I love using what I already have for DIY projects and this DIY Denim Skirt is just that. Grab an old pair of stained or ripped jeans or even just a pair you do not love anymore and learn to sew a skirt from jeans.
I love a simple wardrobe. Not too many clothes, everything matches and I feel good in everything. From time to time, I find that I have pieces in my closet that I do not like and I am not wearing. This very thing happened just the other day when I was decluttering to prepare for my fall clothes.
I had already been thinking through my fall wardrobe and knew I had several pairs of jeans and leggings. A Pinterest photo of a skirt and leggings also inspired me but I did not have the type of skirt that was in the photo and after shopping online, decided it was not worth the cost to have multiple.
I like to have multiple of each item and wear similar outfits over and over. This simplifies my clothing and keeps my decision making low for things that do not really matter.
I also love to sew. I am always working on a project whether it be a dish towel, a little girls dress or a quilt.
After pulling out a few pairs of jeans that I did not really like anymore, it dawned on me. I had already made a skirt out of a stained pair of jeans and loved it. Why not make a few more and there is my wardrobe! So I pulled out the original skirt I had made and looked it over.
You could easily make a few of these up in an afternoon if you are like me and want multiple. Or have several of your little girls jeans that she has just worn completely out. This is a very simple project and is great for beginners wanting to sew their own clothes.
Tips
- A looser pair of jeans is easier to use, however, there are ways to make this with a tighter pair.
- Work slow and try on the skirt as you go to be sure it fits.
- Get creative! Add lace or ruffles if length is needed. You can distress the skirt a little if that is your style. I added a straight stitch about 1/2 inch from the end of the skirt instead of a hem to allow for a little fraying for interest (and to match a skirt of Ila’s, I won’t lie).
Tools
You really do not need fancy supplies for this DIY Denim Skirt- or any project on this blog for that matter. I love how simple this is while using something you likely already have that you are not using.
- Sewing Machine
- Pins
- Thread
- Measuring Tape
- Scissors
- Old jeans
DIY Denim Skirt How To
Prep
The first step of this project is to take a little length off the jeans. I tried mine on and cut a little lower than I thought I would want the final product (2-4 inches lower).
Next, rip the seam of the legs. This is definitely the most tedious and time consuming. Once you get this going, it really does not take a terribly long time and it can be done while relaxing at night or listening to a podcast.
You will want to rip the seam all the way up the legs and halfway from the legs to the waistband. This is about halfway up the pockets in the back and up to the bottom of the zipper in the front.
Pin Back Together
Next, overlap one leg piece with the other leg piece. Do this on the front and back. There will likely be a triangle shaped gap on the lower portion of the skirt, unless you are making yours longer than the knee. We will fix this but first pin in place and try it on. Make sure it is not too tight or too loose in the hips. This will be a common theme. Try it on multiple times to make sure it fits how you want. I like to make sure the leg pieces are laying with the hem how it would have been on the jeans.
Once you have this pinned so that it fits how you like, lay the skirt back out. Take the lower portion of the legs that you cut off in the first step. Spread it out to fill the gap on the bottom. You will want this piece to be under both leg pieces. Pin in place and again, try it on.
Sew
Once everything is pinned, you will start sewing. This is really simple. Starting from the top of the skirt where you have pinned, just follow all of your pins, remembering to back and forth stitch at the top and bottom. You will sew the two leg pieces together and then the triangle piece to each leg piece.
Trim out any excess from the inside of the skirt where you placed the triangle piece.
Try on the skirt and find where you want to cut the skirt for the final time. I like to do this in two stages so that I can see how it lays after the stitches are in. This keeps it from being too short or too long. Trim straight (this is easier with a little help to measure it while on) while leaving about 1/2-1 inch for a seam allowance.
Hem
Lastly, hem the skirt. This can be done a few different ways. I have done a standard double folded hem. I have also just ran a straight stitch along the bottom of the skirt about 1/4-1/2 inch above the bottom edge to allow for a little bit of fray. This is what I did for this skirt. If you have a serger, you can also serge the bottom edge then fold it over once and hem with a straight stitch. This works well for thicker denim.
Ways to Wear your DIY Denim Skirt
I love these skirts because they can be worn in any season. Pair with leggings and a sweater in the fall or winter. For spring and summer you can pair with a simple tee or a fun floral top.
DIY Denim Skirt
Give new life to an old pair of jeans with this DIY Denim Skirt tutorial. This is a very simple project and is great for beginners wanting to sew their own clothes.
Materials
- Old jeans
Tools
- Sewing Machine
- Pins
- Thread
- Measuring Tape
- Scissors
Instructions
Prep
The first step of this project is to take a little length off the jeans. I tried mine on and cut a little lower than I thought I would want the final product (2-4 inches lower).
Next, rip the seam of the legs. This is definitely the most tedious and time consuming. Once you get this going, it really does not take a terribly long time and it can be done while relaxing at night or listening to a podcast.
You will want to rip the seam all the way up the legs and halfway from the legs to the waistband. This is about halfway up the pockets in the back and up to the bottom of the zipper in the front.
Pin Back Together
Next, overlap one leg piece with the other leg piece. Do this on the front and back. There will likely be a triangle shaped gap on the lower portion of the skirt, unless you are making yours longer than the knee. We will fix this but first pin in place and try it on. Make sure it is not too tight or too loose in the hips. This will be a common theme. Try it on multiple times to make sure it fits how you want. I like to make sure the leg pieces are laying with the hem how it would have been on the jeans.
Once you have this pinned so that it fits how you like, lay the skirt back out. Take the lower portion of the legs that you cut off in the first step. Spread it out to fill the gap on the bottom. You will want this piece to be under both leg pieces. Pin in place and again, try it on.
Sew
Once everything is pinned, you will start sewing. This is really simple. Starting from the top of the skirt where you have pinned, just follow all of your pins, remembering to back and forth stitch at the top and bottom. You will sew the two leg pieces together and then the triangle piece to each leg piece.
Trim out any excess from the inside of the skirt where you placed the triangle piece.
Try on the skirt and find where you want to cut the skirt for the final time. I like to do this in two stages so that I can see how it lays after the stitches are in. This keeps it from being too short or too long. Trim straight (this is easier with a little help to measure it while on) while leaving about 1/2 inch for a seam allowance.
Hem
Last, hem the skirt. I have done this a few ways. I have done a standard double folded hem. I have also just ran a straight stitch along the bottom of the skirt about 1/4-1/2 inch above the bottom edge to allow for a little bit of fray. If you have a serger, you can also serge the bottom edge then fold it over once and hem with a straight stitch. This works well for thicker denim.
Notes
- A looser pair of jeans is easier to use, however, there are ways to make this with a tighter pair. The green pair shown in this post were a tighter pair.
- Work slow and try on the skirt as you go to be sure it fits.
- Get creative! Add lace or ruffles if length is needed. You can distress the skirt a little if that is your style. I added a straight stitch about 1/2 inch from the end of the skirt instead of a hem to allow for a little fraying for interest.
Pin For Later:
