How to Make a Woolen Skirt Out of an Old Jacket

Make a new skirt by cutting an old jacket for fabric.

Recycling an old wool jacket is an environmentally and budget-friendly way to create a new skirt. Any type of wool jacket will do as long as it is supple enough to fold. An elastic waistband makes this skirt versatile and shapes the waist, while making it wide enough to fit the hips. For a fun look, choose an embellished or contrast elastic. Choose a black, thick elastic on a sweet pink tweed or a bright pink elastic on a tan houndstooth. The elastic should be between1 and 2 inches wide.

Things You'll Need

• 1 yard elastic
• Scissors
• Tape measure
• Sewing machine
• Thread

Instructions

1. Lay the jacket flat on a table or other flat surface.

2. Cut out the front left piece of the jacket, cutting the front free around the side seam, the armhole and then the shoulder.

3. Cut out the front right piece of the jacket as in Step 2.

4. Cut out the back piece of the jacket, cutting around the left-side seam, the left armhole and then the left shoulder, followed by the right shoulder, armhole and side seam.

5. Cut the two front pieces and the back piece to be rectangles by cutting the pieces horizontally below the armhole and removing the small, irregularly shaped bodice. Cut the side seams to be vertical and perpendicular to the horizontal top edge.

6. Sew one rectangle of the front to the rectangle back piece, right sides of the fabric together. Sew using a machine straight stitch, 1/2 inch from the fabric edge.

7. Sew the other front rectangle piece to the opposite side of the back piece, right sides together, sewing as in Step 6.

8. Measure your waist using the tape measure and subtract 1 inch.

9. Cut the elastic to the measurement found in Step 8.

10. Place the elastic at the top edge of the fabric, wrong side of the elastic on the right side of the fabric, overlapping the fabric by 1/2 inch.

11. Sew the elastic to the fabric on the center of the overlap, stretching the elastic to the edge of the fabric and stretching as you sew. Sew using the machine zigzag stitch.

12. Fold the skirt in half, right sides together, matching up the side seams of the skirt and the elastic.

13. Sew the side seam 1/2 inch from the fabric edge.

14. Cut the hem of the skirt to be parallel to the floor and straight.

15. Fold the hem toward the inside of the skirt 1 inch.

16. Sew the hem down, 1/2 inch from the fold, using a machine straight stitch.