As the weather warms up its always nice to add a little bohemian touch to your wardrobe.
So its time to clean out your closet and channel your inner hippie by turning your jeans into a maxi skirt. This DIY tutorial will show you how to easily create a denim maxi skirt from 2 pairs of jeans. The best part of this project is the fact that it took very little time to make, which is great if youre like me and all about instant gratification.
VIEW DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS >
To see step by step instructions and photos click here.
What youll need to make your Denim Maxi Skirt:
- 2 pairs of jeans – 1 that will be your skirt and 1 thats for patch fabric
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
Step 1
Cut the inside seam open on your jeans (pair #1) these will be the main part of your skirt.
Be sure to also cut part way up the back seam (the part that curves) about 2 inches, you will be sewing this flat, it will help to make sure your skirt hangs smooth in the back.
Step 2
Using your 2nd pair of jeans (pair #2, the ones youre cutting up for patches), cut one leg open on both seams. This is the one you will use for the front of your skirt. Cut either the front or the back which ever works best for the size and looks best.
Place this patch piece under your main jeans and pin in place.
Step 3
Cut the other leg of your 2nd pair of jeans but be sure to keep the inside seam in tact. The piece you cut for the back needs to be twice as wide as the piece you use for the front.
Place this piece under you main jeans in the back and pin in place.
Mine came up a little short and I patched it with another piece. You can add more pieces to give it more of a patchwork feeling if you like.
Step 4
Using your sewing machine sew your pieces together.
Step 5
Cut the hems off your jeans and fray them, once you wash them they will look even better.
This Recycled Denim Maxi Skirt DIY is a truly bohemian project and one that doesnt have to be perfect, as in straight lines and perfect color matches.
Go crazy and mix it up! Let your inner hippie free, add patches, paint it, embroider it! Make it your own and let me know what you come up with.
Id love to hear or see what you make!
Great tutorial!
I’ve always wanted to know how to do this…
Thanks Carmen!
xoxo
Cathy
Same here! I did begin to make one many years back. It was looking quite cool too. But, just didn’t get around to finishing it. But THIS,. I Will Definately have a go at, and ‘When’ I finish, I will post my ‘Version’ if possible and If ok with you?.. Thanks So much for sharing this, Much appreciated!! ; ) x
I have a pair of maternity jeans with a hole in the crotch that I just can’t bring myself to discard. I’m definitely repurposing it as a maxi skirt! Thanks!!
That’s such a great idea! I wish I had thought of that when I was pregnant, I’m sure it would have been more comfortable than my jeans. LOL
xoxo
Cathy
I found this and had to try it out. I have had several of my favorite jeans rip but didn’t have the heart to throw away. Glad I came across this and made it. The skirt is comfy and I didn’t have to sacrifice pockets. Which is the main reason I don’t wear skirts in general. Thank you so much.
Hi Eglantina,
You’re so welcome! I’m so glad you found it and it worked out for you.
xoxo,
Cathy
Hi Eglantina,
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you found it and it worked for you!
xoxo,
Cathy
Beautiful!
OMG, we used to do this in the early 70s, but with a small floral for the inset. Brought back some 8th grade sewing memories!
Hi Mary Ann,
Thanks! That’s a great idea to add different fabric insets.
xoxo
Cathy
Such a great tutorial! I love how yours turned out and I have a few old pairs of jeans that I definitely need to do this with.
Thanks Bethany!
It was really fun to make. Let me know how yours turns out.
xoxo
Cathy
I’ve managed to stumble across two of your posts in the same day. I like you ideas. I’m excited to try this one out. I had a skirt similar to this in high school that I’ve not found a replacement for. This may be the answer.
Hi Anna,
I’m so glad you found me (twice!).
I love this skirt, it’s so comfortable too.
If you make one let me know how it turns out, I’d love to hear.
xoxo
Cathy
could also do this with other pants, but probably best with heavy ones, such as corduroy… SO many ways to do the insert, & to decorate!! or for a “mini skirt”, could either use heavy/thick shorts…or cut down the jean pants!
Hi Noreen,
There are soooo many options with this skirt, I even made a mini one for my daughter. You can add different fabrics, lace, ruffles anything you can think of!
xoxo
Cathy
I love how easy you made this but I do have a question. how do you make the front lay flat? when I did my pair the really thick sport at the top of the legs would not lay flat and my sewing machine was unable to sew through this area.
Hi Christine,
Thank you! I would recommend either hand sewing or using a fabric glue. I know that denim gets really thick and hard to sew.
Let me know if that works for you. Depending on how it’s sticking out, you may need to trim the fabric a bit, but see if you can sew it or glue it first.
xoxo
Cathy
Thanks for the tip I am new to sewing and never would have thought of that
Hi Christine,
I hope it helps, let me know if you have any other questions.
xoxo
Cathy
I’ve done this years ago in the ’70’s when I was a teenager, but I could never get the back to look right. Now I know how to do that, thanks! I pinned this months ago. Recently I’ve been to crazy patch embroidery. So I thought putiing that together with your instrictions for this skirt would be a killer outfit to show off my embroidery skills. I have a pair of faded black jeans that are too big for me now, but still fit without falling down. In other words they are comfortable, lol. BUt they don’t look good on me now as they bag in the butt too much. So I’ve pulled those jeans out and am going to start crazy patch embroidering the panels for the front and back. I’m very short, just about 5′ 2 1/2 and long skirts aren’t always very flattering on me. So I cut the jeans off at mid knee level and will have a boho knee length skirt. Thanks for the inspiration! If it’s okay, I’ll post a link to a photo of my finished skirt so you can see what you inspired!
