6.11.2010

From high water pants to super cute skirt!

Kids always seem to outgrow the length of their pants before the waist.  Since it's summer I'm turning some of Nadia's too short (and to warm) pants into skirts!  She had a pair of Guess jeans that I loved so that's where I started. 
It was super simple and very quick so let's get started.  Cut the jeans off anywhere between the bottom of the zipper and the crotch.  You may end up cutting off the bottom of the back pockets, that's fine.  Measure the width of the front where you just cut off your legs and times it by 4.  That's the length your ruffle fabric will need to be cut to. 

Cut two strips of fabric at that length, one 4 inches wide and one 2.75 inches wide.

 Hem one long side of each strip. 

Lay your thinner strip on top of your wide strip lining up the raw sides.  Sew them together with a wide running stitch along the long raw edge.  Pulling on one of the threads from the line you just sewed, gather the fabric into a long double ruffle.  Ruffle until it's twice the length of the jean front.  Sew the two short raw edges of the ruffle together (this will make a circle).
Pin, right sides together, to your jean skirt.
Sew all the way around and TADA!

23 Reactions to this post

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  1. Paula said... June 11, 2010

    I've done this before, and I don't know what was different, but kids at the playground were running after my daughter to tell her that her skirt was falling down.

  2. Holly Renee said... June 11, 2010

    This is such a cute and awesome idea! You are so creative and talented!

  3. bdaiss said... June 11, 2010

    What a great idea! I'm starring this for next year when my punk will be big enough for these!

  4. *Sarah said... June 11, 2010

    Another thing that will not work for boys' clothes. LOL! I love this idea.
    Holy crap! The model has the most adorable chunky baby ankles!!

  5. Cat said... June 11, 2010

    This skirt is so unbelieveably adorable! What a great way to make something "old" (or in this case outgrown) new again!!!! Perfect just in time for summer!

  6. Drew said... June 11, 2010

    I love this idea. We're done having kiddos. With only having one girl, it's nice to see getting a couple more months use out of her clothes. Now, I just need to figure out how to get my old sewing machine to work again! :)

  7. Shannon @ Posh Pieces said... June 11, 2010

    What a great idea! Love this. I might have to rethink some of my daughters pants that are in the donate pile now. :-)

  8. Sonja Hoyle said... June 11, 2010

    I did the same thing last year with my son's Levis (that he had outgrown). My daughter wouldn't be caught dead in her big brother's jeans, so had to modify and make a ruffled fabric bottom! I've kept all his "good" jeans since, and will make more re-fashioned jean skirts as I need to! Love this idea so much!

  9. Crafty Witch said... June 11, 2010

    Wauw, it looks so sweet! I know a girl with favorite pink jeans who would LOVE this!

  10. Christine C. said... June 11, 2010

    I will have to make this for my little girlies! So stinkin cute1

  11. Jennifer said... June 11, 2010

    I love that! Thank you for sharing it. My girls always grow out of the legs before they do the waist! I have skinny girls! lol Thank You again for the fun idea!

    Have A Great Day!
    Jennifer

    Livin' With Hoosiers

  12. a girl in a gorilla suit said... June 11, 2010

    so cute! thanks for the ideas!

  13. Jessica said... June 11, 2010

    Super cute and a great idea!

  14. The Gosfam said... June 13, 2010

    I love this!! I am working on some longer skirts, but I may change to the shorter version it is summer after all.

  15. Rachel@oneprettything.com said... June 15, 2010

    Cute and easy, I love it! Thanks so much for the great idea, I'll be linking.

  16. Heather said... June 16, 2010

    I have made so many of these. Thanks for sharing.
    check out my blog for lots of free tutorials like this. I linked yours up too.
    http://callmecraftymomma.blogspot.com/

  17. Lindsay @ Artsy-Fartsy Mama said... September 19, 2011

    I love this!! Thanks for sharing, your skirt turned out so cute.

    Also wanted to let you know I featured this on my blog today, so feel free to check it out & grab a featured button :)
    http://artsyfartsymama.blogspot.com/2011/09/pinteresting-features-n-shtuff.html

  18. Deva said... September 30, 2011

    I know this is an old post, but I just found it on pinterest. My daughter has these corduroy pants that I adore but are too short, they have now been transformed into her adorable cord/ruffle skirt. Thanks for the tutorial!!

  19. MaryJanes and Galoshes said... September 30, 2011

    ;) Deva, that's why we have an archive!!! Glad you found it!

  20. Tiffiny Felix said... January 26, 2012

    I just found this on Pinterest, too! Happy Day! :)

  21. Deanna said... March 08, 2012

    Gonna have to try this with all the jeans that my girls have worn holes in the knees on. Thanks!!

  22. David Hudson said... March 13, 2012

    Hey there, just stumbled upon your blog through Google, and found it to be really informative. I'm gonna keep an eye on this one.hey!,I like your writing so much! share we have a talk more about your writing on Yahoo? Looking forward to see you.Cheers!

    denim jeans manufacturers

  23. Marie said... April 23, 2012

    Just made 3 skirts for my triplet girls! Thanks for the fun idea! I know these won't be my last 3 skirts out of too short jeans! <3

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