Tag: upcycle project

Upcycled – Dress into Skirt

2013 04 11_1927I made this dress many years ago.  I haven’t worn it in a couple of years as a dress but liked the fabric – it is a cotton knit – and didn’t want to get rid of it.  So, I decided to convert it into a skirt since I seem to wear more skirts than dresses.  The following steps are listed below if you are interested in how to do this to one of your own dresses.

Step 1:  Measure from your waist down to see how long you want to make your skirt – I wanted a long skirt so I decided on 30 inches.

 

 

 

2013 04 23_2045Step 2:  Place on a cutting table or surface and measure from bottom hem up to waist 30 inches plus 1 1/4 inches for the fold over for the waist band casing – My total was 31 1/4 inches.

Step 3:  Mark with a chalk pencil all the way around 31 1/4 inches from bottom hem.2013 04 23_2046

Step 4:  Cut on the chalk line just made in step 3.

Step 5:  Serge cut edge with your serger or zig zag on a regular machine to prevent fraying.  Not totally necessary with knit fabric but I think it makes a more finished look on the raw edge.

Step 6:  Turn down waist band WS(wrong sides) together 1 1/4 inches – pin and/or press.

Step 7:  Sew using straight stitch close to serged edge, or approx. 1 1/8 inch from folded edge, leaving about a 1 to 2 inch opening for inserting elastic.

Step 8:  Measure elastic around your waist and cut to size needed.

Step 9:  Use a safety pin on one end of elastic to guide through casing.

Step 10:  Stitch elastic together by overlapping 1/2 to 1 inch and zig zag over overlapped edge to secure.

Step 11:  Pull elastic back into casing and evenly distribute fabric over elastic.

Step 12:  Use a straight stitch to close up casing opening.

Step 13:  (optional) Stitch in ditch, or side seams, of skirt seams to prevent elastic from rolling.

Here is my finished skirt-    2013 04 30_2020

 2013 04 30_2023

 

 

 

 

 

I have also done this to another dress and made it into a short skirt just above the knee.  This is a quick and easy update to your wardrobe.

Categories: Sewing

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