How to: Transform Old Jeans Into a DIY Denim Skirt

Tools and materials:

• Old jeans
• Scissors
• Seam ripper
• Pins
• Sewing machine

Cut out your fabric 

The first step is to cut off one of the pant legs - right along the line of the crotch. Next, use a tape measure to measure out the length you want the body of the skirt to be and cut the pants again. Now, place the cut-out leg on top of the other leg and cut the second leg to the same size. 

Create the body of the skirt 

Use a seam ripper to separate the seams of the pants until you have four separate pieces of fabric. Next, pin your fabric together and sew across the pinned areas. After that, lay your fabric flat and fold both sides over so the fabric is lying wrong sides together with a gap left in the middle. Take the bottom of the pant leg that you cut off and place it in the middle to fill that gap. Fold it until it’s the same length as the rest of the skirt and cut off the excess. Repeat this one on the sides, until you're left with a rectangle that fits the gap perfectly. Sew the fabric in place. 

Insert an elastic 

Fold the top of the skirt to create a hem and pin it into place. Sew it down. Next, pin an elastic around the edge of the skirt so that there’s a slight gather in the material. Sew the elastic in place to tighten the elastic. 

Create the ruffles 

Take the other half of the pant leg and fold it in half, then use scissors to cut along the fold. Next, fold your pant leg until it creates the effect pictured above (do this by folding small folds under the bigger folds). Do this with both halves you cut out and pin as you go to secure. Then, pin it to the bottom edge of the skirt (right sides together) and sew across the bottom to secure the folds. 

Hem the bottom 

To hem the bottom of the folds, fold them over once (wrong sides together) and pin to secure. Next, sew the hemming - this will give you the ruffled effect on the bottom of the skirt. 

Create your belt 

Use a seam ripper to remove the belt loops from the top of the pants and hew sew them to the top edge of the skirt. Repeat this for the rest of the rest belt loops. Next, use your seam ripper to remove the waistband of the pants. Hand sew both halves together to create a belt and then fold the whole thing in half (lengthwise) and sew it down. 

Finish the skirt by looping the belt through and tying a neat bow in the front. And there you have it, a y DIY denim mini skirt! I think it came out looking great. It’s flattering and unique and kind of a stylish throwback to that early 2000’s style.