How much fabric a skirt takes

A straight or pencil skirt from fabric 1.4 to 1.5 m wide: one skirt length plus 15 cm for the waistband and hem. That works for hips up to about 110 cm, when the front and back fit side by side.

Skirts that flare are counted from the length. A-line: about one and a half lengths. Half circle: two lengths. Full circle: two lengths plus the waist diameter, and long ones often need the fabric pieced.

A pleated skirt: you need three times your hip size across. Count how many full widths of fabric that makes and multiply by the length.

For fabric 1.4 to 1.5 m wide and sizes EU 38 to 44:

Pencil or straight to the knee: 0.7 to 1 m, midi 1 to 1.3 m.

A-line to the knee: 1 to 1.3 m.

Half circle to the knee: 1.3 to 1.5 m, midi 1.5 to 1.8 m.

Full circle to the knee: 1.6 to 2 m, midi 2 to 3 m. Pleated: 1.5 to 2.5 m.

Pencil and A-line skirts need a cloth that holds its shape: suiting wool, tweed, dense cotton suiting (see cotton). A warm winter skirt works in lighter coating wool too.

Circle and half-circle skirts look best in soft fabrics that fall in folds: dress wool, viscose, light cotton.

See what is in stock: suiting and dress fabrics.

Checks and tartan: the pattern is matched at the side seams, and on a pleated skirt along the pleats too. Add 10 to 20 %.

Bias-cut skirts hang more softly but take 30 to 50 % more fabric.

Cotton and viscose can shrink at the wash: wash the fabric before cutting.