the new jean skirt (repurposed jeans)

BEFORE                                                             

                                 AFTER
                                                     

cut off the legs of the jeans (make sure you don't cut too much off..leave room for error, just to double check, i also held up one of my daughter's skirts to make sure i wasn't cutting too much off).

cut up the inside seams of the legs and then also cut "open" the...um, crotch (what better word is there?:>) to make it skirt-like.

a) at this point you will most likely want to shorten the skirt and try to even it out with your scissors (oh, is that too obvious?).  i left myself plenty of room when first cutting off the legs, so i needed to cut quite a bit.  i also noticed that if you turn the skirt over and look where the crotch seam stops on the bottom of the back of the skirt, it will serve as a pretty good indicator of where to cut to shorten your skirt.

b) turn the skirt back over to the front side and cut both sides of the seam to create a slit in the front-  this will create the "peek-a-boo" with the other fabric.

pin the fabric into place and then go around the bottom hem of the skirt and pin (this served as a straight guide for me as i sewed a seam to stop the fraying after washing).  then sew around the skirt.  you can finish the edges if you would like, but i left it unfinished so it would fray a bit after washing and give it that vintage look.  oh, one thing i learned after making and washing the first skirt was to put the seam/stitching very close to the edge of the skirt or to at least cut it up pretty close to the seam/stitching.  after washing the first one i realized the places that had fray right next to the seam looked cuter.  i suppose the fray will eventually make it's way all the way up to the seam, but i guess doing it this way cuts out a few washings to get that look.  take it for whatever it's worth.

once you have sewn the edges, wash and enjoy!  i think on the next few skirts i make i might even add some more embellishments, such as flowers or ribbon or something.  this is what it will look like after you sew and before you wash it.  PLEASE, PLEASE don't look too closely at the uneven seams or uneven skirt.  i am not a seamstress, as i just bought my first sewing machine two weeks ago.  i am still getting the hang of using it and learning what a straight line looks like ...hahaha! i am sure those of you who can sew will do a much better job.  check out the pics below of my two year old modeling it.  she even turned around to show you the back...keep in mind that i haven't washed it yet to create the fray at the bottom .  i included the first skirt i made and have already washed so you could get an idea of what the fray will look like.