Happy July, friends!
I cannot believe that July is already here! So far the warm weather months have been flying by, with busy work schedules, our trip to Cape Cod (click here for my tips on flying at 33 weeks pregnant!), birthdays, and a baby coming soon! Yep, we’re due in less than 2 weeks! So I’m just trying to prepare myself for the change of having two little ones. Send your best tips for newborn-ing with a toddler my way!
With summertime in full swing, I wanted to share one of my favorite (easy) summer up-cycles that I can’t wait to wear after our baby comes again. I made this cute DIY denim skirt last fall and only got a few weeks of wear in before the weather cooled down too much. Hopefully I can get some more wear in this year post-baby :).
What I love about this up-cycle is that you literally only need an old pair of loved jeans, scissors, some thread, and something to sew with (I definitely recommend a machine, although you could totally do it by hand if you’re determined!). You don’t need to buy any extra fabric, straps, or buttons. Just grab that pair of jeans and your scissors and you can have this fun skirt made in one afternoon!
Why I chose this pair of jeans…
I’m definitely a fan of stretching the wear on my jeans as long as I can, especially for those pairs that I absolutely love! This pair was awesome. I thrifted them and they served me well for a few years and were SO COMFORTABLE.. until getting worn through in the crotch. The first time I stitched this up and kept wearing them, but the second time I decided it was time to move on. Instead of trashing them or cutting them up, I realized I could keep the basic functionality of the jeans by turning them into a skirt and just stitching past that worn out area! If you’ve got a great pair of jeans that is just wearing through in the crotch… a skirt up-cycle might be the perfect thing! This denim is slightly elastic, so as a skirt it is super comfortable and easy to throw on. Comfort is always a must for me!
So here’s how you go about making your own up-cycled denim skirt.
Supplies
Old Pair of Jeans (or other worn pants- corduroy would also be so fun!)
Matching Thread
Sewing Pins
Scissors
Sewing Machine (if you don’t have one, could you borrow one? Get resourceful!)
The Process
- Start by measuring the length you want your skirt and cut across the legs of your jeans. This doesn’t have to be perfect, as you can make sure the cut is straight once you sew the legs together to form the skirt. I recommend cutting above the knee, as jeans often stretch weird around the knee and might make weird lumps in your skirt. But see what works with your skirt! HOLD ONTO the lower leg scraps, as you’ll need to piece together a bit for your skirt!
- Unstitch or cut along the inner seams of the legs and crotch until the fabric will lie flat in the front and back.
- Cut extra fabric (as needed) from the lower legs of your jeans (the part you cut off), to patch the front and back of your skirt.
- Pin everything in place, making sure your skirt will lie straight. You’ll want to try it on with the pins (be careful!) before stitching, just to make sure it all looks good with no funny spots.
- Begin stitching! Just take it slow and complete one side at a time
- After you have sewn everything in place, cut along the bottom edge of your skirt to make it all even. I left mine an open edge to fray, but you can also hem the bottom for a more polished look.
Finally, enjoy your finished skirt! Did you try this project? Please share with me how it went!
Looking for more ideas for upcycling clothing and other household items? Check out these other posts below! And don’t forget to sign up for my email list to get updates on intentional, sustainable, holistic motherhood.
