How to Sew a Skirt Out of Pants

Always measure twice before cutting.

Turning a pair of pants into a skirt is a great way to reuse outgrown pants or to save money on summer fashions. This is also an excellent project to keep your growing daughter clothed without breaking the bank.

Things You'll Need

• Pair of pants
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Thread
• Iron
• Measuring tape

Instructions

How to convert pants to skirt

1. Try on pants and determine length you want skirt. Mark with a pin before taking off. Cut off legs of pants an inch below pin mark.

2. Turn pants inside out. Cut along the inside seam of both legs continuing through crotch.

3. Turn pants right side out and press flat. Cut excess from crotch seam, so there is an even "V" shape when pants are flat. Turn under raw edges of front and back one-half inch and press.

4. Cut the length of pant you removed in step one up the seam. Slide under pressed pant to fill in hole and pin in place.

5. Top-stitch panel to pants along folded seam on front and back, being careful not to stitch front to back. Add another row of stitching a quarter-inch inside the first row, according to savyseams.com. Match thread to color used on other top-stitched portions of jeans.

6. Remove pins and try on skirt to double check length. Fold up bottom edge 1 inch and press. Turn pressed edge under a quarter-inch and press again. Top stitch the same way as step 5.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a different color fabric for the panel to add interest and style. If the pants you choose to modify are jeans, be sure to use a needle suitable for heavy-weight fabrics.

• Exercise caution when using sewing machines and hot irons.

References

• Savvyseams.com: How to Recycle Jeans Into a Skirt-The Four-Panel Method