Denim Skirt Converted Into Maternity Skirt

About

You Will Need (6 things)

Steps (9 steps, 120 minutes)

1. 1

   Get a skirt in your usual size.

2. 2

   Try on the skirt to see how it sits on your figure. A hipster style could be converted by cutting off and replacing the waistband with an elasticated band. You could cut off part of the zipped fly and sew up the fly, also retaining the pockets. However this skirt was high waisted so needed a different type of alteration. You can see from the photo that I will need to take a section out of the front of the skirt, over the stomach.

3. 3

   Mark roughly on the skirt which area you would like to be elasticated. My alteration will cut off a section of the front including the zipped fly and pockets but the back will be unaffected. It's a shame to lose the pockets, but I couldn't think of a non-fiddly way to retain them.
   Use a French Curve to help you mark neat and symmetrical lines on the skirt to show which section will be removed so the stretch fabric can be inset.

4. 4

   Then mark 1/2" above this line to indicate your cutting line - this allows for a 1/2" seam.

5. 5

   Cut along the cutting line. If your skirt has rivets like mine, you might want to alter your cutting lines to cut these off. I tried removing them using a screwdriver but to no avail, those things are well attached.

6. 6

   Take your stretch fabric and cut 2 rectangles at a size to fit generously in the cut-out area (the width of the skirt). With the stretch fabric held right sides together, hem across the top to sew the layers together.

7. 7

   Pin your rectangular stretch panel into the gap and try on the skirt. Make sure it fits nice and snugly because it is designed to stretch (of course!) and you don't want it to be too loose. I'd also advise basting the panel in and wearing the skirt for a while to see how it sits on you as this will avoid having to unpick/cut the panel later on if it turns out to be a bit loose (ask me how I know...)
   Once happy with the placement of the panel in the skirt, on the inside cut the panel down to 1/2" from the edge of the hole cut in the skirt.

8. 8

   Once happy with the placement of the panel in the skirt, on the inside cut the panel down to 1/2" from the edge of the hole cut in the skirt.

9. 9

   Et Voila! Skirt is complete.