Instructions to Turn Jeans Into a Long Skirt

Recycling clothes can help you cut your clothing budget and create some original pieces for your wardrobe. One way to recycle clothing is to repurpose a garment for use as a different kind of garment. For example, you can alter a pair of regular denim jeans into a long skirt. You may want to combine two pairs of jeans for the project, but you also have the option of using colorful contrast patterns to create a novel skirt.

Instructions

1

Remove the thread from the inseams of your jeans using a seam ripper. Start at the jean crotch and pick the threads out one leg at a time. This will open up an area where you can add front and back panels for your skirt. Open the leg hems all the way around.

2

Open up the side leg seams from the thigh to the bottom of the pants leg. Use the seam ripper for this. Use the bottom of the front pants pocket as a marker for where to begin your open seam.

3

Create a "V"-shaped opening in the front and back of the jeans by removing the material where the legs join at the crotch -- the stride. You want a nice triangular shape from the top of the "V"-shape to the bottom of the leg. Use your tape measure or a ruler and tailors chalk to mark straight lines for your cuts. The top of the V should begin just below where the zipper stops in the front.

4

Measure the distance from the top of your V to the bottom of the leg. Extend the leg segments out to the side with no wrinkles in the legs. Measure the distance from the edge of one inner leg seam to the other at the bottom of the leg. Add 2 inches to both measurements to determine the size of your inset pieces. Transfer the triangle shape onto a doubled piece of fabric using a yardstick and tailors chalk. Cut out the panels.

5

Pin one panel to the front of the jeans, right side facing. Taper the top of the triangle to fit within the seam allowance below your zipper. Stitch the panel in place. Repeat the process with the back panel.

6

Turn the jeans so that one of the side seams is up. Measure the triangle inset piece for the sides as you did for the front and back panels. These panels will give you uniform contrast and more walking room. Transfer the dimension to the fabric as you did before, adding 2 inches to each dimension. Cut the panels out, pin in place and sew the seams together.

7

Put on the skirt, and have someone level the bottom of the skirt for you by pinning the bottom edge a uniform distance from the floor. Trim the edge to a uniform length, if necessary. Hem the skirt by folding the bottom edge under twice, pinning into place and stitching with the sewing machine.

8

Add appliques or embroidery to cover worn spots, holes or stains. Add other decorations to create a garment that is distinctively you.

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