Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Daily Cardinal Est. 1892
Saturday, July 19, 2025

From pants to skirt in five steps

What you'll need:  

 

Jeans, thread (can be blue but any color is OK), seam ripper, pins, scissors 

 

 

 

Step 1: Using a seam ripper, open the inner leg seams from the lower edge to the crotch seam on the front side of jeans, and on the back side, open the seams farther, about even with top of pockets. 

 

 

 

Step 2: You'll end up with strange flaps if the jeans are laid flat from step one. Lay them flat but overlapping and pin them together. 

 

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Daily Cardinal delivered to your inbox

 

 

Step 3: Put on the garment. Adjust pins at the center seam according to how flared or how long you want the skirt. Sew it into place (be careful to only sew one side at a time—don't accidentally go through all of it). 

 

 

 

Step 4: Cut off legs where desired. Sew the removed leg portion into the open part of the skirt. You can sew it all together, or leave flaps open for walking if tight. 

 

 

 

Step 5: Trim the lower edge of skirt evenly, and machine stitch it two inches from the bottom to prevent fraying during future washings. 

 

 

 

Extras: Iron the skirt so it has a finished look; add lace, fabrics, ribbon, sequins, etc. to give it flare. 

 

 

 

—The Home Sewing Association 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Daily Cardinal has been covering the University and Madison community since 1892. Please consider giving today.
Popular




Print

Read our print edition on Issuu Read on Issuu


Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2025 The Daily Cardinal