Today's tutorial is courtesy of
http://www.handmadebybette.etsy.com
Recycled Jeans Skirt
SUPPLIES:
Pair of childrens jeans in good condition (Size in the tutorial is a childrens 10, you may have to adjust the amount of fabric for the ruffles for a very small child)
Fabric One --- 2 pieces, 4 inches x 44 inches
Fabric Two ----3 pieces, 6 inches x 36 inches
Fabric Three --- 3 pieces, 8 inches x 36 inches
Optional: fabric for insert between second and third ruffle --- measure the distance around the bottom of the pant top and add ½ inch for the seam allowance. Cut the fabric 3 ½ inches wide by your measurement.
Matching fabric belt:
Cut a strip of matching fabric 3 ½ inches wide x 44 inches long
DIRECTIONS:
Pants:
Lay the pants out on a cutting table. Line the waist band front and back up together and pin so they don’t shift.
Measure from waist band down to one inch below the pockets. Mark this line across and cut the front of the legs off first. Then cut the back legs off even with the front.
Where you have excess fabric from the crotch, you will need to fold it over so that you have a straight line.
The excess fabric will be inside. Fold it to one side and stitch the seam. Do the same on the back crotch seam. Your pants should look like this.
Set this aside for now. Take fabric one and stitch it together on the sides so you have a circle of fabric. Hem the bottom edge by folding over ¼ inch and then again ¼ inch and sew across the seam. Sew a basting stitch around the top edge. Break this basting stitch up into three parts, sewing the basting stitch in between the seams. You can sew the whole seam at once but it is much easier to break the thread when you are gathering this up afterwards so I always break these long gathering seams up.
Sew fabric two together, hem the bottom and gather the top in the same manner as fabric one. Repeat for the third fabric.
Starting with fabric one, gather it up to fit the bottom of the jeans and with right sides together, pin the ruffle evenly all the way around the pants bottom. Stitch the ruffle to the pants in a ¼ inch seam.
Gather fabric two up to fit the pants bottom. You will be pinning this ruffle over the one you just stitched on. The right side of ruffle two will be against the wrong side of ruffle one. Stitch ruffle two to the pants/ruffle.
This next step is optional for a larger size jeans. Sew the sides of the insert fabric together. Pin it on top of the second ruffle and stitch.
Gather fabric three up to fit the bottom of the insert. The right side of ruffle three will be against the right side of the insert. Stitch ruffle to the insert in a ¼ inch seam.
This is a view of the right side of the insert and third ruffle.
To make the matching fabric belt, with right sides together fold the fabric strip in half and press. Stitch completely around the open edges in a ¼ inch seam, leaving a 1 ½ inch opening in the middle of the long length for turning right side out. Turn the belt right side out and press. Stitch the opening closed.
These directions can be used to make any size skirt. For a very small size skirt, eliminate the insert and sew all three ruffles on top of each other.
For an adult size you will need to add another strip of fabric to each ruffle.
© 2009 Bette Shaw - All rights reserved
