Now onto the good stuff. Like a brand-spankin’ new tutorial………..
I have a little 2 1/2 year old who grows out of things like crazy. Darn tall genes……..they sure cause us grief sometimes. So I have tried to make good use out of the pants she has grown out of. The waist still fits but the pants become too short. (If you’re interested, I have altered other pants here and here.) So a little effort………and we have a new
Twirly Jean Skirt.
Don’t you just want to cut off the good jeans too and make 4 or 5 new skirts for your little girl/niece/granddaughter/etc.? Don’t tempt me……..
How to make them?
(Remember to click on the images to view larger.)
First, cut off an old pair of jeans about 1/2 inch below the zipper.
Then zig-sag around the bottom edge.
Now, you’re going to cut out 2 pieces to make the skirt, a front and a back piece. Measure the width across the bottom of the skirt and then double the amount and add an inch for a seam allowance. For example, my pants were 12 inches across so I knew I needed to cut out fabric that was 25 inches wide.
Then decide how long you’d like your skirt to be. I decided to make mine 12 inches long, from top to bottom. And since my newly cut jeans were about 6 inches from to bottom…….I needed about 6 more inches. But then I added another inch to the top for a seam allowance and a 1/2 inch to the bottom for a seam allowance. (I added more to the top because later on it will overlap the denim, causing it to lose some height.) So I needed to cut the pieces 7 1/5 inches tall.
So the dimensions of my 2 skirts pieces were 25 x 7 1/2 inches. Use the same technique to measure and cut yours.
Then, I placed the two pieces right sides together and sewed along the short ends with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. (Then either zig-zag or sew again to secure your seams.)
Now you’re going to finish off the top and bottom of this skirt section. Fold down the upper edge a 1/4 inch…….
………and then 1/4 inch again.
Sew into place and do the same thing to the bottom edge.
Now you’re going to gather the fabric to make the ruffle. Using your largest stitch length, sew one seam across the top front of the skirt section. (3/8 inch from the edge) Leave the ends of your thread at least 6 inches long. Now make another seam across the top back…..leaving your ends long as well.
Now place pins at the sides, the center front, and the center back of your skirt section.
And place pins at the sides, the center front, and the center back of your jeans.
Now, pull the top thread on each end of the seam to gather the skirt section in. Slide the fabric along the thread to gather it up.
Match the pins on the skirt to the pins on the jeans. Alter and scrunch up the fabric until it is nicely (and evenly) lined up with the jeans.
Pin into place.
Sew into place.
Clip all of your loose threads and let your little lady jump right in.
So darling.
Thanks Kari. And I hope you all enjoy.
~Ashley
Oh my heck! I just love this. Thanks!
Ashley,
I will make this & I will LOVE it! Thanks for guest blogging on Ucreate! My sister and I have nicknamed you the “Tutorial Queen” for a reason. Thanks again!
Great tutorial–so easy. I’m gonna make me one!
This is adorable! And such great upcycling. Great find, Kari! Heading over to your blog now Ashley…
Cute repurpose! I love the last picture, she’s too cute!!
I am DEFINITELY MAKING THIS!!!! Thank you!
Adorable!
OMG! I am sooo making these TODAY!
Wishing I had a girl to make this for! So sad, I’m a mommy of 3 boys!
Would it be dumb to make one that is mom-sized?
I was thinking about making some for “mom sized” too! I have lost some weight and all my jeans are way too baggy and this would let me re-purpose them! Thanks!!
My daughter has the tall genes too! Didn’t get em from me but oh well. I love this skirt. Great idea to keep using those genes. My husband is gone all week at scout camp so that leaves me with plenty of free time this week too. I guess I’ll be sewing cute jean skirts for my soon to be 3 yr old.
That looks easy enough. I am so excited for my 6 month old to get a little bigger so I can make all these cute things I see all over blogland…this is definitely one of them
I agree with “Wes and Dani”, I think a mom size would be fun! Maybe a matching set with daughters too;)
Thank you for this cute tutorial. I made one and loved to way it turned out. I posted a link on my blog. Thanks! http://simplyhomeandfamily.blogspot.com/2009/08/twirly-jean-skirt.html
Love it! Thank you for this great tutorial. I have made one and my daughter wants to wear it everyday! I posted a link to you on my blog.
http://mommaskindacrafty.blogspot.com/2010/02/jean-twirly-skirt.html
My daughter would love a great skirt like that!