Turning a Long Skirt Into a Cute Summer Dress

Transform a maxi skirt into a cute summer dress.

Repurposing clothes can save you money and help you avoid lengthy shopping expeditions and time spent trying on clothes. For example, you may still love the fabric design of your maxi skirt but dislike its outdated style. You can easily revamp a maxi skirt that has an elasticized waistband into a cute empire-line summer dress with the addition of a T-shirt and by using some simple sewing techniques.

Things You'll Need

• T-shirt or vest top
• Measuring tape
• Pins
• Scissors
• Maxi skirt
• Thread
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Try on a cotton T-shirt or vest top in a color that complements the color of the maxi skirt. Use a pin to mark the empire line underneath your bust. Remove the top. Add a 1/2 inch seam allowance below where you placed the pin and mark the new measurement with a line of pins. Remove the first pin. Cut the T-shirt to the new marked length underneath and along the line of pins. Remove pins.

2. Cut underneath and along the line of the skirt's elasticated waistband to remove the waistband from the skirt.

3. Mark 1/4 inch from the top of the skirt and sew tacking stitches along this line. Sew a large gathering stitch all the way round the skirt by following the tacking stitches. Leave a long trail of thread for pulling the gathers. Remove tacking stitches.

4. Pin the top to the skirt by placing right sides and raw edges together and by pulling gathers to fit. Take a 1/2-inch seam allowance and sew a line of tacking stitches along the line of pins. Remove the pins and stitch along the line of tacking stitches. Remove the tacking stitches.

5. Trim the raw edges and then neaten raw edges together by using a zigzag stitch.

6. Turn the dress to the right side. Try the dress on and assess the desired length of the hemline. Place pins to mark the length required and cut underneath and along the line of pins, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Neaten the raw edge of the hemline by using a zigzag stitch. Press the hemline under 1/4 inch and then slipstitch the hemline.

Tips & Warnings

• Use leftover skirt fabric to make a waist tie for the dress. Cut a piece of fabric that is approximately 3 1/2 inches wide and to the desired length of the waist tie. Press under a 1/4 inch all around the waist tie and then fold in half with wrong sides together. Tack into place. Stitch a 1/4-inch seam around the waist tie and then remove tacking stitches. Pin the tie to the front of the dress to hide the empire line seam and hand sew into place along the top and bottom of the tie.

References

• Make It and Love It: Skirt/Shirt Into a Dress