DIY High Low Maxi Circle Skirt Tutorial

Hello Everyone! I’m super excited to share my high low maxi circle skirt tutorial. When I’m experimenting on a project it’s either a hit or miss. I’m so glad this project turned out to be a hit because destroying 6 yards of fabric would have cut me real deep. This high low maxi circle skirt first caught my eye as I was scrolling through Pinterest. I searched for a few patterns to manipulate, but I couldn’t find one that fit my vision. I didn’t let this stop me. I enjoy exploring to find solutions on how to create my visions or rather recreate items I’ve pinned, its the problem solving math nerd in me that won’t let things go unsolved. I love this skirt so much that I’ve already made a second one that I’ll be wearing for my birthday this weekend.

To create this look I used wax print fabric. The width of wax prints is usually on the lower side, between 44-47 inches. In order to maximize the length I desired, I knew I would have to be strategic when cutting out the fabric. In the tutorial I cover this step so no need to worry. I got you! Similar fabric can be found here. Other options can be found here, here, and here.

Step 1 is already done for you, use the Radius Guide here to help identify your radius. The pocket pattern pieces can be found here. Sew along with me using the step by step tutorial below.

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44 Comments

  1. Brittany
    July 31, 2017 / 2:44 pm

    What do you do if your waist measurement is wrong? I went to make the waist band and it didn’t fit so I remeasured my waist, I had my friend help me get my measurements, which I find are incorrect. I only cut out the front piece of the skirt and not the two separate pieces yet. Would you suggest resizing my measurements and add an inch to make up for the inch that I lost in my first cut out?

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      August 2, 2017 / 9:12 pm

      Hi Brittany. The good news is you cut it too small, instead of too big so it’s fixable. If you don’t mind me asking, what is your waist measurement and what size waist measurement did you use to cut your radius for the first piece? I’ll be able to use this information to help you move forward.

      • Brittany
        August 6, 2017 / 4:31 pm

        The first measurement I got was a 28 but I’m actually a 34. So I would just adjust the cut from the 4 1/4 to 5 1/4? I would measure down one more inch and cut, correct?

        Thanks so much for getting back to me!

        • montoyamayo
          Author
          August 9, 2017 / 6:17 pm

          You’re welcome. Yes, measure down one more inch to make the adjustment.

  2. Eddie
    August 19, 2017 / 8:41 pm

    Hi
    I get a lot of bloating in my stomach. So was wondering if there’s a way to make the band how you have, but add a bit of elastic somewhere in the back of the waistband to allow to bloating and shrinking?
    Cheers

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      August 25, 2017 / 6:29 pm

      Hi! You can increase the radius measurement (double the size) and cut a larger band that fits the new radius. Then add the elastic to the back.

  3. August 21, 2017 / 3:22 am

    A million thanks for this tutorial. Adding it to the Skirting It! collection. She shall be called the Akilah Skirt after an old BFF of mine.

    Cheers,

    Lyric

    P.D. Love your blog theme. It is crisp, clean, and appealing. Don’t maintain it yourself or hire others? I am going to have to do my own for now.

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      August 25, 2017 / 6:32 pm

      Hello! You’re welcome! This will definitely be an asset to your collection… I maintain my blog on my own, I bought the theme from pipdig, they have nice themes.

  4. Cass
    September 6, 2017 / 11:11 pm

    I really want to add a slit to the front of my skirt, since I’m making it out of a lighter fabric and want to give it a little something extra! Your tutorial was by far the most helpful one I’ve found, so I was wondering if you had any tips on if it was A) possible to add a slit, and b) how I would go about doing it! Thanks!
    Cass 🙂

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      September 10, 2017 / 5:26 pm

      Hi Cass. You can definitely add a slit. Did you want to do a front slit? If so, you can cut the front skirt panel into two pieces instead of cutting it out on the fold. I’d add an inch to your waist measurement for calculating your radius, this will help to account for the seam allowance when sewing the slit. Use a half inch seam allowance to sew the front pieces together from the waist down to where you want your slit to start. I hope this helps. Please send me a picture, I’d love to see the final look.

  5. Ladia Igunbor
    September 17, 2017 / 12:22 am

    Please where is the pocket pattern?

