This was once a size 12/14 dress shirt that was hiding out in the recesses or our son's closet...just begging to become a skirt for my 11 year old daughter. I'm in a skirty mood now for some reason, so this project was extra fun. The best part about this one is that it has raw edges exposed which is cool looking and requires no serging or hemming. I based the idea from a skirt I bought at JC Penney's once. It's become my favorite skirt because it's edgy like me and no one else seems to have it. I had to laugh when I bought it because I'd hung it on the rack by the register while I shopped & when I came back to pay, there were two older sales ladies up there and one of them looked at it ans said "Oh my goodness! Who on earth would ever buy that ugly thing?" I said "me!" She was embarrassed LOL I've had that skirt for about 5 years now and it hasn't fallen apart or unraveled so I assume this wont either.

I tried to sum up the ins & outs of making this skirt for anyone who's interested.

*DISCLAIMER: I'll warn you right now that it was easier to make than it was to explain. I hope it makes some sense!

If you're an experienced sewer you can just look at the pic and see what I'm saying I think

If you want to try making this skirt, look in your closet for a non zippered skirt that fits you/your (or your kid) and use its waist and hip measurements as a guide or just measure yourself and be sure that the skirt will be s as wide as the widest part of your hips or you'll never get it on...you'll only be able to look at it and cry. I used one of my daughter's denim a line skirts as a guide.

Whatever the measurement is, split it up in 4 sections and add a half inch seam allowance for each side of each panel. You'll want to make the pattern into a sort of bell shape, but make sure the top of the skirt is as big around as your hips. The flared portion at the bottom can be as wide as you want to make it. .After measuring, here's what you do:

3) SKIRT'S SIDE PANELS - The sleeves will become your side panels. Place the side panels of your pattern over the sleeve fabric, pin & cut. Sew down the sleeve openings at the cuffs.

4) CREATING INSERT PATTERN - to make the inserts at the bottom, decide how long you want them to be, then, folding a piece of paper in half, create half of the triangle on the folded edge side of the paper. Make sure the top of your triangle is flat (as if a triangle had it's pointy top cut off). Also make sure that it's a total of 1" wide across when the pattern is unfolded. The bottom of the insert can be as wide as you want to make it My daughter's inserts were about 4" wide at the bottom. Curve out the bottom of the triangle slightly rather than cutting it straight across.

Cut three triangles for each panel insert you want to make. My daughter's had 4 inserts and I used a different fabric for hers because there wasn't enough shirt fabric. This meant that I cut out a total of 12 triangles...with flat tops : )

5) WAISTBAND - Print as many out a 3" wide rectangles that runt he length of the paper. Tape together and use as your pattern for the waist-band. I had to piece together her waste band from several strips of shirt fabric.

6) ASSEMBLING INSERTS - Pin together three triangles with wrong sides facing. Sew the two edges together using 1/2" seam allowance. This should leave you with a large. flat topped triangle made up of three smaller ones. This completes the insert. Repeat until you have all your panels made.

7) SKIRT ASSEMBLY - Beginning at the hem of the skirt, attach the panel to the bottom portion of the skirt with wrong sides facing. Using a half inch seam allowance, sew only the panels where they meet the skirt. Once you get both sides sewn to their corresponding skirt panel, hold both skirt panels together with wring sides facing and sew from the top of your inserts, all the way up to the waistband. Repeat this same process until your skirt is completed.

*waistband* Cut out your waistband and turn over one long edge, approximately 1/2". Pin & iron. Turn the skirt inside out and pin the un-folded edge of the waistband to the top of the skirt with the right side of the band facing the wrong side of the skirt. Pin until you reach the end, Leave 1/2" seam allowance on both ends of the waistband and sew along the edge so that the band is as wide as the skirt's waist. Cut off any excess. Sew waistband to the skirt using 1/2" seam allowance.

8) BUTTON HOLES - Turn the skirt right side out and find the center-front of your waistband. Mark 1/2" vertical lines in the center for your button holes, making sure they begin at least 1/4" up from the seam. Sew your button holes using these marks. Use your seam ripper to carefully cut the center of the button h*** which will be the drawstring opening.

9) FINISHING WAISTBAND - Turn your skirt right side out and flip down the waistband. Make sure you have turned under 1/4" of fabric for a smooth finish. Pin in place slightly over stitch line (where you just sewed the waistband to the skirt). Sew as close as you can get to the edge.

10) DRAWSTRING - You can use ribbon or the fabric you used to create the skirt. If you want to use the shirt fabric, cut 1" strips, piecing together as needed. Fold in both long edges about 1/4" then fold the sides together again. This should leave you with a 1/4" wide drawstring. Pin and sew as close to the open edge as you can/ Attach a safety pin to one tip and feed through the waistband.

11) OPTIONAL - Pin down all seam allowances at the bottom of the skirt. Sew 1/2" allowance.

I HOPE THAT MADE SENSE!