How to ....make jeans into a skirt!

By request here is the how to for the girly twirly skirt. As always drop me a line if I've left something vital out or something doesn't make sense and I'll correct/add it in. And I'd love to see a photo of any finished skirts! (double click on any image to enlarge)

step 1
measure from top of waistband to just below the end of the fly seam - I have left about 2cm below .Mark the same distance all around the jeans- side seams and centre back seam are a good spot to measure and mark. If there are pockets decide if you are going to keep them on or remove them ( it depends how much gets cut off.) If you decide to leave them pin the inside pocket bag out of the way so that it doesn't get cut . If you want to remove them ,unpick them now as it makes for easier sewing ( less bulk).
Join the marks and cut all the way around your jeans leaving you with a "yoke " as in this diagram.
step 2
Just a pic of the backs so you can see how it looks!
Step 3
measure all around the bottom of the yoke -mine measured 62cm . Depending upon how full you want your skirt add somewhere between half again ( 31cm) or the same ( 62cm) .( If you want it really full double it)
This will give you the length for your first frill. I added 31cm to the original measurement of 62cm = 83cm. I then add seam allowance of 2cm.
Decide on depth of frill - again a personal preference. I have made my frill 12cm deep + 2cm seam allowance. Total 14cm. My frill will be 85cm x 14cm.
Cut frill placing pattern  on fabric as follows :

For the  Frill 2 , start with the length of Frill 1( in this case 83cm). Again either add half as much again or up to the same amount . (As before, for a really full gathered skirt  you could double it).Add 2cm seam allowance.I had to cut my Frill  2 in two pieces to fit it across the width of the fabric. You may be able to cut it in one.
Decide on the depth ( I made mine the same ie 12cm + 2cm seam allowance) .
If you want a third or fourth frill measure and cut as for Frill 2 ( using measurement of Frill 2 as starting point for three, and measurement of Frill 3 as starting point for four and so on.)

Step 4

Stitch the ends of each frill together to make a tube ( two seams if you have cut your frill as two pieces)
Overlock raw edges if desired ( I also overlocked the cut edge of the jeans.)
Step 5
Run a gathering stitch 6mm in from long edge and then another row of gathering directly below this at about 8mm. Divide and mark the frill using pins  into 4 sections. Pin gathered edge of  Frill 1 to the jean top , right sides together matching the 4 maker pins to the side seams, centre front and centre back. Gather in frill to fit , easing gathering to sit evenly. Sew using 1cm seam allowance.
Optional: if you wish you can top stitch along the join seam of each frill flipping the seam allowance up and  stitching  on the upper frill side of the seam ( see diagram to understand this gobbledy gook). This gives a neater flatter  and I think more professional finish (and I have always been partial to a bit of top stitching).

Step 6
Repeat gathering and joining as above for Frill 2 to the bottom of Frill 1.
Continue adding more frills if desired in the same manner until desired length reached.

Step 7
Here is my skirt with two frills attached. When you have reached desired length you can hem the bottom frill or add a smaller ruffle as I have done. The other option is to trim with ribbon, lace or whatever takes your fancy.
Step 8
I cut down the side seams of the cut off legs and then cut strips, all the same width ( although not length) to use for the bottom ruffle.
Step 9
I sewed the strips together to make a piece that was half again as big as the measurement or my Frill 2.

Step 10
The ruffle was  overlocked and gathered in the same way as the frills -if you want to turn a small hem on each long edge do it now : I left mine with just an overlocked edge. The ruffle is sewed on with the wrong side against the right side of the skirt ( ie i pinned the ruffle right side facing to the outside of the skirt). Take a look at the close up of the hem to get an idea of what this looks like.
Step 11
A view of the inside of front of the skirt
Step 12
A view of the inside of the back of the skirt.

Your skirt is now finished!
You can, of course add trims to the top of each frill if you like - stitch a ribbon or braid along the join of each frill.
I have made a rosette from strips of overlocked denim and floral babycord, gathered and stitched together. I added a circle of contrast floral and stitched the whole thing on ( should have put it over the paint mark! nice one!)

You can play around with different width frills or add a split to the bottom frill or two to give a flamenco feel. I am going to be a bit adventurous with the other two so I I'll post pics when they're done!
Happy sewing!

Comments

[Denise]

alright!! I may just have to try this!!

[Meg]

Like that! Thanks for the tut. Good way to rescue 'holy' jeans.

[Vanessa]

Thanks sooo much for this!!! My daughter has some Levis which are a little short and this will look ADORABLE on her!!!

[Kat]

this will look so good on me

[M&M]

This is sooooooo cute I can't wait to see how mine will turn out!

[connie]

That is so cute! You put alot of work into it and it shows. U go girl!! Awesome

[Heather]

COOL!!!!!

[Rochelle]

Thank you so much for the information. We are making about 25 of these skirts for a Girl Scout Dance Team spring show. This has helped so much. Now the girls will know what we (adults) are talking about!! ha ha
Thanks again
NE Green Starlettes!!

[crystal]

i was just wondering if u knew how to make ur too small jeans into bigger or a size up

[Cindy]

My daughter asked me if you could do a straight A line type bottom all one color instead of the ruffle. I wondered if you thought that would work. Thanks, Cindy

[Khristine]

I love how you got an idea to use old jeans and make them into something...well...CUTE!! I want to try! Thanks for the steps. :)

[Khristine]

how do you make the ruffles for your skirt?