DIY: Upcycle Old Jeans Into A Sexy Mini
This is a fabulous fun mini skirt project that will leave you some left over scraps for a DIY ‘bring your own bag’ project after. Don’t fret, it’s quite easy to make those jeans into a denim mini!
Supplies Needed
:
- Funky jeans past their prime (beyond patching or your style threshold)
- Scissors
- Sewing machine or mad hand sewing skills
- Thread of any color you enjoy
Step one: Choosing
Use either old jeans, or thrift jeans that you really love the color of but you just don’t wear that MC Hammer style anymore. Just make sure the jeans fit your hip or waist where you plan to wear the skirt.
Step two: Length
I like mine short, and I measure it against a skirt I already own that is the length I like by laying them flat on top one another. It’s a good idea to start with a longer length, since you can always go back and cut it shorter. Decide whether you want it to hit your knee, mid thigh, or super high.
Step three: Cutting
Once you know the length, cutting will be easy. Cut straight across both the legs at the length measured and wa-la, now you have some jean shorts! But you want a sexy mini, so take the scissors and begin cutting the inner seam line and cut open the crotch of the jeans. Then cut along the front seam up to the zipper. (If you made your skirt longer you may want to cut along the back seam 2-3 inches, so it doesn’t pucker in the back when you sew it back together.)
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Step four: Working it
At this point you will be able to see how this will come together again as a skirt. I don’t use pins, but if you do this would be the time to start folding over the zig zag flap in the front for pinning. With it facing you fold the left over right side (or thick seam side on top) and pin if desired. Turn it over and pin the back making sure there is no puckering (which is death to a denim mini). Your bottom length may have changed a little, but that’s OK - now is the time to cut any extra fabric hanging at the bottom to straighten your hemline.
Step five: Sew!
Yay! Now sew a thick & tight stitch along your newly created seam, in the front and then in the back. I usually sew all the way up to the top in the back, just to make the thread match and to tie the project together aesthetically. For many styles of jeans the front will have a minimalist zig zag look, like your own personal lightning bolt!
Ending: The Fray
- I put mine through a wash and dry to create the traditional look of the 80’s cut off mini jean skirt with frayed edges. Pair with some cute sneakers, or some vintage heals and you are too hot to handle!
Coming Next ::: What to do with the legs of the jeans you just cut up !!! (BYOB Project)!
Related post: What Can You Do With Jeans?
i am off to my thriftstore right this second! how long does it take?
Hello Gabi! This doesn’t take long at all, unless you have dull scissors like i do
With a snazzy sewing machine it shouldn’t take more then 20-30 minutes to learn this project.
[...] Subscribe to our RSS feed and stay up to date.You’ve now cut your old jeans to make a sexy upcycled mini skirt, craft supply organizer or I-pod case- what do you do with all those…well, leg [...]
PLANT A TREE CAMPAIGNS-COMMENT
I read a lot messages to plant trees.I was associated with agriculture advisery service for more than 40 years.I saw lot of activities on plant a tree - What happens afterword ,most saplings planted die out as there is no body to nurture these seedlings and efforts in planting a tree go invain.
MESSAGE SHOULD BE PLANT A SEEDLING AND NURTURE YOUNG PLANTS TO GROW IN TO A HEALTY TREE-APPROPRIATE MESSAGES IN THIS REGARD SHOULD REACH WHO ARE INVOLVED IN PLANT A TREE MISSION.
What a great idea though I might have to wear some thick tights with my short skirt at present - a bit windy at times in the country!
i had a pair of jeans that didn’t fit me properly anymore and i did this and am currently wearing the result
i love it =]
thank-you for this
[...] with its recycled rubber soles. Slip them on with a sexy pair of Del Forte Denim jeans or an upcycled mini-skirt, and you will be prepped for even the most treacherous winter [...]
Upcycle and update this even further with my crochet trim! Fab Blog btw
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[...] doing the switch too, but I say go for the easiest one you can find. The instructions posted on the Crafting a Greener World blog are pretty much what I did earlier this [...]