Remodel Adult Shirts into Cute Kid's Skirts

Do you have shirts lying around that you never wear? Or don't fit anymore? Remodel those shirts into cute skirts for kids. This is a fun project that can take as little as 30 minutes and cost you 50 cents per skirt. It's easy because the side seams and hem are already done. It just needs an elastic in the waist. I like to use baby doll style shirts, or empire waist shirts with fun wild prints. This is a way to go green, recycle and save a little on school clothes. If you don't have extra shirts to cut up, shop at thrift shops. Department stores like Macy's, Dillard's, and J. C. Penney's have 50 percent clearance price racks. You can get a really good deal on clearance shirts that are ugly shirts, but can be remodeled into really cute fun skirts. You can also turn shirts with layers into bubble skirts. These recycled skirts are cute for special occasions or can be paired with leggings for school.

Supplies you will need: scissors, seam ripper, big safety pin, marker, iron, sewing machine, and a package of elastic. I used a package of elastic that was 1" wide by 50" long, which cost $1.29. I can make 3 skirts for age 6 using one package.

To start with, lay the shirt on a hard, flat surface. Decide on the length of skirt you want. Allow half an inch plus width of elastic for top casing. If you use 1" elastic, you will need 1-1/2 "to make the casing. If you are trying to make the skirt as long as possible, use a seam ripper to unpick original shirt waist seam. If length is not a problem, just hack off the top of the shirt with a pair of scissors. Use narrower elastic and casing if you need to make the skirt longer.

To make casing fold the top edge down 1/4 of an inch all the way around and press flat. Then fold the seam down slightly wider than the width of the elastic you are using and press flat. Now you are ready to sew. Start at a side seam and back stitch a few stitches and then sew as close to the folded 1/4 inch edge as possible. Stop sewing an inch before the starting point and back stitch. The back stitching will help keep it from coming undone when putting in the elastic.

Now take the elastic and wrap around the child's waist. Do not pull tight. Mark on the elastic the child's waist measurement, and then add half an inch for seam allowance. Take the end of the elastic and attach the safety pin to it to help pull the elastic through the casing. Thread the elastic through the opening you left in the casing. Once you pull the elastic through, double check to make sure the elastic is not twisted. Take the two ends of the elastic, over lap them, and sew the two together. You can zig zag or sew a straight stitch up and down a couple of times. Sew up the 1-inch opening in the casing and you are done. You have remodeled your recycled shirt into a new fun skirt.

If you have a shirt that has a lining in it, you can make a stylish bubble skirt. Cut the shirt top off like described above. Sew the two layers with the right sides together along the bottom. Use a 1/4 inch seam. Next turn the skirt right side out, so you see the right sides of the fabrics. Place the top edges of the layers together and sew along the edge just to keep the layers from slipping. Then follow the steps above to make the casing. If you want your bubble skirt to be poofier, you can add a layer of nylon netting in between the two fabrics.

Finding shirts to be remodeled into cute play skirts will be fun for you and little girls will love them. You can use this fast method of skirt-making if you need a quick, easy, cheap skirt for Halloween, dress up, or school plays. Adding wide ribbon can be cute for ties. This is a great way to be creative with little cost. Go green and recycle.