This is an easy-peasy how to. It should really only take you like, 60-90 minutes to complete this skirt at the most. I am a total sewing novice and this was the easiest thing I've done so far. You don't need a pattern, but you do need the following...
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- Sewing Machine (or mad hand sewing skills)
- Thread
- Yarn (optional!)
- Tape Measure
- Fabric Scissors
- Fabric Pencil/Marker/Chalk (whichever you prefer!)
- Pins
- Calculator
- Elastic
- Bedsheet (preferably twin-sized)
1.) Go to your favorite thrift store. Get a cool vintage twin-sized bedsheet. Bring it home. Launder it.
2.) Fold the sheet in half horizontally, then fold it in half again vertically. Make sure all the edges are lined up. Chances are, your bedsheet is going to be well-worn and harder to deal with than a fresh piece of cotton. Feel free to use as many pins as you see fit to keep the edges even.
3.) Grab your tape measure. Find your waist measurement at the point where you usually wear your skirts. Add 2 to this number (to allow for waistband/fit adjustments). Divide by 3.14, then divide that number by 2. You now have your radius measurement! Cut a piece of thread (or brightly colored yarn) to this measurement.
4.) Lay your folded sheet out so the edges are at the top and right sides. Hold the thread (or yarn) at the left corner of the sheet. Use the thread to make markings equidistant from the corner, which you should then connect to form an arc. Then, make another arc one inch inside your waist arc. This will be your cutting line.
5.) Get your tape measure out again. Measure from where you like your skirts to sit on your waist, down to your preferred skirt length. Add an inch for the hem. (Alternatively, if you do not wish to hem the skirt, simply use some fray check at the edge of the skirt, let it dry, and you're all set!) Cut a piece of thread to this measurement.
6.) Place the thread at the left corner of your sheet. Create an arc as you did for your waist. By the time you're done, your sheet will look like this:
7.) Now you can begin cutting! First the waist,
then the hem!
8.) Now you will be left with something that should look like this:
9.) Take your elastic, and wrap it around your waist comfortably. Leave a little excess.
Cut it.
10.) Sew the elastic together to form the waistband.
11.) Turn your skirt wrong side out. Fold the fabric over the elastic and pin to form the waistband.
12.) Sew as close to the bottom of the elastic waistband as possible, to prevent folding.
13.) If you've chosen not to hem your skirt, apply your fray check and let dry. If you've decided to hem your skirt, and you've never hemmed a dang thing before, here is a great tutorial.
14.) Voila! You're finished!!






Congratulations, the skirt is wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to find the right print, how I'd love to have a Simpsons bedsheet now!!xx
thank you thank you! if i come across another, i will let you know! <3
DeleteBed-sheet sewing for the win! Fabric can be expensive but second hand bed wares and table cloths are so cheap!
ReplyDeleteexactly! it's so rare that you see vintage fabric at thrift stores anymore. i'm convinced it's all on etsy now. bedsheets are the only cheap vintage fabric i can find anymore!
DeleteThis is perfect! Fabrics are so expensive, sigh.
ReplyDeleteI'm so intimidated by sewing machines tho. I'm a perfectionist and the slightest screw up sends me into a spiral of depression. Wow, that sounded so dramatic but it's true! Even if it's a millimeter of error I go bezerk. I'll just admire your work and wish I was half as talented. :P
i've been taking sewing lessons the past couple of months so i'm starting to feel a little braver about doing stuff on my own!
DeleteOh my GOD that skirt is perfect! Love the pattern!!
ReplyDeletethank you!! it was so easy! you should try it!
DeleteLove it! If only I was still a seamstress :-( after taking fashion design in school I swore off sewing for quite a while and haven't gotten back into it
ReplyDeleteawww yes i understand. but that's really cool! i would love to see some stuff you've made!!
DeleteWhat a wonderful post! How inspiring. Love it.
ReplyDeleteH&P x
www.momentsunexpected.com
I wish I was a good Do-it-yourselfer. I am so impresseD!
ReplyDeletexo-
sabrina
www.samplesize16.com
What a brilliant idea, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
ReplyDeleteI have just found your blog through Fashion Hailey and I LOVE IT.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
killer!
ReplyDeletei'm just worried that it'll be super see-through. maybe i could line it? ugh, that sounds hard. the world will just have to marvel at my black undies. YOU'RE WELCOME, WORLD
xo, sarah danger
this particular sheer was very well worn so i DEFINITELY need to line it. but i figured, that's another post for another day. i wanna see it if you do one!
DeleteAbsolutely love this, you did a great job and picked such a awesome print.
ReplyDeletethank you so much!
Deleteholy, best idea ever!!!!!!! I need to try this asap!
ReplyDeleteomg YES! this is like DIY Jeremy Scott <3
ReplyDeleteahhh awesome, i hadn't even thought of that!! thanks! xo
DeleteThis is beyond cute
ReplyDeleteIts just amazing..Like it..And nice idea to saving bedsheet in a other manner.
ReplyDeletehttp://bedsheetbazaar.in/