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      September 17, 2017 / 7:25 pm

      Hi. Please subscribe to the blog at http://montoyamayo.com/vip and then you will receive the password for all the free sewing resources.

  6. dayana marcano
    December 4, 2017 / 3:50 am

    hola amiga me encantan tus tutoriales cuanto utilizastes de tela en centimetros soy de venezuela te lo agradeceria enormemente gracias.

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      December 7, 2017 / 7:31 pm

      ¡Hola amiga! Usé 6 yardas de tela, 548 centímetros.

  7. Maria Makawiti
    January 13, 2018 / 6:51 am

    Doing this for my school course work. Very excited 🙂

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      January 17, 2018 / 9:18 pm

      Nice! Can’t wait to see what you create

  8. Katrina
    April 11, 2018 / 4:19 am

    I just watched your tutorial…. it was awesome! Can’t wait to give this a go (i sew professionally – but not clothes so i am excited to make something for myself).

    I am stuck on fabric though… i am in Australia, and have never heard of wax print – is it woven? Bottom- weight, or a bit lighter? I buy from the Australian version of Joann’s usually.

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      April 12, 2018 / 8:00 pm

      Hi Katrina! Thank you for the compliment. You should definitely start sewing for yourself! Wax print fabric is woven, 100% cotton, bottom-weight. I usually buy my wax prints from Etsy (House of Mami Wata is my favorite shop) and a new site that I just purchase from https://www.fabricsusainc.com has lots of great options.

  9. Jamie
    May 15, 2018 / 8:58 am

    Wonderful tutorial, I’m currently following along. I added the first side to the main piece like directed before adding the waist band but I was wondering do you add the second side as well or do you add it after the waist band is attached?

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      May 15, 2018 / 8:22 pm

      Hello Jamie! Yes, you want to attach both back pieces to the front piece at the side seams before attaching the waistband. I’ve updated the blog post so that both parts of the tutorial are available for your viewing. In part 2 I show how to attach the pockets and how to connect the back pieces to the front piece. Let me know if I can help you with anything else.

  10. Sydney
    May 30, 2018 / 1:24 pm

    I love this tutorial, it was so helpful! I was wondering how it would be possible to add length to the back part of the skirt to make a train. If that is even possible! Would I be limited because my fabric is only 44 inches wide?

    Thanks again!

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      May 30, 2018 / 8:18 pm

      Thank you! 44 inches does limit you flexibility on choosing different lengths. You’re limited in length to 44 inches minus your radius (i.e. 44-4= 40 inches). How about attaching more fabric to the back pattern piece create a train, create another pattern piece to make up for the difference in length. You may have to cut the hem a little bit differently to that it blend with the front pattern pieces.

  11. Peggy
    June 20, 2018 / 6:07 am

    Love the skirt would love to have the pattern and try it myself 🙂

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      June 28, 2018 / 10:56 am

      Thank you! In the tutorial I teach you how to draft the pattern using your own measurements.

  12. Rashad
    July 14, 2018 / 5:57 am

    Hi
    Did you make the red top as well? If you did do you have a tutorial on it? I love the top!

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      July 18, 2018 / 12:35 am

      Hi there! No I didn’t make my top, I bought it from a store called Papaya in the mall a while back. I should try recreating it because I’d love to have it in different colors.

  13. Kate
    January 15, 2019 / 2:06 pm

    Hi!

    This is beautiful work – I will definitely be trying this out! I have a couple of questions.

    Wax print is a beautiful fabric but is not sold in any of my local fabric shops (and at any rate, would feel to me like a bit of cultural appropriation as I’m Irish and very very pale!) Would you know any similar fabric that I might find? I like how your fabric holds its own without being stiff and that is the quality I would like.

    I’m also wondering if you would have any suggestions for using a tulle underskirt to create volume. The skirt I’m thinking of re-creating is the purple one fron the Sex and the City 2 Movie and hers is a little poofier.

    I think when I make your skirt I will decide not to use an underskirt as it is more wearable and stylish as you have it, but I wonder if you would give me your advice on it anyhow!

    Thanks so much.

