How to turn a pair of jeans into a skirt

Transform old jeans into a new wardrobe staple with our step-by-step tutorial for how to make a denim skirt by Jessica Entwistle.

Designer Jessica says, “This is a very simple way of turning a pair of old jeans into a cute skirt for the summer. You could add lace or appliqué some fabric shapes to embellish it, or keep it simple as we have with a frayed hem. If you want a looser fit, get a pair of jeans that are larger than your normal size from a charity shop; otherwise, use an old pair of your own.”

You will need:

• Pair of jeans
• Chalk pencil: white
• Matching thread
• Basic sewing kit

How to refashion a denim skirt

Cutting & unpicking

Step 1

Work out how long you would like your finished skirt to be and cut off each leg to 4cm (1⁵⁄₈in) longer than that length, as it will be trimmed to fit later.

Step 2

Put the legs you’ve cut off to one side.

Step 3

Using a seam ripper, unpick the inner seam from the jeans all the way around both of the legs. (see Fig 1)

Step 4

At the front of your skirt, continue to unpick the seam upwards towards the zip. This will allow the top of the jeans fabric to overlap, which will make the skirt front flat when you insert the extra section. (see Fig 2)

Creating the skirt front

Step 1

Take one of your cut off jean legs and cut it open down the centre of one leg so that the decorative topstitched seam is in the middle of the fabric.

Step 2

Place the open jean leg inside the front of the skirt and mark out where the piece will go using your white chalk pencil.

Step 3

Cut off the excess jean fabric 2cm (¾in) outside this marked line on both sides so you are left with a triangle. (see Fig 3)

Step 4

Pin this cut section in place beneath the skirt front. (see Fig 4)

Step 5

Sew the front of the skirt together along the pinned line, using the original unpicked stitching lines as a guide. You will need to make two rows of parallel stitching to copy the original seam lines. Trim off the excess fabric at the back of the inserted section. (see Fig 5)

Creating the skirt back

Step 1

Unpick the back seam open to about mid pocket level so that the skirt will lie flat, and the seam is straight and not curved.

Step 2

Cut open the other cut-off jeans leg in the same way as the first, then place it inside the skirt back and mark with the white chalk pencil and pin as before. (see Fig 6)

Step 3

You will need to fold back excess fabric from the opened legs of the skirt to create a triangle then press the folds in place.

Step 4

Stitch this back piece in place with two rows of stitching as before.

Finishing the skirt

Step 1

Once the skirt is sewn together, cut off the excess fabric so the skirt is your desired finished length.

Step 2

Pop it in the washing machine and once dry, you’ll have a fab frayed hem!

Congratulations! You now know how to make a denim skirt from old jeans!

Give your jeans a new lease of life

If you’ve got a few old pairs of jeans hanging around, gathering dust, this skirt refashion is the perfect way to create a brand new garment.

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Jessica Entwistle

Jess is a fabric crafts designer who’s work is regularly published in Simply Sewing and Love Patchwork & Quilting magazines. She shares her work on her website http://www.jellybgood.com. She inherited her love of fabric, colour and sewing from her mother and specializes in creating easy-to-sew, accessible designs with a fresh modern style, making her projects popular with magazine readers and crafters online alike. She’s got a thing for neon threads and a serious love of fabric. She runs her own craft business creating everything from hair slides and brooches to bunting and quilts. She has previously appeared as a guest designer on Sewing Quarter TV and shares her work on Instagram @jessjelllybgood

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