Old T-shirt to Skirt {Who Cares If It’s Winter}

Johnnie L
by Johnnie L

I am soooo excited about this project!! I really suck at sewing. My sewing machine completely freaks me out. I get way stressed when I think about threading a bobbin, and a gather stitch??? Forget it. Nuh – uh. Well guess what… I threaded my bobbin and turned an old T-shirt of hubby’s into a skirt, and used a gathering stitch in the process.


Here is how I did it…


Supplies:


  • Old T-shirt with a circumference 1/3 larger than your measured waist
  • Sewing machine with thread matching your fabric
  • 3 inch elastic band (I got mine from an old pair of thrift store leggins)
  • Fabric pencil
  • Straight edge
  • Fabric scissors

Instructions:


  • Lay your t-shirt out and smooth it, making sure the bottom edges are lined up.
  • With your fabric pencil, draw a straight line horizontally across the T-shirt just beneath the armpits.
  • Now cut across the line with your fabric scissors.
  • 1/4 inch from the top of T-shirt segment you just cut, sew a gathering stitch (long straight stitch with low tension), leaving long thread tails. Stitch again 1/2 inch from the top edge (so 1/4 inch below the line you just stitched).
  • Now for the waistband… Mine was already stitched at the edges since I cut it off of a pair of leggins. {If yours is not, wrap it around your waist and mark where it feels snug (but not girdle snug), then mark 1 1/4 inch past that to account for seam allowance of 5/8 inch along both sides. Align the ends and stitch, then stitch again 1/4 inch from the first stitch. Zig zag finish the raw edges.}
  • Right sides facing up: Now position your waistband lower edge 5/8″ past the upper edge of the skirt and pin.
  • Gently pull the lower thread tails to gather the upper edge of the skirt until it is the same circumference of the waistband. Pin the heck out of it.
  • From the wrong side of the skirt, zig zag stitch over the gathering stitch through the band and skirt.

Then you are done. Wear that bad boy out on the town. I can’t believe it is 50° here in the middle of December. I think that, mixed with the sunshine, contributed to my sudden urge to make a skirt. Thanks for following along. Let me know if you have questions.

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Johnnie L
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  • Clergylady Clergylady on Apr 12, 2021

    Great idea. I lost nearly 50lb when I had Covid. I gave away many of those knit shirts but I do have some left. They are so big on me now that they look like mini dresses. I can see making skirts from a few of them. Was a size 20/22 now a 12/14. Sure makes a difference in how things fit. I've been buying used clothing when I get to the city. I still have a stack of hugh pants also. I gave away most of them. I still need a wardrobe. I lost mine when I lost so much weight. Ideas for remaking things are just what I need

    • Grandmasue10 Grandmasue10 on Apr 15, 2021

      What an awful way to lose weight. I hope you are well now and don't have lingering problems like so many do. I do like this project. The contrasting waistband makes it look cool.

  • Grandmasue10 Grandmasue10 on Apr 15, 2021

    I have some leggings I haven't worn in a while, and I have bunches of t-shirts. I just may do this.

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