com/tag/circle-skirt-sew-along if you’d like!
I’m looking forward to a launch of a new sew-along and group project with you!!! Please feel free to comment below with any questions (please note those that have to do with supplies and such will be dealt with as the appropriate posts go up), or just to say you’re joining in!
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Oh I’m SO excited Casey!!
I’ve linked a friend to this post, as we’ve been talking circle skirts for the past couple of weeks. I gotta get a new cardreader, but I am super excited for this sew along. It’ll be my first one. :3
The post I have been waiting for! This just made my day
I think the schedule you have set is perfect – plenty of time so if I fall behind a day or two I won’t miss the finish date and not too much time that I will tire of the project. AND, I am so excited for the petticoat post – hopefully that tentative tutorial will become an actual one. Happiness!
So glad you think the schedule is workable!
I was hoping that I’d be able to strike a balance between giving everyone enough time (because I know this time of year is busy for most people!) but not going too slow. 
♥ Casey
YAY!!!! I was going to make a circle skirt soon anyways. I have the burdastyle Linda pattern, which I have made before. I used 45 inch fabric, 3 yards cut on the cross grain. So I have 3 yards of a fabric that I was going to use for my second skirt, also 45 inch, will this work for this sew along and the pattern you will be drafting?
It should–depending on your layout and skirt length. Stay tuned for all those details in the supplies post!
♥ Casey
Yay! I’ve been excited ever since you posted the embroidered bees on your FB page
Can’t wait!
This does look VERY exciting. Can I add another project to my burgeoning list of WIPs?!!! The offer of a circle skirt party is almost too tempting…
I am so excited for this! I’ve been counting down the days and driving my fiance mad
I have so many ideas, I just need to pin them down and decide on one thing.
hehe!!! I’m so glad you’re excited about this, Faith!
♥ Casey
cool! i’m really excited about this one – i have a piece of wool tweed i’ve been saving specifically for a circle skirt
let’s just hope i have enough yardage lol.
I’ll be posting yardage information in the supplies post. It’s a bit hard to definitively say how much you’ll need (it depends on fabric width, layout and your skirt length), but generally about 3.5-4 yards is safe for a 50s length skirt!
♥ Casey
yay for beginner level sew alongs!
Yes, yes, yessss! Another Casey sew-along…I can’t wait, count me in please!
Woo hoo! I’m in this time! I missed the swing dress sal (late to the party) but I’m so excited to be part of this one! I recently made my first circle, actually square, skirt with an elastic waist. It was so darn easy once the math was done. Love how twirly it is.
YES!!!!! i’m so excited
i have a few vintage blouses and nothing suitable to wear them with, this will be perfect!
YAHOOOOO!!! I’ve been dying for this sew-along since last year. THANK YOU!!
Can’t wait!! It’ll be my first sew-a-long!!
I can’t wait, I will be joining in
I think I’m going to join in. I already have an idea on how to embellish it and whatnot. I can’t wait to start planning!
This is exciting – i think i will try to participate – even though i will be on vacation for the begining. Question: I have been thinking of drafting and making up a 1/2 circle skirt to wear to work. Do you think you would cover 1/2 circle skirts as well as circle skirts?
I’m not planning on specifically covering a 1/2 circle skirt, only because my drafting post is pretty long as-is. However, I will be linking to some resources in that post on drafting a 1/2 skirt for those who wish to make a less full version. The construction is fairly the same though for a full and 1/2 circle.
♥ Casey
I don’t usually participate in your sew-a-longs (just haven’t been sewing much lately), but I love to follow along. They are so informative and you always have great photos!
Woohoo!!! I’ve been eyeing the circle skirt since I began following your blog about a year ago, but was scared to try it since I’m a novice sewer. I can’t wait to make one for the fall!
yeah! – i´m in!!!
oooog, i cannot wait! i already have 3 embellishment ideas and outfits i want to create with these–ack!
OOoh! I am so exciting! This will be the first sew-along I am participating in!
Already thinking bout suitable fabrics or embellments, but I will wait with any purchases until your inspiration post!
Thank you so much for sharing your sewing knowledge with all of us!
In between my other sewing I just might join in this circle skirt. You say drafting our own patterns so I will be making my own then, love to learn that.
So great, thank you! This will be my first sew-along that I’m participating in, but I’m so looking forward to it. I have never sewn any clothes. I’m a bit worried if I’ll make it through, but I’ll try my very best. And at least I’ll have a great instructor!!
