Pencil Skirt From T-shirt: Tutorial

About 2 weeks ago I shared with you my T-shirt Pencil Skirt creation. At the time, I had not yet done a tutorial. Sometimes that happens to me...

"What happens to you?" you might be asking.

Well let's just say that sometimes I bust out a project too fast and too impatiently to take pictures, document, or write down how I even did it.

You guys are in luck though.

Again, I know you are curiously asking, "Why am I in luck?".

Well you see you are in luck because the first one I made...the one pictured above...yup that one was...um...a little snug.

"How snug?"

Snug enough that it would have been improper and very unladylike to wear said skirt to church (Although Hubby did say he would be OK with me wearing it on a date. I just bet ya would buddy.)

"It doesn't look that snug in the picture?"

My, my you have a lot of questions today.

First thank you for saying it doesn't look too snug.

Second, well I didn't take any picture of my fanny now did I.

My ghetto-tastic booty would be the culprit of the too snug skirt. Who knew I was channeling my JLo.

So basically this was a longer and slightly more embarrassing way of saying that you get a tutorial on how to make my T-shirt Pencil Skirt because I had to make myself another one. One less emphasizing of my backside. Silver lining is that now I have a tutorial to share with you.

Whew...enough talk of well my you-know-what.

On to the tutorial for my new better fitting T-shirt Pencil Skirt.

You will need:

1 Men's T-shirt, without a pocket...I recommend the biggest size you can find. That way you have the most fabric.
Freezer paper
Thread

Now let's get started.

1. Make a pattern for your skirt. You can either outline an existing skirt, or you can do what I did and I outlined my self...yes I did. I laid down on the freezer paper and traced from where I wanted it to hit on the waist to below my knees. I added 1/2" on each side (the 2nd time that is...hehehe) to allow for the seam.

I made sure to have the skirt taper for the pencil skirt effect. Make sure not to have it taper so much though that you won't have the give to actually walk in the skirt once it is made.

I adjusted the tracing on the freezer paper to make it symmetrical.

Lay the pattern over the t-shirt.

2. Iron the pattern (freezer paper) onto the shirt to stabilize it.

3. Cut out. Start by cutting the top layer and then going back and cut the back layer (front and back of the shirt).

4. Save the side seams scraps of the shirt.

5. You will have two pieces. These will be the top bands of your skirt.

6. Layer them, folded edge at the top. Lay them at the top of your skirt pieces. Cut the two strips a little bigger than the width of the top of the skirt.

7. Now to make the waist bands the same height (top to bottom), layer them on top of each other with the folded sides flush with each other.  Cut off the excess of the raw edges to make them equal. Mine ended up being between 3-4 inches. Your band width could vary depending how much excess you have from the shirt.

You should end up with two band pieces.

8. Pin each band strip to one piece of the skirt. Pin right sides facing with the raw edges on top. 

9. Sew them together with a serger if you are one lucky dog and have one...I will try not to hate you. Otherwise, just sew with a zig zag stitch on your regular machine.

10. Fold up the band and press with an iron.

11. With the band attached to the skirt pieces, lay each new skirt piece on top of each other, right sides facing. Pin. By now the freezer paper should not be on the fabric.

You will probably need some patience here. If your shirt is like mine, it will roll a little.

Just take a deep breath and think about how cute you are going to look.

12. Sew from top to bottom with a serger...eh hem...still not jealous...or zig zag it. I made sure to back stitch at both ends.

13. Now simply turn your skirt out. Since you used the bottom of the shirt for the bottom of your skirt you don't need to sew a hem.

Isn't it glorious when part of the job is already done for you.

Press you skirt.

Now shimmy yourself into it and make your husband, boyfriend, or potential boyfriend/husband take you to dinner.

You deserve it.

Pencil Skirt from a T-Shirt

Before I discuss the skirt in this little picture, two things.

Thing One: Does anyone recognize that I gave you all a break from seeing my front door? I am not sure why every skirt post I have done in the last few months has me standing in front of that door.

Knit Maxi, High Waist Maxi, Summer Striped

See what I mean?