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      January 16, 2019 / 6:53 pm

      Hi Kate! Thank you for the compliment! In my opinion, if you sew with wax print I don’t think it’s cultural appropriation. If you’re incorporating the fabric into your wardrobe that is ok. Now if you were making a halloween costume or something along those lines, then I would consider that cultural appropriation. I think it’s wonderful that you like the fabric. I think you can show your appreciation for the culture by purchasing from an African vendor, there are quite a few on Etsy: House of Mami Wata, PFABdesigns, Afriqueclothingstore (my favorites), there are so many vendors in the US, UK, Canada and Africa. Also, sharing the roots of the fabric when asked about your design is also great, trust me you will get so many compliments.

      A similar fabric to the wax print is Batiks and some quilting cottons have a nice design and weight.

      I haven’t used a tulle underskirt before because my sensitive skin does not agree with tulle, I get really itchy lol. Adding horse hair braid to the hem can give your skirt some shape and volume as well.

  14. Maggie
    February 11, 2019 / 11:50 am

    Hello!

    Thank you so much for such an easy tutorial to follow. I used this tutorial to make my wedding skirt- I couldn’t have done it without you!

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      February 11, 2019 / 6:23 pm

      Hi Maggie! You’re welcome! I’d love to see your skirt, send me a pic when you can.

  15. Kathleen M
    March 10, 2019 / 8:38 pm

    Could I take a similar top/any advice on a top to sew to the skirt to make a dress? Is that possible? Any advice appreciated. I fell in love with a dress that isn’t in stock in my size and would love to recreate it, this skirt matches quite well.

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      March 17, 2019 / 2:03 pm

      You can use any top/dress pattern to create a dress. When choosing a pattern look for a dress pattern that connects the top to the skirt. You’ll need to use a 20″-22″ zipper.

  16. Michael Osman
    March 19, 2019 / 3:09 pm

    Hi there, Im making this as the template for my prom dress and I am in fact a Male. My question is if your waist is 40 do I measure its radius with the 6 1/4 or adjust it to my measurement by making the radius 8 or 10 in?

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      March 20, 2019 / 2:23 pm

      Hi. This skirt is great for a prom dress! For a 40 inch waist the radius is 6 1/4. Happy Sewing.

  17. Lili
    June 5, 2019 / 12:28 am

    Hi beautiful! Your tutorial is amaizing, thank you so much! I have a doubth that is torturing me…I want to make this skirt with pleats, how can I do this? Should I meassure my waist and then add the amount requiered for the pleats and with that messure calculate the radius?

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      September 24, 2019 / 6:29 pm

      Hello. I would suggest multiply your radius by 1.5 or 2 and then create pleats so that it fits your waistband.

  18. RJ
    July 4, 2019 / 12:48 pm

    Can I make this skirt if I only have 3 yards?

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      July 15, 2019 / 10:51 am

      Hi! You won’t be able make a maxi length with 3 yards

  19. Silvia
    March 23, 2020 / 9:24 am

    Hi I just wanted to know if i could make the skirt like a high rise for example instead of it being on the belly button can it be higher?

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      December 24, 2020 / 11:00 pm

      Hi. Yes, you can measure the area where you’d like your skirt to sit.

  20. L Joy
    September 2, 2020 / 6:30 am

    Hiya, can this be adapted to fit a 6 year old? How much fabric would I need and how can I work out the measurements for this?

    Many thanks xx

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      December 24, 2020 / 10:57 pm

      Hi. Yes you can make this for a 6 year old. The measurement guide starts at a size 20 inch waist. I’m not sure how much fabric you’d need, depending on her height you may need 3.5-5 yards possibly.

  21. Laura
    June 6, 2021 / 10:18 am

    Thank you for making this tutorial! I just watched it before starting my own, you have great instructions and I feel like I can do this! I’d def call myself a competent beginner and I’ve been dreaming of a maxi high low skirt but hadn’t been able to find a pattern for non stretch. Your skirt is absolutely spectacular, I hope mine turns out at least half as nice! 🙂 Thanks again!!

    • montoyamayo
      Author
      June 7, 2021 / 11:23 am

      You’re welcome Laura! I’m glad you found the tutorial helpful! Happy Sewing!!!

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