How to Alter a Skirt to a Shirt
Sometimes it happens that a skirt you really like doesn't fit anymore; you may have lost some weight, or gained some weight. If you shop at thrift stores, you may see a skirt you really like, but it's the wrong size. A skirt that doesn't fit, that might be a little worn out, or that you would just rather have as a shirt, can be altered into a shirt with relative ease.
Things You'll Need
- Skirt with an elastic waistband
- Extra fabric that matches skirt
- Scissors
- Thread that matches skirt
- Sewing machine
- Pins
- Friend
Instructions
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Turn the skirt inside out. Pull the skirt over your head, so the waist band sits right over your bust, just under your arms. If the skirt is too small to do this, try cutting off the waistband. If the skirt is still too small, use scissors to cut two identical rectangles of fabric that are as long as the skirt and wide enough to make the skirt fit under your arms. Slit the skirt up both sides, and sew the rectangles into the sides. Hem the top, if you cut off the waistband.
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Have an assistant help you pin the skirt so it fits you; it should be loose enough that you can take it off and on without the need for a zipper. Your assistant will need to pinch the excess fabric and place a pin, lengthwise, where you want the seam to go. This is best done in the back, or under one of the arms. Remove the skirt and sew up the side, removing the pins as you sew. Trim the excess fabric to 1/2 inch.
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3
Cut two identical rectangles from your extra fabric. They need to lay over your shoulders and reach the front and back of your shirt without pulling it upward. The bands of fabric should be 3 to 4 inches in width. Hem the long sides of the rectangles.
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Put the skirt back on, inside out, as before. Have your assistant pin one of the short ends of the rectangles to the outside of the top of the back of the skirt. Pull it over the shoulder and pin it to the front. Carefully remove the skirt and sew the shoulder straps into place.
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Tips & Warnings
You can make a skirt a more tight fitting shirt if you are willing to add a closure of some kind, like a zipper. You could even create a corset-style back with rivets and cord.
If you want a lot of flowing skirt but you want it to fit tightly across the bust, you can shirr the bust using elastic thread in the bobbin and sewing around the bust area with the "pretty" side up.
Be careful when taking off or putting on garments with pins in them.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