Hooray! I’m excited for this. I’ve adapted a few modern dress pattern to use circle skirts, but I’ve never sewn a full-on waistbanded separate circle skirt myself.
I tend to hurry and produce half-baked pieces. I hope the sew along will help me slow down and really think each step through, instead.
Thank you for hosting this!
oooh, i’ve been wanting to make a circle skirt for so long! I’m in!
Hurray! I have my fabric chosen and everything — I kept wanting to make this skirt and kept procrastinating on it. No excuses now! : ) Thanks for hosting another sew-along Casey — the Swing Dress was super-fun, I’m sure this one will be too!
Maybe this will help me to finally finish a sewing project. I think I’m in.
Ooh I might just join in with this… I’ve never followed a sewalong before. Exciting!
Oooooh I might join in if I can find the time
Count me in!!!
One of my goals for this summer was to learn to sew better. I’ve been putting it off, but this is a perfect starting point. Thanks!
Yay! I am so in!
Woohoo! I’ve been wanting to make another one for ages. Thanks for doing this. Looking forward to getting started.
Bummer, my sewing machine needs to be serviced. I really want to do this too. Guess I’ll just have to be late to the party.
No worries!
The Flickr group and posts will always be up and available!
♥ Casey
We-e-ell, I guess I can add one more sew-along to my growing list! Not that i have any money, but maybe I can do a little stash-busting.
Casey – This is very exciting for me, my first sew-along. What I am most looking forward to is learning to create my own pattern. I have never had the courage to attempt pattern making before, but have been so inspired by your site and all the posts that I can hardly wait to begin.
I am so there! I may even bring cookies!
This sounds like a really fun quick project! I really want to try and find the time to join in on this one. I would love to embellish a circle skirt with some embroidery or applique.
Yayyyyy! I suppose I’ll have to finish up my 40′s style pinafore (which is coming along somewhat terribly) to have a blank to-do list for this!
P.S.- You started following me on pinterest today and I may or may not have squealed with delight …
hehe!!!
That is too cute about Pinterest–I’m totally addicted to it at this point! 
♥ Casey
Can’t wait for the hemming section!!!!! While my method works and looks fine, it is a MAJOR pain in the tush!! Since I LOVE all of your finishing details (and have added a few to my sewing), I am hoping this, also, will be a great addition. Thanks for sharing!!
I have so been thinking about circle skirts recently, I’m so down for this. Summer’s coming up here and a circle skirt would be PERFECT!
x
Katherine
ME! ME! ME! I am definitely in !!!!
YAY!!! I’m so excited! I’ve been looking forward to this since you mentioned it was coming a month or so ago.
So excited!
Inspiring post for this new day. I appreciate the creations and earthy designs I saw. I’m looking forward on your post so I can refer myself for latest designs and style.
I am looking forward to this sew-a-long, I will have to go at it a little slower as the little one well, is teething and due for shots and mmm means more mommy loving. I have the fabric picked out however. Thanks for another sew-a-long Casey.
I’m so excited about this sew along! =) I enjoyed the swing dress one so much. I’m hoping to do some pretty embroidery embellishment on my skirt.
~Kristin
Yay! I’m so in for this, especially with summer just around the corner a circle skirt would be perfect. Will also be my first sew along and my first zipper
Ooooh I’m excited as I actually have the time and ability to do this with you. I was just looking to make a circle skirt too. Fabulous!
Most of us today is using wed sites for their designs. At now they can refer in the net so they can have an overview on your latest designs. You can get also the quality on the clothes if its click in the market.
This is wonderful. I love circle skirts and they are perfect for fall. I can envision one in a lovely wool to wear with boots. I do have a few questions:
First, will this be accessible for us plus-sized sewers. I always struggle with circle skirts from a pattern, because i have a thick/wide waist and the patterns are never large enough, but I don’t know how to modify while keeping the proportions for the circle correct. It would be wonderful if you have tips and tricks for this!
Second, will you address the issue of circle skirts riding up on the bum and therefor looking a bit shorter in back than in front? For some unknown reason, this happens to me a lot, even though my behind is not so big.
Thanks for hosting this wonderful sewalong, I look forward to participating!
I plan on addressing the second issue; it occurred to me as I was planning this out and I think I may have lit upon a bit of a solution!
As for the first, we’ll be drafting the skirts according to individual waist measurements, and I’ll be showing how you can “flatten” the waist opening if desired to make it more of an oval instead of a circle.
So stay tuned!
♥ Casey
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