This is probably because I am lazy and don't go out on photo shoots. Some ladies always look so classy and model-like when they pose their homemade clothes, strolling some droll location.

I mean seriously, have you ever seen Leanne Barlow's blog? Then there is the blog Kristina J I just found. Why can't I strike a pose like these ladies. GLAM much.

I digress.

Basically, I just wanted you to know I've got your back and I will give you a reprieve from my front door. I just um, took a few steps to the right...now you can look at our stone wall. Lucky you.

OKAY.

Thing Two: I must, must, must give a little Hallelujah for the yellow cardigan.

I have been yearning and craving fortnightly for a yellow cardigan. Seriously I have been looking for years. I had searched online, in every store, thrift stores, my sister's closet...you get the idea. I simply could not find one at all.

Then while reading my friend Vanessa's blog recently, choirs sang, bells rang, and I darn near fell out of my chair.

She too had been on the same search, but her search was over. She had found one, and glory be it was at Old Navy. We have an Old Navy. Boom.

I may or may not have hit the store that very night. I may or may not have cradled the cardigan in the store. I may or may not have clapped like a 5 year-old getting a new pony.

So review-

Yay for a no door photo.
Dreamy yellow cardigan...check.

So wait, wasn't there something about a pencil skirt from a t-shirt?

Why yes, yes there was.

The other day when walking The Mart, a place I find myself WAY too much, I passed a rack of men's t-shirts on clearance. My eye was immediately drawn to a navy blue and white stripped shirt. As soon as I saw it, I saw a pencil skirt.

No, I don't know why. I don't ask my brain these things. I am just feel grateful when the thing actually works.

So without hesitation, I picked up the shirt.

This skirt literally came together in about an hour. My kind of project.

In about an hour I turned a ordinary t-shirt to this-

I paired this knit pencil skirt with a white shirt, my yellow cardigan (yay), and nude peep toes.

I am working on a tutorial for you. I whipped out this skirt so quickly, oh and late at night, so I didn't get a tutorial put together. Don't worry though, it will happen.

I pinky swear.

Thanks for reading. I sure appreciate ya.

High Waist Maxi Skirt from Bed Sheet

Remember here how I promised I had another project to show you that I made from a bed sheet?

Tada!

Have I ever mentioned that I could wear skirts everyday of the week?

Tada, Tada!

I have had this sheet for at least a year. I picked it up on clearance. Tons of different projects have been assigned to this sheet. However, time and time again I pushed all of them to the back burner.

I know why now. Subconsciously, I knew that this skirt was in my future.

Hahaha, that is totally realistic right?

It just took awhile for my brain to catch up to this fabric. I mean how could I miss it just begging to be made into a high waist maxi skirt with pockets.

I have been all about high-waisted skirts lately. I recently made a stripped summer skirt. I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE maxi skirts. I have several stretchy ones, but recently I have seen quite a few more lady-like ones.

So again, as this sheet was speaking to me saying, "I am a skirt, I am a skirt!"...Is anyone else worried sheets are talking to me? Did I mention I do not get tons of sleep...you know with the baby and all?

Anywho, thanks to the talking sheet and my love for both high-waisted and maxi skirts, I was bound to come up with this idea.

It really was inevitable.

I may or may not have already busted out a couple. This skirt is super easy to make. Since it is made from a sheet, some of the work is already done for you. Woohoo, just how I like it.

Another bonus, these sheets only cost $5 a piece. Add a zipper for just over $2 and you have a $7 skirt. A fabulous looking $7 skirt.

All you will need:

1 twin flat sheet
1 coordinating invisible zipper
coordinating thread

After taking out your sheet, find the top of the sheet. Cut off the entire top. This will be your waistband. An instant waistband. Woohoo. Measure around your waist where you want your skirt to hit. Add 1/2". Then cut that length from the top strip.

Next take the rest of your sheet. If it is not already folded in half side to side, then fold it in half. Measure how long you want your skirt. Measure from your waist to just below the ankle. Subtract the height of the waistband. Then add an inch at the bottom for the hem.

Cut the length from the folded sheet.

Then cut the sheet in half along the fold.