I am so excited to find your tutorial. I have seen skirts like this but i just didnt think i could do it with out the directions. I bought a denim skirt and its just not THIS skirt. So i went thrift shopping and found jeans to make me one I am pretty sure that i will be making more that one, i can imagine this done in courduroy and khaki. I also thought to finish the back in denim and do the front in a shrt ilet lace (white) with ruffles to give it the high/ low flare. Thanks so much for the tutorial, lets get sewing!
Just finished mine and love it. Still have to wash it to fray it out. I also cut off a pair of my husbands jeans into a short skirt, didn’t have to add panels but sewed down the front and back crotch seams just like this tutorial shows.
Looooove it!!! i”ve been wanting to do this for ages too! Thank you!!!
Thanks Diane!
I’m so happy you found this DIY. Let me know how your skirt turns out!
xoxo
Cathy
I love that I stumbled across this tutorial! I am new to sewing and looking for quick fun projects to try out! I will definitely give this one a go! I think I will make it knee length though. I always wear through the inside thighs of jeans, so this will be a great way to recycle those.
Awesome!! Did you sew the pieces together directly on the front or the inside of the skirt? The picture looks like the outside.
Thanks Jennie!
Yes, I sewed the pieces together on the front/outside of the skirt.
xoxo
Cathy
I was looking for a good DIY. Thanks:) so doing this! Good pictures btw:)
I found your tutorial on Saturday and made my skirt on Sunday. It only took 30-45 minutes to make and it was really easy and fun! I love how my skirt turned out…I’ve lost a lot of weight, so I have plenty of jeans to work with for the panels. I suppose this one will be too big before long but I’m excited to make more. Thank you!
I was wondering did u cut the front seam like the back up ?
Hi. I love the skirt and I made it the other week. Thank you. Just wondering though, I’ve obviously gone wrong somewhere, because I cannot walk in it. I have to take little shuffle steps. Is there any way I can fix this without ruining the line of the skirt?
Hi Jacqueline,
You can add extra denim, in long triangular shapes, to the back in the center seam, like a small train (but not one that drags) or a gusset, this will give you room to walk. I actually saw a beautiful one on line where they added a lacy cotton fabric to the back in a bit of a small train.
Because the skirt is so long and denim is heavy, this skirt is a little different to walk in than other fabrics.
I hope this makes sense.:) Please let me know if I can help with any other questions.
xoxo
Cathy
Thank you for this I am a hoarder of material so I am going to get out my old jeans and … Play xx I will share pictures with you as soon as I finish … Ooo Maxi skirt so retro !!
I love this DIY Denim Skirt! My daughter in law ordered one on line. I can’t wait to share this pattern withher!
buena tarde
que precio tiene la falda de jean y que dirección tienen
Made a skirt and it looks cool,so thanks for making it easy to follow.
;)
I made a similar skirt in college ysing a roommate’s old wide leg jeans. I drew & wrote on it with markers. I still have it.
That’s so awesome Abby! I love skirts like this that can be adapted to any time and easily personalized.
xoxo
Cathy
Dans les années seventie’s on en voyait plein des jupes comme celle ci et le “triangle” était fait avec du tissu fleuri…………….Sur la côte d’azur française et surtout à St Tropez…………….
Wonderful tutorial! Thanks for making it all easy to understand and great pictures for anyone to follow. I have my jeans all picked out and now I have to do the cutting and sewing. I love the Boho look. Thanks!
I love this. I was wondering on step3, when you cut the 2 inches on pair 1 what did you do with it. Is that where the triangle piece went? Do you have a picture of the back finished? Thank you.
Hi Sara,
When you cut the 2 inches you can either fold it flat, one side over the other, to see the curved jeans seam on top which will give it more of a patched look, or you can fold it in and sew it (which is what I did). The cut is to get rid of the curve so the back will lay flat.
The image on step 3 shows it pinned and the finished skirt looks the same. Just remember it’s a patched skirt, so have fun with it and do what works and looks best with the jeans you’re using. I hope this helps!
Thanks!
Cathy
Hello,
I made a very similar skirt, following the basic principles of your tutorial today. My difference was that I used 3 pairs of old jeans. The back panel was 2 whole Jean’s legs, sewn together and gathered at the top (bulk removed) to create a fish tail back. It sits nice and flat at the back, which I was a little concerned about, and the front is the same as yours. I just love it. ! Thanks for your help.
Jo
This is a very easy to follow tutorial. Thanks a lot. x x
I would like to have a skirt like this with the short lace train at the bottom for my wedding. Does anyone know how to make this?