4 Super Cute Upcycled Denim Skirt Ideas
This is the only upcycled denim skirt from jeans tutorial that you're ever going to need. I'm covering all the lengths from mini to maxi. I'm doing regular and overlapping waistbands, with and without a back slit and using stretch and non-stretch denim.
Denim maxi skirts are the breakout trend of 2023 so, of course I had to start with them.
The basic method is the same for all versions, then I'll show you how to customize it for the different styles.
Tools and materials:
- Old jeans
- For style 2:
- Jeans button pin
- Snap fastener
- Seam ripper
- Pins
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
Basic method
I found wide leg, high waisted jeans to be the most versatile to work with.
1. Open the seams
Seam ripping the inner leg seam open is common to all the styles. Open up about an inch of the hem to get to the inner seam.
Use the metal point of the ripper to get started, then turn the tool so the red ball is underneath and you'll find it's easy to slide the ripper all the way up the seam.
The inner leg usually has two rows of stitching, so undo both.
Open the center front seam for about 1.5 inches in the front and 2 - 3 inches at the back.
2. Pin the upper skirt
Take your time with this. It's the most important step to get a good fit.
Try the skirt on.
Overlap and pin the center front and back seams. Customize the fit to your body and make sure the fabric is lying flat and not bunched up.
3. Sew the seams
Match the thread to whatever is used on the uncut part of the seam.
Sew in the original stitching line.
Join the seams with a single row of stitching and try the skirt on again.
Seam rip and tweak if necessary.
Sew the second row of stitches parallel to the first.
4. Back panel
Cut a rectangle of fabric from a second matching pair of jeans to insert at the back of the skirt.
Pin the insert in place at the back.
Try the skirt on again.
Sew the back panel in place and cut off the excess fabric.
Zigzag stitch the raw edges.
Style 1: Long DIY jean skirt with exposed hem
Use the widest leg jeans you have for this style. Take extra material from the leg of a second pair that's a good match.
Undo the entire hem of each leg to expose the hem.
Flip the insert upside down to make a more natural shape at the back.
Cut off the hem from the top of the extra material and the other leg.
Join the hem strips together and stitch them to the lower edge, before pinning the section in place.
Style 2: Midi skirt with wrapped waistband
Open the entire center front seam from the crotch to the waistband.
Remove the zipper.
Try the skirt on and wrap the buttonhole side of the waistband over the other side. Stagger the waistband so the buttonhole is below the button.
Attach a jeans button pin or insta-button under the buttonhole to hold the waistband in place.
Check how large a front opening you need to get the skirt on and off. Sew the center front seam to that point.
Add a hidden snap fastener inside the opening so it doesn’t gape.
Style 3: Stretch denim maxi skirt
Although this is a maxi skirt, the legs were very wide and the jeans were stretch denim.
For my size, I didn't need an extra panel at the back.
I did need a small pleat at the back to accommodate the extra material where the seams were joined but not overlapped.
Style 4: Mini skirt
This is the easiest of the styles. You're cutting off so much fabric, there's very little to sew.
Sew the overlap before cutting the skirt to length.
What I would do differently next time is cut the back an inch or two longer than the front, instead of cutting them together.
Upcycled denim skirt
The aim of this tutorial is to give you different ways to adapt the denim skirt trend to your shape and style.
I hope you got lots of ideas for your ideal DIY denim skirt. You’ll save a lot of time if jeans you pick already fit you well around the waist and hips.
I’d love to know if you make any of these skirts and how you get on with them. Drop me a comment below.
Next up, check out my post on How to DIY a Sexy Denim Tank.
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