How to Turn a Skirt Into a Dress in Just 5 Quick & Easy Steps

Made By Deola
by Made By Deola
7 Materials
$5
1 Hour
Easy

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to turn a skirt into a dress. If you’re looking for a great way to upcycle an old maxi skirt and convert that skirt into a dress, then you're in the right place.


This DIY is simple and great for beginners. Plus, I included some flirty cold-shoulder detailing. Let's get started!

Tools and materials:

  • Maxi skirt
  • Elastic band
  • Elastic thread
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Measuring tape
  • Sewing machine
How to turn a long skirt into a dress

This is the long maxi skirt before the dress DIY.

Cutting of the bottom of the maxi skirt

1. Cut off the bottom of the skirt

To begin, I cut 12 inches off the bottom of the skirt. 

Upcycling the maxi skirt

Then I cut that piece into two. One of these pieces will be the ruffle around the chest area, and the other will be used to make straps. 

Making the shape for the DIY dress

2. Make the dress

I used the piece that included the hem of the skirt as a ruffle for the chest area.


I inserted the skirt into the strip of fabric and pinned the middle sections to the waistband of the skirt. This will now be the neckline.


I left the side sections loose and unpinned, as that is where my arms will go. 

Sewing elastic onto the top of the DIY dress

3. Add elastic

Once the ruffle was sewn on, I added elastic to the areas on the sides of the ruffle where my arms will go.

Cutting strips from the maxi skirt to make the dress straps

4. Make the straps

I cut a second strip from the bottom of the skirt into two equal pieces and hemmed the edges. 

Sewing shirring onto the straps

I then stitched four rows down the center of each strap with elastic thread to create a shirred effect on the straps. 

How to make a long skirt into a dress

5. Attach the straps & hem the bottom

To finish, I sewed the straps to the top edge of the dress and hemmed the bottom of the dress

How to turn a skirt into a dress

How to turn a skirt into a dress

Here's the final DIY cold-shoulder dress. I really love this DIY maxi skirt upcycle. What do you think of this transformation?


Let me know what you think of this super-simple tutorial on how to turn a skirt into a dress and whether you'll try this out yourself in the comments below.

Suggested materials:
  • Maxi skirt
  • Elastic band
  • Elastic thread
See all materials

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