If you wish to make a simple, yet visually appealing summer skirt, you can try sewing a bubble skirt. Technically, a bubble skirt is a version of a gathered skirt. However, the fabric is gathered not only at its waist, but also at the hem of the skirt thus creating the look of a bubble or balloon if you wish. It is an ideal girls skirt pattern for beginners.
This tutorial contains a bubble skirt pattern calculator that can compute the dimensions of individual pattern pieces based on your body measurements.
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After calculating the bubble skirt pattern dimensions, you can download the results as a PDF document.
In this tutorial I will describe how to draft a short bubble skirt pattern with an elastic waist.
- Measurements needed for the bubble skirt
- Calculation of individual pattern pieces dimensions
- Bubble skirt pattern draft examples
- Bubble skirt pattern calculator
Measurements needed for the bubble skirt pattern
Measure your hips: take the measurement at the widest part of your hips.
Measure your waist: measure your waist where you want to wear the waist of the skirt. This may be at your natural waist (the most narrow part of your waist), higher or lower than the natural waist.
Decide the skirt length: usually, a short bubble or balloon skirt length is above one’s knees. Take measurement from your waist to the length you fancy.
Calculation of individual pattern pieces dimensions
Now, you will have to calculate the dimensions of individual pattern pieces. These are:
In the section below there is a detailed description how the pattern pieces dimensions are calculated. There are images of such patterns as well. Before cutting the pattern pieces, make sure you have pre-treated all the fabrics you are going to use for sewing.
Elastic band
There are two formulas how to calculate the length of the elastic band – one for narrow and one for wide bands. Wide elastic bands are quite strong and they shouldn’t be of the same length as the narrow ones, otherwise you would feel uncomfortable and your skin can suffer from compression.
elastic band narrower than 2,5 cm: elastic length = 0,7 * waist circumference
elastic band wider than 2,5 cm: elastic length = 0,85 * waist circumference
elastic band narrower than 1 inch: elastic length = 0.7 * waist circumference
elastic band wider than 1 inch: elastic length = 0.85 * waist circumference
Rib jersey fabric
The jersey fabric will be used as a casing for the above mentioned elastic band. Measure your waist circumference. This will be the length of the rib jersey. I consider 8 cm (about 3 inch) an ideal width for the waistband casing. This value needs to be doubled as the rib jersey fabric has to be folded in half.
rib jersey width = waist circumference
rib jersey length = 2 * 8 cm (rib jersey length = 2 * 3 inch)
Lining
The lining of the skirt should be wider than your hip circumference as you have to be able to pull the skirt through your hips. I recommend adding about 10 cm (4 inch) ease. This won’t make the lining too wide and will make getting the skirt on easy.
The length of the lining should be about 10 cm (4 inch) shorter than the desired skirt length.
lining width = hip circumference + 10 cm
lining length = skirt length – 10 cm
lining width = hip circumference + 4 inch
lining length = skirt length – 4 inch
Design fabric
The design fabric should be 12 cm (5 inch) longer than the desired skirt length. Extra 12 cm (] 5 inch) will be folded towards the inside of the skirt in order to create the bubble effect on the skirt hem.
The design fabric width should be twice your waist circumference. This piece of fabric will be both the FRONT and BACK of the skirt.
design fabric width = 2 * waist circumference
design fabric length = skirt length + 12 cm design fabric length = skirt length + 5 inch
Dividing the design fabric to FRONT and BACK
It may happen that the calculated fabric width will be wider than your design fabric width. In such a case you will have to divide the design fabric into two pars: FRONT and BACK. You may also divide the lining into two parts.
FRONT design fabric width = waist circumference
design fabric length = skirt length + 12 cm design fabric length = skirt length + 5 inch
BACK design fabric width = waist circumference
design fabric length = skirt length + 12 cm design fabric length = skirt length + 5 inch
In the images below show you the individual pattern pieces with their dimensions.
Bubble skirt pattern draft examples
FRONT and BACK as one piece
FRONT and BACK as separate pieces
Do not forget to add seam allowances to all pattern pieces. There isn’t a typical hem allowance as the bottom of the skirt will be folded towards the inside and attached to the bottom of the lining.
Bubble skirt pattern calculator
To make drafting easier for you, I have created this free sewing pattern calculator, that will compute dimensions of all pattern pieces needed to sew the bubble skirt.
We do not store, nor share any data you put into the form above.
Calculated bubble skirt pattern dimensions
Conclusion: How to sew the bubble skirt
Now you have learnt how to draft a bubble skirt pattern. As you can see, it is a very easy skirt pattern for beginners. To sew the skirt, you can read this blog post with detailed step-by-step instructions.
