A bell skirt is a classic item of apparel that gives charm and refinement to any ensemble. Its unique form, which gently curves like a bell and flares out from the waist, makes it a flattering option for a variety of body shapes. A bell skirt can be the ideal project if you’re looking to make a versatile garment or are dressing up for a special occasion.
Making your own bell skirt lets you tailor it to your preferences for length and fullness as well as fabric choice. Your personal style can be reflected in a gorgeous, fluffy bell skirt that you can make with a few basic sewing skills. You will also receive a unique piece that you can proudly claim you made yourself, and the process is enjoyable and rewarding.
We’ll walk you through every step of sewing a bell skirt in this post, from choosing the appropriate materials to adding the finishing touches. Regardless of your level of sewing experience, you’ll find useful hints and easy-to-follow directions to make the process enjoyable. So gather your materials, and let’s begin making a gorgeous bell skirt that you will adore donning!
Calculation and construction of a bell skirt pattern
If the estimated product length allows you to make a pattern with one seam, then cutting can be done immediately on the fabric. But a long bell skirt (100 cm or more) may require cutting from 2 parts, since the width of the material rarely exceeds 1.2-1.5 m. In this case, it would be correct to construct a pattern template on paper and then transfer it to fabric. To cut, you need to take 2 measurements: waist circumference (WT) and product length (DI). To calculate OT you need to divide by 6 and add CI to the result. The sum of the values should be 5 cm less than the width of the piece of fabric if you want to cut a skirt with a single seam. The amount of material purchased in this case can be equal to the width of the fabric or a little more (up to 2/3) if you need a very flared skirt. Constructing a pattern on paper or fabric is the same, but please note that the paper template is constructed in half size. Place a dot O in the upper left corner of the square of fabric or paper. From it to the right to postpone the measure of 1/6 of the OT, indicate the received point with the letter T, from it to measure the distance equal to the child. Mark the beginning of the bottom line with the letter H. A straight line from point T to point H will mark the location of the longitudinal seam.
- take the measurement of the hip circumference;
- from mark T, put aside a distance of 11-12 cm to the right, mark as B;
- measure the distance of the hip circumference, it should correspond to 1/6 of the hip circumference measurement.
This step is important when creating a pattern for the traditional "half-sun"; a wider version will typically fit the hips loosely.
Should the hip width of the skirt be inadequate, you should add 2–4 cm along the hem line, excluding point H or H1 along the arc’s purported continuation.
Connect the new point with T or T1 respectively. Thus, the waist width in the cut will remain the same, and the desired volume will be obtained on the hips. For an even distribution of the draped fabric, you need to slightly supplement the resulting pattern. Having determined the middle of the TT arcs1 and НН1, you need to put aside points O 2 cm from the waist line and 4 cm from the bottom. Draw smooth lines through the new points. If the pattern was made on paper, then the cut details must be placed on the fabric so that the central line of the template coincides as accurately as possible with the oblique line of the fabric (45 ° to the grain line). It is especially important to follow this if the fabric has a checkered pattern or other large pattern. The pattern layout on the fabric on the bias is shown in Fig. 2. When cutting on fabric, you need to make the following allowances for seams: along the waist line – 1 cm, along the side seams – 1 cm each, along the bottom of the product – 2-3 cm. If you plan to sew a skirt with a belt, then you need to additionally mark a rectangle 2 times wider than the desired width of the bodice, plus allowances for each seam of 1 cm. The length of the rectangle will be equal to the OT measurement plus 3-5 cm for the fastener entry and 1 cm for the seams on each side. If the length of the scraps left over from cutting the skirt panel is insufficient, the belt can be made composite in length, not forgetting about the allowances for joining the parts. It is necessary to observe the direction of the shared thread along the length of the belt pattern.
Making a lovely, fluffy bell skirt is a fun project that teaches you important sewing skills and lets you explore your creativity. From choosing the perfect fabric to perfecting the sewing technique, this tutorial will take you step-by-step through every step, making sure that even total novices can produce an amazing, polished end product.
| Step | Description |
| 1 | Choose a fabric with a bit of stiffness to hold the shape of the bell skirt. |
| 2 | Take accurate waist and length measurements for a perfect fit. |
| 3 | Cut the fabric in a circular pattern, adding seam allowances. |
| 4 | Sew the side seams together to form the skirt. |
| 5 | Attach a waistband to the top edge of the skirt. |
| 6 | Hem the bottom edge for a clean finish. |
| 7 | Add a zipper or buttons to the waistband for closure. |
| 8 | Press the seams for a polished look. |
Making a lovely, fluffy bell skirt is a fulfilling project that lets you show off your sense of style and creativity. Your skirt can be made to be both playful and elegant, appropriate for many different types of events, with the correct fabric selection and meticulous attention to detail.
You can confidently sew a bell skirt that fits well and flares out to your liking by following the instructions provided. Although the process might take some time, the outcome will be a piece that is especially made for you.
Making a bell skirt is a fun and doable project that gives your wardrobe a versatile and stylish addition, regardless of your level of sewing experience.
