RECYCLED DENIM MAXI SKIRT DIY
As the weather warms up it’s always nice to add a little bohemian touch to your wardrobe.
So it’s time to clean out your closet and channel your inner hippie by turning your jeans into a maxi skirt. This DIY tutorial will show you how to easily create a denim maxi skirt from 2 pairs of jeans. The best part of this project is the fact that it took very little time to make, which is great if you’re like me and all about instant gratification.
VIEW DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS >
To see step by step instructions and photos click here.
What you’ll need to make your Denim Maxi Skirt:
- 2 pairs of jeans – 1 that will be your skirt and 1 that’s for patch fabric
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
Step 1
Cut the inside seam open on your jeans (pair #1) these will be the main part of your skirt.
Be sure to also cut part way up the back seam (the part that curves) about 2 inches, you will be sewing this flat, it will help to make sure your skirt hangs smooth in the back.
Step 2
Using your 2nd pair of jeans (pair #2, the ones you’re cutting up for patches), cut one leg open on both seams. This is the one you will use for the front of your skirt. Cut either the front or the back which ever works best for the size and looks best.
Place this patch piece under your main jeans and pin in place.
Step 3
Cut the other leg of your 2nd pair of jeans but be sure to keep the inside seam in tact. The piece you cut for the back needs to be twice as wide as the piece you use for the front.
Place this piece under you main jeans in the back and pin in place.
Mine came up a little short and I patched it with another piece. You can add more pieces to give it more of a patchwork feeling if you like.
Step 4
Using your sewing machine sew your pieces together.
Step 5
Cut the hems off your jeans and fray them, once you wash them they will look even better.
This Recycled Denim Maxi Skirt DIY is a truly bohemian project and one that doesn’t have to be perfect, as in straight lines and perfect color matches.
Go crazy and mix it up! Let your inner hippie free, add patches, paint it, embroider it! Make it your own and let me know what you come up with.
I’d love to hear or see what you make!
Great tutorial!
I’ve always wanted to know how to do this…
Thanks Carmen!
xoxo
Cathy
I have a pair of maternity jeans with a hole in the crotch that I just can’t bring myself to discard. I’m definitely repurposing it as a maxi skirt! Thanks!!
That’s such a great idea! I wish I had thought of that when I was pregnant, I’m sure it would have been more comfortable than my jeans. LOL
xoxo
Cathy
Beautiful!
OMG, we used to do this in the early 70s, but with a small floral for the inset. Brought back some 8th grade sewing memories!
Hi Mary Ann,
Thanks! That’s a great idea to add different fabric insets.
xoxo
Cathy
Such a great tutorial! I love how yours turned out and I have a few old pairs of jeans that I definitely need to do this with.
Thanks Bethany!
It was really fun to make. Let me know how yours turns out.
xoxo
Cathy
I’ve managed to stumble across two of your posts in the same day. I like you ideas. I’m excited to try this one out. I had a skirt similar to this in high school that I’ve not found a replacement for. This may be the answer.
Hi Anna,
I’m so glad you found me (twice!).
I love this skirt, it’s so comfortable too.
If you make one let me know how it turns out, I’d love to hear.
xoxo
Cathy
could also do this with other pants, but probably best with heavy ones, such as corduroy… SO many ways to do the insert, & to decorate!! or for a “mini skirt”, could either use heavy/thick shorts…or cut down the jean pants!
Hi Noreen,
There are soooo many options with this skirt, I even made a mini one for my daughter. You can add different fabrics, lace, ruffles anything you can think of!
xoxo
Cathy
I love how easy you made this but I do have a question. how do you make the front lay flat? when I did my pair the really thick sport at the top of the legs would not lay flat and my sewing machine was unable to sew through this area.
Hi Christine,
Thank you! I would recommend either hand sewing or using a fabric glue. I know that denim gets really thick and hard to sew.
Let me know if that works for you. Depending on how it’s sticking out, you may need to trim the fabric a bit, but see if you can sew it or glue it first.
xoxo
Cathy
Thanks for the tip I am new to sewing and never would have thought of that
Hi Christine,
I hope it helps, let me know if you have any other questions.
xoxo
Cathy
I’ve done this years ago in the ’70′s when I was a teenager, but I could never get the back to look right. Now I know how to do that, thanks! I pinned this months ago. Recently I’ve been to crazy patch embroidery. So I thought putiing that together with your instrictions for this skirt would be a killer outfit to show off my embroidery skills. I have a pair of faded black jeans that are too big for me now, but still fit without falling down. In other words they are comfortable, lol. BUt they don’t look good on me now as they bag in the butt too much. So I’ve pulled those jeans out and am going to start crazy patch embroidering the panels for the front and back. I’m very short, just about 5′ 2 1/2 and long skirts aren’t always very flattering on me. So I cut the jeans off at mid knee level and will have a boho knee length skirt. Thanks for the inspiration! If it’s okay, I’ll post a link to a photo of my finished skirt so you can see what you inspired!
I am so excited to find your tutorial. I have seen skirts like this but i just didnt think i could do it with out the directions. I bought a denim skirt and its just not THIS skirt. So i went thrift shopping and found jeans to make me one I am pretty sure that i will be making more that one, i can imagine this done in courduroy and khaki. I also thought to finish the back in denim and do the front in a shrt ilet lace (white) with ruffles to give it the high/ low flare. Thanks so much for the tutorial, lets get sewing!
Just finished mine and love it. Still have to wash it to fray it out. I also cut off a pair of my husbands jeans into a short skirt, didn’t have to add panels but sewed down the front and back crotch seams just like this tutorial shows.
Looooove it!!! i”ve been wanting to do this for ages too! Thank you!!!
Thanks Diane!
I’m so happy you found this DIY. Let me know how your skirt turns out!
xoxo
Cathy
I love that I stumbled across this tutorial! I am new to sewing and looking for quick fun projects to try out! I will definitely give this one a go! I think I will make it knee length though. I always wear through the inside thighs of jeans, so this will be a great way to recycle those.
Awesome!! Did you sew the pieces together directly on the front or the inside of the skirt? The picture looks like the outside.
Thanks Jennie!
Yes, I sewed the pieces together on the front/outside of the skirt.
xoxo
Cathy