How to Make a Tiered Skirt from Old Skirts

Making a tiered skirt from old skirts is not only a fun sewing project, but also a wonderful way to recycle clothing. Any old skirts can be used to make the new skirt. They could belong to you or your friends or come from a thrift store or yard sale. Tiered skirts can be made in any size from infant to plus sizes.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Thread
• Sewing machine or hand needle
• Iron
• Razor blade
• Ribbon
• Safety pin

Prepare skirt strips

1. Cut a strip of cloth from each skirt. The strip of fabric for the top of the skirt, called the casing, should be 6 inches wide, with a length of your hip measurement plus 2 1/2 inches.

2. Measure and cut the next five strips of fabric five inches wide and the lengths as follows: your hip measurement plus 4 inches for the second strip, hip measurement plus 5 1/2 inches for the third strip, hip measurement plus 10 inches for the fourth strip, hip measurement plus 16 inches for the fifth strip, and hip measurement plus 25 inches for the sixth strip.

3. Attach several pieces of material from the same skirt together, if needed, to make the required length strip of material.

Assemble Tiered Skirt

4. Form six tubes of material by sewing the short ends of each strip together.

5. Use a basting stitch all the way around the second strip 1/4 inch from the edge to slightly gather the material. Sew the top of the second strip and the bottom of the first strip together. Adjust the gathers as needed.

6. Sew all of the strips together using this method, and sew a zigzag stitch along each of the seam's raw edges so that the material does not unravel.

7. Make two 3/4-inch buttonholes at the center of the skirt, 1-and-3/8 inches from the top. The buttonholes should be 1 inch apart. Slit the buttonholes open.

8. Attach a ribbon to a safety pin and insert it into one of the buttonholes. Pull the ribbon threw the casing and out the other buttonhole.

9. Create the casing by folding and ironing the top edge of the skirt over toward the inside 1 1/4 inch. Repeat this with the raw edged casing. Sew around the skirt near to the casing's edge to close the bottom edge of the casing.

10. Hem the skirt. Fold the raw edge of the material under and sew completely around the skirt.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to have a wrinkled skirt appearance, twist the skirt from top to bottom and store it folded that way.

Resources

• This site has other ideas for making tiered and peasant skirts.