For the skirt piece, I didn't quite double my waist measurement. I didn't want it that poofy. It probably worked out to be 1 and 1/2 times the measurement of my waist. I actually just kept the original width of the sheet. If that works for you, then set aside one rectangle of your cut in half sheet.

Fold the other piece in half lengthwise. Cut along the fold again. These will be the back two panels.

If the width of the sheet will be too much, made the necessary adjustments to the front and side panels.

When all is said and done you should have a larger front panel, and two smaller and equal sized back panels.

Now it is time to make the pockets.

With the left over sheet material still folded in half, place your hand so that it is in a way that would comfortably fit in a pocket. Trace liberally around it. Cut out. There should be two pieces.

Then reverse the pocket and cut out another one from the sheet. Now you should have two more pieces.

Four pieces in total. Two complete pockets.

Pin each individual pocket piece to the pieces of the skirt. Two pockets for the front panel and 1 each for the back panels.

Measure down from the top 4 1/2" and pin the pocket to the skirt right sides facing.

Sew the pocket piece to the skirt panels.

Once the pockets are all attached to the panels. Pin the two back panels with pocket pieces to the front panel with pocket pieces.

They should match up. Remember when sewing around the pockets to sew around the outside not straight down the side seem.

After you are done attaching all the panels you should have one long piece without the back panels sewn to each other.

Now is the time to attach the waist band.

First sew along the top of the skirt with a basting stitch. Then gather. Gather so that the skirt piece is the same width of the waist band. Also make sure that the panels are gathered evenly, so that the pockets are on the sides of the skirt.

Pin the waist band and skirt pieces right sides together. They will be pinned at the raw edges. Start by pinning the mid point of the waist band to the middle point of the front panel. Again, this will help make sure that the pockets are in the right place.

Sew in place, giving enough of a seam allowance to cover the gathering stitch. Mine was about 5/8".

Now time for the zipper. Whew...

I am new to zippers and still feel lame-o at explaining how to do it. Luckily I have the easiest tutorial that I follow when I sew in a zipper.

HERE is that tutorial.

Maybe you already know how to sew in a zipper like a pro...I am jealous and bow down to your sewing superiority.

I sewed in my invisible zipper and then finished the skirt by sewing the back to panels together with a 5/8" seam allowance.

One lady like skirt done.

Imagine that. All from a inexpensive sheet from The Mart.

I am now obsessed with looking at sheets. I just can't stop myself from perusing the bedding aisle every time I go now. A whole new world has opened up.

I hope you take time to notice the lovely sheets around you now.

Sharing Here:
Craft O Maniac Monday: Craft O Maniac
Making Mondays Marvelous: C.R.A.F.T.
Made By You Mondays: Skip to My Lou
Just Something I Whipped Up: Project Inspire
Take a Look Tuesdays: Sugar Bee Crafts
Craft and Tell: Cherished Bliss

My Anna Skirt

A few weeks ago I saw Anna's (from Noodlehead) tutorial for this skirt over at Crafterhours for their skirt week. Instant L.O.V.E. I knew I was going to make this skirt. I pinned it immediately...heart Pinterest. At the beginning of Spring, I had declared that this Summer was going to be a skirt summer. Alas with all the moving, I had yet to make myself a single skirt I could wear.

That is until now...woohoo.

I had everything I needed to make this skirt, so I whipped it out in an afternoon. 

Since my fabric choice was this lovely patriotic stripe IKEA fabric, I made sure to get it done before our trip to the fireworks. I seriously love wearing this skirt.

I may have worn it three times since making it. I have paired it with white sandals and red-painted toes, yellow ballet flats, or my bare feet while cutely parading through my house...after all that is the only way to parade through one's home.

You really can't go wrong with this skirt. The tutorial is FREE. The tutorial is easy to follow. I love that the skirt has a flat front, yet gathered back so there is no need to put in a zipper...a woohoo. I made it out of a heavier fabric, but it would be lovely and easy breezy out of a light cotton. She even gives you tips if you want to put in pockets. That is my plan for my next skirt...

because, oh yes...

there will be another skirt. 

Thanks Anna.