Circular tablecloth = skirt tutorial

Remember this tablecloth I got at a charity shop the other day?

Well, It became this…

Here’s how I made it, but I warn you, it involves a tiny bit of maths…
You will need:

• A circular tablecloth, but you could easily use a square of fabric and hem it later, or make it in two halves if the fabric has a ‘right way up’.
• Zip
• Long ruler
• Button
• Small piece of elastic

First, measure your waist where you want the skirt to sit and add one inch (for seam allowance – If you are making the skirt in two halves add 2 inches). Now here comes the maths… divide by 3.14. Got your number? Divide this by 2. This gives you the radius of your circle, mine was 4.9”.
Fold your tablecloth in half across the centre. Now fold it in half again, from the point to the edge. Do this once more and pin like crazy. It should look like the image below. If you are making the skirt in two halves, you will have two of these and you only need to fold twice. Measure your radius from the point and make several marks. Join these up.

Cut the point along this line.

Now unfold your tablecloth and check your circle. Woohoo, it worked!

Now you need to find the centre of your skirt. Refold the circle you removed in exactly the same way as before and stick a pin through the very tip of the point.

Open it out and you have the centre of your circle.

Place your circle back in the centre of the skirt and line up your longest ruler with the pin and the edge of the skirt. Draw a line.

Cut along this line. Measure your zip and mark the length at the top of the skirt. Sew the seam up to this line.

Insert your zip. I used an invisible zip left over from an old skirt I harvested for the fabric. Only problem was I don’t have the right zipper foot, and I had to sew it in by hand. Serves me right for budgeting the time without checking I had the right materials!

I decided not to hem the top, but instead to cover it in some grosgrain ribbon I had that was the perfect colour.  Be careful not to stretch the tablecloth as you go. Remember, a circular edge will be cut on the bias somewhere and could stretch out if you pull it too much.

I added a 1 inch loop of elastic to the top opening and a button to make sure it stayed shut.

Although the opening is circular and has no allowance for your bum, I found that the skirt wasn’t noticeably shorter in the back (and I’m no stranger to pies). I also wanted to make sure that the pink band was symmetrical. If you think you might have problems, it is much easier to try it on and hem the bottom to fit, rather than try to adjust the circle.

And you’re done! Now you can twirl to your hearts content :) I don’t know if you can see, but there is writing on the front hem that says “paradiso”, cute huh?

By the way, I love these shoes - they have little white sailboats on but they hurt my feet so much they are only good for the occasional photo.

Oh, and a little light jumping :)

Beccy