Effortless Everyday Style: Denim Junkie DIY

For those of you that know me, you know that I am always, cutting or bleaching, or ripping, or slashing holes into a pair of old jeans. Or cutting the sleeves or neck off a t-shirt or old sweatshirt.
Once the weather warms up, you will always find me in either a pair of cut-off Levi's or my favorite old tattered Levi's skirt that I made years ago. I have a few of these favorite skirts and as the years go on I keep patching and sewing the holes and tears in them, which to me makes them better and better, but there does come a point where I do have to scream Uncle, and toss my beloved well worn skirt, and think about replacing it, and make a new one.
Now you don't need to make this skirt from a pair of Levi's you can use any pair of jeans you have in your closet, for me the more worn the better.
I like to use Levi's, I usually cruise Ebay looking for a great "well loved" pair, TJ Maxx and Marshalls is a another great source as well, remember you are cutting them so no need to pay retail. Depending on your size, the kids department is a great source for Levi's, no not like a 4T, but in the Boy's department, 14, 16, check out the men's department too, especially the clearance racks. You do not want to use a skinny jean for this, a boyfriend style or something with a fuller leg works best.
I am currently turning a pair of old jeans into a skirt for a friend, here is a little tutorial...
Before I go any further, I am not a seamstress, I do these things on a whim and they by far do not come out perfect or straight, but straight-ish, and slightly askew....

My Favorite skirt...

1. Start by cutting your jeans, always cut way longer than you want the skirt to be, you will re-cut to desired length later, save a piece of the scrap denim

2. Using a "seam ripper" ( i have to admit I have used a cuticle scissor for this step but i don't recommend it) start opening the seam, open the seam all the way up the leg until just under the zipper, and up the back seam as well

3. Ok, so now you are going to overlap the seam, and pin it into place see below.

**With these jeans the legs were on the straight side, you see how the front is shorter than the back...

Make sure you save a scrap of the jean when you cut the legs to use here, and create a panel, which you will pin into place. If the leg of the jean was fuller you would have more coverage

**You can either keep the seam exposed (see pic on right) as I did or fold it back (pic on left) and sew it down

4) Time to sew, I do have a sewing machine, which I am horrible at, but this is simple enough to hand sew, or if you want to take the easy way our bring it to your seamstress and have her do it!