How to Make a Tiered Jeans Skirt With a Yoke

Old blue jeans that have become too short or have worn-out knees can be transformed into new wardrobe additions. Make a tiered jean skirt with a yoke by using the top of the jeans as the yoke-foundation. The existing waistband and fitted hips of the jean's yoke allow you to begin constructing the skirt without the need for body measurements. Use fabric purchased by the yard, or recycle vintage sheets for the skirt's tiers.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Fabric
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Needle and thread
• Iron

Instructions

1. Lay a pair of old jeans on your work surface. Allow the waistband to lay naturally if the front of the waistband sits lower than the back. Cut across the width of the jeans 1 inch below the bottom of the zipper. The portion of the jeans above the zipper is the yoke of your tiered skirt.

2. Measure around the bottom edge of the yoke and multiply by one and a half. Cut a strip of fabric 6 inches wide by this measurement. Piece strips together if needed. This is the first tier of your skirt.

3. Fold the strip in half with the right sides together and the two short ends matching. Pin the short ends together. Sew the pinned edge using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. You now have a ring.

4. Hand-sew a running stitch around one long edge of the ring. This is the top edge of the tier. With the tier turned wrong side out, slip the ring over the yoke with the top edge of the tier on the bottom. Pull the thread of the running stitch to gather the tier's edge even with the bottom edge of the yoke. Pin the gathered edge and the yoke's bottom edge together. Sew the pinned edge using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Fold the tier down with the right side facing out.

5. Multiply the length of the first tier's strip by one and a half. Cut a strip 6 inches wide by this measurement. Piece the strips if necessary. This is the second tier of your skirt. Attach this tier to the bottom edge of the previous tier in the same way.

6. Add additional tiers (using the same method of measuring) until the skirt is the desired length.

7. Fold 1/4 inch on the bottom edge of the last tier to the wrong side and press. Fold another 1/4 inch, press and pin. Sew the pinned edge to hem the skirt.

Tips & Warnings

• The amount of fabric needed will depend on the size of the jeans and the length of your skirt.