How to Make a Skirt out of a Pile of Scraps: No Pattern Needed!

comments (7) April 18th, 2009     

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JenniferStern Jennifer Stern, contributor
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I inserted some tiny trim under the seam allowances, then I topstitched them down using silver metallic thread and a zigzag stitch.
Here is my ribbon skirt—four gores cut on the bias created lots of scraps to work with. (I started with 2 yards of 60-inch-wide organic cotton fabric.)
Heres my heap of scraps—too good to go to waste!
I inserted some tiny trim under the seam allowances, then I topstitched them down using silver metallic thread and a zigzag stitch.

I inserted some tiny trim under the seam allowances, then I topstitched them down using silver metallic thread and a zigzag stitch.

Photo: Jen Stern
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If you want to add some trim, insert it under the seam allowances and pin in place. I used some oyster-colored French lace.

Insert trim under the seam allowance and topstitch the edge in place
A dot of Fray Check will keep the trim from raveling where you cut it.

I decided to tuck random-lengthed pieces of trim radiating up from the hem. To hold the trim in place, topstitch along the raw edge of the seam allowance. Depending on how "unfinished" you want your seams to look, you can leave them loose above the trim, or topstitch the entire edge down as I did.

Trim pinned in place
To embellish my skirt, I inserted different lengths of trim upward from the hem.

Insert an invisible zipper. Click here for a great how-to if you need some help.

Position facing right sides together with skirt waistline
Turn the bottom edge of the lining under 1/4 inch and sew it in place to finish the edge. Position the facing right sides together with the skirt along the waistline.

 

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Comments (7)

mmuschka writes: Delightful and absolutely Brilliant!! Thank you for taking the time for such a thorough how-to!!! Having tutored under perhaps the most scrap-saving, frugal,stylish & beloved grandmother - I can, with great assurance, say she would have been impressed! Needless to say, she passed her frugal ways down to me, & I can almost see her smiling at the ideas you've given me. Thank you, again, for sharing your inspiration & the great memories it evoked!!!
Posted: 5:57 am on June 21st
babsalonia writes: What a great idea, I hope to try it soon!!!
Posted: 9:22 am on June 18th
PinkParisian writes: This darling skirt is sooooo cute. I have got to trY this. How very clever.
Your project is very inspiring. Now I have to think about how my scraps will co- ordinate as a skirt! How fun is that? Very cool! Thank you so much for this article and cute idea.
Posted: 8:34 am on June 18th
JenniferStern writes: Thanks ladies! I'd love to see what you come up with. Happy sewing.
Posted: 1:48 pm on April 23rd
MeredithP writes: This looks like great fun! I'll definitely be doing something like this. Thanks for the great tutorial.
Posted: 8:12 am on April 19th
Tifana writes: You are sooooo talented. I can't wait to try this. It perfect!
Posted: 9:58 am on April 18th
craftydame writes: this is an amazing tutorial! super detailed, and super clear!

there are lots of fun tutorials out there for simpler items (simpler to write tutorials for to!), so it's a treat to see something so detailed explained so beautifully!
Posted: 5:14 am on April 18th
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