Tuesday, March 15, 2011

From Old Jeans to Summer Skirt!

Remember these denim corsages I've been making?
From Left: My first denim corsage, denim corsages I made for my shoes, denim corsage I made for our Valentine Fair
They all came from the same pair of cut-off jeans I've had pre-maternity. I loved those jeans. Great fit, soft, and really, really comfortable. I found an old photo of me wearing it.

Yes... this is really me... back in 2008.
I used to wear it a lot. So anyway, 2009 I got pregnant and after I gave birth, I was never able to fit in these jeans comfortably again. After I lost a little of my pregnancy weight, it fit... but it was a little tight. After a few months of wearing it post maternity, I saw that some parts were showing obvious signs of wear. I decided to 'retire' it and since then, I've been cutting it up to make my denim corsages.

Last week, I saw this post from Camilla of Rosy Red Buttons about a monthly collaborative project called Point of View. Their theme for this month is skirts. I've never made a skirt before so I decided to try making one so I can link up to Point of View at the end of this month. I saw someone convert an old pair of jeans to a skirt in one of the link parties I join every week. However, I forgot to bookmark it :( But I got the idea from her (if anyone recognizes my project, can you send me the link to that blogger's site or post so I can give proper credit? Thanks!).

Anyway, to make my skirt, I used:
1. Old jeans... or in my case, what's left of it :) If you are using old jeans, cut it off a little above the crotch area.
2. Half yard of fabric (I used the fabric my friend got for me from IKEA, it's a little wide, around 59 inches so half a yard was enough for this project).
3. Matching thread.

Please ignore the ribbon. I was planning to use it but in the end, I liked the finished skirt without the ribbon so I didn't get to use it.

Step 1: Figure out how long you want the skirt to be so you will know how long your fabric has to be before you cut it..

Step 2. Measure the bottom of your cut off jeans.
Double the value of your measurement (you need this much to be able to create pleats), and add your seam allowance. That's how wide you need your fabric to be. Mine was 18 inches wide so my fabric was around 38 inches wide (18 x 2 + 2 inches seam allowance).

Step 3. You already know how long and how wide you need your fabric to be. Cut 2 pieces with those measurements. You will need 2 pieces: one for the front, and one for the back.

Step 4. Hem the bottom of both pieces of fabrics.

Step 5. Place one fabric on top of the other, right sides facing in. Hem both sides.

Step 6. Pin one hemmed side to one side of the jeans. Since I didn't hem the top, I made a small fold inward at the top of the fabric before I pinned it to the jeans.

Step 7. Fold the fabric into pleats and secure with pins. Make sure to fold the top edge inward to hide the raw edge.

Step 8. After you pin the fabric around your jeans, sew the fabric on to the jeans.

And here's my skirt:

Since the jeans I used was a little tight... then this skirt is still a little tight around the hips as well. I need to lose a little weight before I can fit into this skirt comfortably :) But when I do... then I will have a new skirt to celebrate with ;)

I linked up to the following link parties, check them out!
Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff | Craft Couture Monday at Craft Couture | Made by You Monday at Skip to my Lou | Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Craft | Handmade Tuesdays at Ladybug Blessings | Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog | Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design | We Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado | Link Party at Passionately Artistic | Transformation Thursday at Shabby Chic Cottage | Sundae Scoop at I heart Naptime | Free for All at Young and Crafty | Making Mondays Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T. | Round Tuit at Creating my way to Success | Sew Cute Tuesday at Creative Itch | Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios | Make It Wear It at The Train to Crazy |

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really like your denim projects! Thanks for stopping by & visiting my blog!

Maggie Lamarre said...

I luv how you refashion this skirt, my dd has 5 skirts I was going to give to SARmy, will follow this tut.
would luv for you to add it to our linking party this week.
http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/03/orange-blossoms-with-linking-party.html
Thanks
Maggie

Megan @ Cut the Craft! said...

Love this skirt - a great addition to the spring/summer wardrobe!:)

Megan
www.cutthecraft.com

Unknown said...

Super easy idea and also funny in winter with thick pantyhose and boots!

Jill said...

This skirt is fabulous!!
I would love if you came over and linked this project to my weekly Round Tuit party at:
http://jembellish.blogspot.com/

I also have a new page dedicated to clothes upcycling projects with a long-term linky on it. I'm trying to build up a resouce for anyone to come and find ideas and tutorials for what to do with their old clothes! This would be perfect!
Do come and take a look.
Have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success

Deanna said...

So cute!! I have to try this with my daughter's jeans. Thanks for sharing!
Deanna @ shadytreediary.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I made one of these for my daughter last week. I have yet to try one for myself. It turned out great!

Andrea
www.addicted2tutes.blogspot.com

Dominique @ Craft Couture said...

adorable! thanks for linking up to Craft Couture Monday.

Misty @Creative Itch said...

My girls have several pairs of jeans with holes in the knees...I need to make them into some cute skirts! I'll be bookmarking this idea for sure!

Thanks for linking @Creative Itch's "Sew Cute Tuesday"!

Jill said...

Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
I stopped back over to follow you! :)
Hope you have a great week!

Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Andrea @ TheTrainToCrazy.com said...

Very fun skirt. Love how it turned out! I hope you'll link up to Make It Wear It Thursdays @ TheTrainToCrazy.com!

Unknown said...

I found you though Creating my way to success. This project couldn't be more perfect! My daughter has several pants that I was going to turn into shorts now I have another option! Thanks for sharing.

Kadie @ Seven Alive

Pam @Threading My Way said...

Fabulous refashion!!! Your skirt looks great. The fabric you have chosen co-ordinates really well with the jeans. I would love you to share this at our ongoing linky that's just for Refashioning with Denim...
http://threadingmyway.blogspot.com/2012/09/threading-your-way-refashioning-with.html

angelmoore said...

good posting,you turned beautifully in this picture. hope there will be more pics of you

have you come across such a fancy site yet with its name named pretty, it seems that there could be many things with anglish ,holy feeling,i would strive to visit it at:

http://www.prettytailor.com/party-dresses-s71338/

good luck