Why are skirt patterns sized by hip?

The hip is the widest point of the lower body and the hardest to add fabric to after cutting. You can easily take in a waist with darts and side seams, but letting out a hip requires extra seam allowance that may not exist.

How do I adjust the waist after choosing my skirt size by hip?

After selecting your size by hip, measure the difference between the pattern waist and your body waist. Take in the excess by deepening darts and adjusting side seams. On most bodies, the difference is 2-4 inches.

Skirt Size Finder

Find your skirt size by hip across six brands, with a waist adjustment note for each.

Enter your measurements

Skirt size by hip. Waist adjustment is nearly always needed — the tool will tell you how much.

Waist *

At your natural waist

Hip *

At the fullest point of your hips

Brands

Why size skirts by hip?

The hip is the widest point of the lower body — and the hardest measurement to add fabric to after the fact. You can always take in a waist (darts and side seams adjust easily), but letting out a hip requires extra seam allowance that may not exist.

For this reason, nearly all skirt patterns are sized by hip. The waist is then adjusted to fit, typically by taking in the side seams and deepening or adding back darts. On most bodies, the difference between pattern waist (for the hip size) and body waist is 2–4".

After finding your size here, use the Waist-to-Hip Adjuster to calculate exact intake amounts per location.

Related tools

Skirt Waist Adjuster

After sizing by hip, calculate how much to take in at the waist.

Pants Size Finder

Find your pants size across Big 4, Burda, Cashmerette, and more. Sized by hip.

Pattern Size Finder

Enter bust, waist, and hip — find your size across 11 brands with size charts. Sewing sizes ≠ store sizes.

Circle Skirt

Full, 3/4, half, or quarter circle — inner/outer radius, fabric yardage, and cutting instructions.