How to DIY a Sexy Mini Skirt From a T-shirt

Tools and materials:

• Oversized t-shirt
• 1/2 inch (13 mm) wide elastic
• Fabric marker
• Measuring tape
• French curve (optional)
• Pins
• Scissors
• Sewing machine

1. Cut out the skirt panels

Measure around your waist and hips, and the finished length you want your skirt.

Also measure the circumference of your thighs where the bottom of the skirt will be.

I’m making my skirt to fit 35 inch (89 cm) hips, 32 inch (81 cm) thighs, 28 inch (71 cm) waist and 14 inches (35.5 cm) in length. 

Lay the t-shirt flat inside out, line up the side seams and pin the lower edges together. 

Measure and mark half your hip width plus 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) between the side seams. My t-shirt was almost exactly the right width.

Measure the skirt length up from the t-shirt hem, so you don’t have to hem it again.

Draw a line across the t-shirt at this level. Cut out the skirt panels.

2. Shape the skirt

Pin the edges of the panels together.

Fold them in half lengthways and starting at the top edge, measure your waist measurement divided by 4 from the fold.

Measure down 8 inches for the hip line and mark your hip circumference divided by 4 at that level.

Mark your thigh measurement divided by 4 along the lower edge.

Join the marks, using a French curve for the hipline if you have one, or draw a freehand curve.

Cut out the side edges.

Separate the panels and mark the front and back pieces.

Fold the back in half lengthways and mark a 1/2 inch (13 mm) from the top edge at the fold.

Draw a tapered or curved line to the side edge, to shape the waistline, and cut it out.

Repeat on the front panel.

3. Front cut-outs

Measure 3 inches (8 cm) down the side from the top edge and 3 inches (8 cm) along the edge. Join the marks with a curved line, and cut out.

Turn a 1/4 inch (6.5 mm) double hem to the wrong side and sew in place.

4. Front waistband

Cut a strip on the fold from the t-shirt one quarter of your waist measurement long by 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) deep for the front waistband.

Cut a notch in the center of one edge of the waistband and the top edge of the skirt.

Matching the notches, pin the waistband to the wrong side of the skirt and sew in place, taking a 1/2 inch (13 mm) seam allowance.

Double fold the full length of the waistband to the wrong side and pin and sew along the lower edge.

5. Back waistline

Cut an 11 inch (28 cm) length of elastic.

Mark the center of the elastic and the center of the back waistline.

Pin the elastic to the right side of the skirt back at the center and both edges.

Sew in place taking a 1/4 inch (6.5 mm) seam allowance, stretching the elastic to fit.

Fold the elastic to the wrong side and sew it to the back of the skirt through the center of the elastic.

6. Side seams

Check that the front waistband is the correct size and that the free ends are the same length on both sides.

Place the front panel over the back, with the right sides facing.

Pin and sew the side seams from the hem to the start of the cut-out. Take a 1/2 inch (13 mm) seam allowance.

Sew the waistbands together at the side edges.

Turn the back edge of the cut-out section to the wrong side to match the depth of the seam and top stitch in place.

Press your new skirt and you’re done!

DIY skirt from a t-shirt 

You may want to make your skirt longer than mine, or the cut-outs smaller. When you’re making a skirt from a t-shirt, you can afford to experiment. 

Using a t-shirt is perfect for a beginner because the fabric doesn’t fray and it stretches to fit you. As you can see, my skirt fits me perfectly.

I’d love to hear what you think of it in the comments below.

Next, learn How to Alter Pants That Are Too Big.