A-line Skirt From Old Jeans

Basically like everybody else I have lot of old jeans, and I have reused many of them. I have been thinking for long time what to make out of it which is stylish and looks different and is not something already done. And then I got this wonderful idea. I hope you all like this instructable as much as I am enjoying wearing this beautiful skirt.

1. 2 pair of old jeans of different shades, preferably stretchable makes things easy and flexible for future ;)

2. sewing machine

3. scissors

4. thread - color should be matching to the denim

5. pins

6. measuring tape

7. chalk

8. scale

9. paper and pencil

To make this skirt you need 3 major measurements;

1. Waist

measure and note down your waist size around your belly button or wherever you prefer the belt of skirt comes

2. Hips

measure and note down your hip size around where it's largest

3. Waist to hip length

measure and note down the distance between waist and hip

4. Total length

measure your length from belly button till above your knees; you can choose how long or short you would prefer the skirt to be

We will be making the A-line skirt using 8 panels, so we need to calculate size of 1 panel, which we will repeat 8 times. So waist size and hip size will get divided by 8, but in hip size we will add extra 2 inches to create A-line and also to make it comfortable to wear. If we project these dimensions directly till the bottom of the panel the skirt will end up with too much flare, so we will mark the bottom to be half inches more than the 'hip size + 2 inches divided by 8'. And to create a designer look we will cut the panel from middle diagonally and use 2 different denim fabrics to create 1 panel. This is my first time creating pattern (I have only observed my mom doing it before), it's fun and teaches you end number of possibilities you can create.

So for the cutting pattern, along with the measurements from previous step. Refer the pictures for this step.

Let's consider

- size of waist = W

- size of hips = H

- distance between waist and hips = D

- total length = L

for panels, refer picture

AB = W/8

CD = (H + 2 inch)/8

EF = CD + 1/2 inch

xy = distance between waist and hips

Total length of panel will be length of skirt you want.

To draw a diagonal line as in picture, take a point 3 inches down on DF side from the middle line and using the intersection point of middle line on CE join it diagonally.

As shown in picture now you have one panel with 2 parts, cut it as in picture.

- Stitching reference : now take the stencil of cutting pattern and mark it on the denim.

- Cutting reference : now mark another marking approx 1/2 inch outside and parallel to the stenciled marking (ref. pictures)

- I used pattern 1 for light colored denim and pattern 2 for darker colored denim.

Once marked, cut the fabric.

(Generally you add the cutting ref. in the pattern but I prefer to have a reference line for stitching as well.)

Tip : follow the stretchability of fabric for cutting, this way the final product will be stretchable as well and you might not need the addition of zipper.

- Pin each and every panel.

- Making panels : take one cutting each from pattern 1 and pattern 2 and sew them together as in picture.

do it for all panels, now in total you should have 8 panels prepared.

- Pin all the panels together then sew all the panels together. Your skirt is basically done!

Tip:

Try the skirt check the size, see if you need to add the zipper or if it's fitting good without zipper. The denim I used on top is extremely stretchable so it is fitting perfect without zipper, so I will be skipping it.

Hemming : tuck 1/4 to 1/2 inch fabric in the top and bottom edges of the skirt. ref. the pictures.

Tip:

Sew it using zig-zag pattern to avoid loosening of fabric threads.

Interlock at the seams of all panels to avoid loosening of fabric threads.

And cut if any loose threads.

You have a brand new designer skirt now!

Enjoy and please vote!