Recycled Denim Fiesta Skirt: A Tutorial

June 13th, 2008 by Simone

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It’s 90 plus degrees and I could be sorting out summer clothes and putting winter stuff away, however, I’d rather be sewing! While attempting to deal with such mundane chores, I found a pair of Elizabeth’s jeans. While they are way to short for her, the waist still fits perfectly for my skinny child so they became the object of another refashioning exercise.

Part 1: Cutting up the Jeans

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  1. Lay out the jeans and cut off the legs right below the crotch. This will be the top tier of the skirt.

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  2. Open up the seam between the legs.
  3. Look at the top part of the jeans and measure the distance from the waist to about one inch below the zipper of the jeans. In my case that was 6.5 inches/16.5 cm.
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  5. Mark this distance all around the tier.
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  7. Even out the bottom of the tier by cutting along your mark.

Part 2: The Math

Calculate the Width of the Ruffles

  1. Decide how long you want the skirt to be and subtract the length of the jeans top tier from this number.
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  3. Divide the remainder by the number of ruffles you wish to add for ruffles of equal width. This skirt is 16.5 inches long. 16.5 - 6.5 inches for the top tier = 10 inches. 10 inches divided by 2 ruffles = 5 inch width per ruffle.

Calculate the Length of the Ruffles

  1. Measure the circumference of the bottom edge of the top tier and multiply this number by two. This is the length of the second tier ruffle.
  2. Multiply the length of the second tier ruffle by two. This is the length of the third tier ruffle.

These calculations will give you two fairly full tiers of ruffles. If you want the skirt two be less full, make the ruffles a little shorter.

Part 3: Cut the Fabric

With these measurements, cut your ruffles. You may have to join one or more strips of fabric to get the requisite length. For example, my first ruffle had to be 50 inches long and the fabric was 45 inches wide, so I had to cut another 5 inch strip to make up the 50 inches.

Part 4: Ruffle the Ruffles

  1. For each ruffle, join the lengths of fabric you cut out to make a long strip.
  2. Use your preferred method to finish the raw edges of the strips. I sewed a zigzag stitch along the edges.
  3. For each ruffle, sew the long strip together to make a loop.
  4. Ruffle the second tier ruffle by sewing long basting stitches along the top edge of the fabric.
  5. Mark each quarter of the top jeans tier, e.g., front middle, left side, back middle, right side.
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  7. Repeat this for the second tier ruffle.
  8. With right sides together, pin the second tier ruffle to the top jeans tier matching the quarter markings.
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  10. Gather the fabric between the markings by pulling the top thread of the basting stitch.
  11. Evenly distribute the gathers.
  12. Sew the second tier ruffle to the top jeans tier. Repeat this process for the next ruffle(s).

Part 5: Finish the Skirt

At this point you should have attached all the ruffles.

  1. Hem the bottom tier.

I’m currently infatuated with bias tape hems. This skirt features homemade tape made out of matching fabric. For instructions on making this tape check out Step Four of the cashmere blanket tutorial. You could also just make a traditional double fold hem. (Fold the bottom edge to the inside and press, fold again, press and stitch.)

Dance the night away. This is the perfect party skirt.

13 Responses to “Recycled Denim Fiesta Skirt: A Tutorial”

  1. Miss 376s Says:

    That is a lovely skirt, wish I had a daughter to make one for

  2. Sarah Says:

    Wow - this is adorable! What a great tutorial. No girls here, though. Wish I could think of something to do for a skinny boy that out-talls his jeans…

  3. Kyla Says:

    Cool! My daughter gets very attached to her jeans (weird, huh?), but being six years old, she doesn’t get very long to wear them. I have a whole pile of jeans that are too short for her, and I promised I would try to “fix” them for her. This will be perfect! Thanks for sharing =]

  4. Wendi Gratz Says:

    Thanks for the great tutorial! I see one of these skirts in my daughter’s future. . .

  5. Hope Says:

    Good Morning, I hope you don’t mind but I posted a link on my blog for this tutorial. I love it.

    Have a great day
    Hope

  6. Maria Spotts Says:

    Good day……..I’ll use the information for making a skirt for myself…………and I’m a full grown lady of 63. Thanks ……..Maria

  7. Blaze Says:

    What a fun tutorial!! And just in time for some summer fun!!!

  8. Carrie Says:

    I have 3 daughters! This is going to be perfect for them! Thank you.

  9. jackie Says:

    Would you like to join in with my ‘Daisy Chain’ links list?
    I am searching for blogs with daisy in the name and adding links and if I link to you, you can link to me and all the other ‘daisies’.
    I’m sure there is a much more techie way with logo and everything but at the moment its just a case of copying them from each other.
    Your blog is very pretty. I love the little skirt.

  10. Jolene Says:

    Imade one with a different twist… the pleated underskirt is actually a tier sewn underneath the box pleated layer… and it’s grown up size!

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldhamedia/2507393860/

  11. iHanna Says:

    Love the ribbon belt in the same fabric!

  12. Shelly G. Says:

    This is a fabulous tutorial… I want to use some of our shorter clothing to do the same… what a great way to recycle/reuse the clothes we already have… Thank you for sharing:)

  13. Pam Says:

    This is a great idea! My daughter is always wanting skirts and I can never find any long enough. I can surely make these!

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