Upcycling Skirts Into Pants 3 Cute Ways
Here's a super simple way to transform a skirt that you'd never wear into a slouchy pair of pants or a jumpsuit that you love.
This works amazingly well for upcycling skirts with a drawstring waist but I also show you how to turn a skirt into pants when the waistband is too large.
There's only one main seam in this project, so it's a great one to start with if you're new to sewing.
Tools and materials:
- Long summer dress
- Drawstring waist skirt
- Midi length flared skirt
- Tailor's chalk
- Pins
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
Dress to jumpsuit
I thrifted a maxi length, boho style dress to turn into a summer jumpsuit.
1. Prepare dress
Turn the dress inside out and try it on.
Mark with chalk or a pin the point on the front between your legs where you want the crotch seam to be.
Take the dress off and fold it in half lengthways by grabbing the center of the waistline and the center of the hem.
Line up the side seams carefully and make sure the fold is at center front and center back.
2. Cut the leg seams
I made a mistake with this one and made the front and back crotch seams equal.
You actually need the back seam to be about 3 inches longer than the front. I correct this when cutting the drawstring waist skirt.
Make a small cut at the chalk mark at 90 degrees to the fold, then turn your scissors and cut out a shallow half-U shape towards the hem of the dress.
The closer you cut to the fold, the wider the legs of your pants will be.
3. Pin the leg seams
Open the dress out flat and pin the inner leg seams together.
4. Sew
Sew the inner leg seams from one hem to the other, as a single seam. Use a contrast color thread and a long basting stitch.
Try on and if you're happy with the fit, resew with the correct color thread and a smaller stitch.
Drawstring skirt to slouch pants
I wouldn't wear this billabong style skirt as it is, but as slouch pants it's just my style.
1. Prepare
Try the skirt on inside out and mark the front crotch seam as before.
Center the drawstring at the front and make sure the side seams are lined up.
Pick up the skirt at the side seams with the front waist lower than the back.
Fold it in half lengthways, keeping the waistband in the same position. This will automatically give you a longer back rise.
Smooth out the inside layers of the skirt and line up the side seams.
2. Cut
Decide if you want a wide or tapered leg and cut out the U shape accordingly.
For a harem style tapered leg, angle the "leg" of the U towards the side seams.
I chose to make the legs very wide so I cut in about 1.5 inches before turning the cut towards the hem.
You can of course trace the cutting line with chalk first instead of cutting it freehand.
3. Pin
Pin the inner leg seams as before.
4. Sew
Baste and sew the inner leg seams.
Midi skirt to midi bell bottoms
This is a stretchy skirt that was too big for me around the waist.
1. Fold and cut
Fold the skirt in half lengthways as before.
Cut the leg seam, following the flare or stitching detail of the skirt.
2. Center seams
To adjust the fit of the waistband, cut open the center back and center front seams from the waistband to the crotch.
Pin them back together, taking them in as much as you need.
3. Sew
Baste the center back and front seams first, straight down from the waistband to the crotch on both sides.
4. Pin
Pin and baste the inner leg seams.
Upcycling skirts into pants
I’m over-the-moon with how all of these turned out and how easy they were!
You may not like all these DIY pants but the important thing is to be able to adapt clothes to fit and celebrate your body and shape and your style.
I hope this project has given you some great ideas and I’d really love to know what you come up with. Please drop me a comment and tell me.
Next, check out my post on How to DIY a Sexy Denim Tank.
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