DIY: Turn a Dress Into a Skirt

You need:
-1 dress
-scissors
-wide elastic (about 1 inch wide) to fit around your entire waist
-pins
-sewing machine (or you can sew by hand)

Before starting:
-wrap the elastic around your waist snuggly and decide how much elastic you will need. make the elastic overlap itself about 2 inches around your waist. pin. now wriggle the elastic around and try sliding it down your hips as if you were taking off a skirt. If the elastic is too tight to do this, un-pin and fix it so that it fits around your waist and hips better. Make sure you are still leaving a 2 inch overlap on your elastic when it wraps around you. Pin. Set aside.

STEP 1
Cut the fabric below bust in a straight line.


STEP 2
This is what you will get after you cut. Fold over the waist about 2 inches (enough allowance when creating your pocket for the elastic) and see how long your skirt is when you wear it. If the 2 inches you folded isn’t making the skirt short enough, cut off 1 extra inch. Now put the top you cut off to the side; you won’t need it again.


STEP 3
Turn skirt inside out. As you can see my lace skirt has the under layer (slip). Keep the slip with the main skirt together turned the same way they always were together. For example, when I turned my lace inside-out I also turned my slip inside-out. When I’m done sewing and turn my lace right side out, my slip will also be right side out.


STEP 4
Fold over the waist about 1 inch all around your skirt. Pin.


STEP 5
On the folded-over waist, hold your elastic about 1/4 of an inch from the top. Fold the waist over the elastic which will create a pocket. Make sure that the pocket is big enough that there is 1/4 of an inch left on the top and bottom of your pocket compared to your elastic. Take the elastic away and pin the pocket/case going all around your skirt.


STEP 6
Sew the pocket all around your skirt but leave two openings in the back of it. These are your two “exits” for the elastic to go in and out of the pocket. Once you work the elastic through the pocket, pin the elastic where you want it to come together in the back. Machine sew or sew by hand the opening closed. This will make the elastic stay and will be the finishing touch.


STEP 7
Now you’re done! Enjoy your new skirt!
p.s.-look how cute my skirt and gladiators look! Great outfit for this Easter weekend.


Ta-Da! Me in my new and super cute skirt. Very bohemian-like, no?



Today is good Friday! Hope you have a good one!