Most skirts you’ve seen – circle, mermaid, tiered – actually come from 3 basic constructions. Surprising, right?

Today, I’ll show you 10 patterns you can use and adapt for your own designs. 

Family #1. Circle Skirts

The Construction

Circle skirts are made from circular panels – quarter, half, full, or even more. The bigger the panel, the fuller and more flowing the skirt. Let’s check out a few examples so you can see the difference.

2-Panel Circle Skirt

A 2-panel circle skirt is the simplest and most versatile skirt, made from just 2 half-circle panels.

To create it, we usually start with a quarter-circle pattern, which you place on the fold of your fabric when cutting. Here’s how to make that quarter-circle for a 2-panel skirt.

First, calculate A, which is your hip measurement divided by 6.28, which is 2 x pi. Then, calculate B, which is A plus your desired skirt length, from where you want your waistband to sit, down to the floor. And add your preferred seam allowances.

That’s it! Using these two measurements, mark them from a corner of your pattern paper, and you have your custom pattern ready.

Here’s the step-by-step tutorial! ⤵

But what if you want more volume?

3-Panel Double-Layer Circle Skirt

This is my 3-panel circle skirt. It has 3 half-circle panels, and 2 layers of them, creating a lot more volume. 

For this skirt, too, the pattern is a quarter circle. A is now your hip measurement divided by 9.42, which is 3 x pi. And B is A plus your desired skirt length. 

Add your preferred seam allowances, and this pattern is complete. 

You can make this circle skirt here! ⤵

Now here’s an interesting circle skirt design.

Side Drape Circle Skirt

This circle skirt has side openings that create a beautiful drape, giving it a unique look. It’s made from 4 panels: the front and back are half-circle panels, while the side panels are quarter circles.

The front and back panels are straightforward, based on your waistband and desired skirt length, just like the previous circle skirts.

The side panels are what make this skirt special. They’re quarter-circle shapes, but the inner edge accounts for the openings, and the drape requires extra fabric, so these panels are larger than a standard quarter circle.

The calculations for this pattern are a bit more detailed, so if you want to make it yourself, click the photo below!⤵

Now, let’s look at another unique skirt design.

Cascading Ruffle Skirt

This one may not look anything like a circle skirt at first glance, but its foundation is actually a circle skirt.

At its core, it starts with a quarter-circle pattern. Then, by slicing the pattern diagonally like this, you create openings where you can insert layers of ruffles.

From there, it’s simply a matter of sewing the skirt tiers and ruffles together, and you end up with this gorgeous cascading ruffle skirt.

If you love this style, you can follow along step by step by clicking the photo below!⤵

Family #2. Mermaid Skirts

The Construction 

The next popular style is the mermaid skirt. In simple terms, I like to think of it as a tube with a flare.

The “tube” section is usually made from rectangular panels, but each panel is gently tapered at the top so it fits your curves nicely. The flare can either be built right into those panels or added separately.

Let me show you some examples, and again, you can find links to the full tutorials down below.

3-Panel & 5-Panel Mermaid Skirts

These are the easiest mermaid skirts to make, because the flare is already built into the rectangular panels. All you need is one pattern piece, then cut and sew the panels together.

The more panels you use, the easier it is to add volume to the flare and shape the skirt to your curves.

This 3-panel mermaid skirt, for example, hugs the body beautifully. If you’re making a mermaid skirt for the first time, I highly recommend starting with this pattern (click on the photo below). ⤵

Ruched Mermaid Skirt

At first glance, this pattern looks just like the 3-panel mermaid skirt, but the hip area has been elongated. What does that do?

It creates gentle gathers at the top of the skirt, resulting in a lovely ruched effect. Depending on how much gathering you want, you can make the hip area 1.5 to 2 times longer—an easy way to add texture and interest to your mermaid skirt.

Step-by-step tutorial here!⤵

Trumpet Skirt

This is an interesting variation of the mermaid skirt. The top section is a fitted tube, custom-made to your measurements, and a mini circle skirt is attached at the bottom to create the flare.

Because the flared part is a separate pattern, it’s easy to extend the circular panel and even create a train that trails behind you.

Step-by-step tutorial here!⤵

Daria Mermaid Skirt

You don’t always have to make the flared part from the same fabric as the fitted tube. Using a lightweight material like chiffon can create a beautifully flowing mermaid skirt.

These skirts are essentially a fitted tube plus a circle skirt, similar to the trumpet skirt we saw earlier, but the bottom of the tube is cut on a diagonal for extra visual interest. This yellow one, for example, has two layers of circle skirts in different lengths, giving it soft, bouncy layers that move beautifully. Get all the details by clicking the photo below. ⤵

Godet Mermaid Skirt 

And finally, here’s another beautiful way to mix textures. This skirt is made from rectangular panels with half-circle inserts called godets. Using a sheer fabric like chiffon adds a soft, flowing flare to the mermaid shape.

Here’s a little secret – start the flare just above the knee. This small adjustment is key to creating a mermaid skirt that flatters most body types and enhances an hourglass silhouette. Want the full tutorial? Just click the photo below! ⤵

Family #3. Tiered Skirts

The Construction

Now that we’ve explored mermaid skirts and all their variations, let’s move on to another favorite: tiered skirts.

Tiered skirts are all about volume and movement. They’re made by stacking multiple horizontal panels, or tiers, which can be gathered or pleated to create fullness. With tiered skirts, you can play with length, fabric, and the number of layers to create everything from soft, flowing skirts to dramatic, statement pieces.

25-Yard Skirt

This design is one of the most popular on my channel. There’s really no fixed pattern; you simply cut multiple rectangular panels and sew them together to form tiers that are 3.1 yards, 6.25 yards, 12.5 yards, and 25 yards long. Gather each tier and stitch them together, and you have a beautifully layered skirt.

Just look at that volume and movement! If you want a luxurious, flowing tiered skirt, this is definitely one to try. ⤵

If you want to explore more advanced skirt designs, check out the All-Access Membership! ⤵

You’ll get instant access to all my courses, 19 and counting!, featuring over 32 stunning designs, including mermaid skirts, advanced circle skirts, cascading ruffle skirts, and more.

Whether you want to create a costume from scratch or add your own signature sparkle, everything you need to bring your vision to life is inside.

Curious? You can learn more by clicking the photo below.⤵

So, which skirt is your favorite? I’d love to hear – let me know in the comments!

Remember, by adjusting lengths, choosing high-rise or low-rise waists, and experimenting with fabrics, prints, and textures, you can create an infinite variety of designs!

And if you enjoyed this video, you’ll also like this one on elevating simple skirts with ruffles! 

Thanks for reading, and keep sparkling!

P.S. Pin this image on your skirt board!

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