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I liked the print of this skirt but it was too long for my taste. So I shortened it!
I know i could have just cut off the extra bottom part and then hemmed it, but the skirt was flared (I guess?). I wanted to keep the look of the bunchiness(?) so I just used the bottom part.

Now what to do with the top part???...

Posted by Roo from U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, United States • Published 15th March 2010 • See Roo 's 3 projects »

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Roo entered her project Shortened Zebra Skirt With Elastic Waist to Princess Superstar 30 Jun 02:07

Step 1
Put the skirt on and decide where you want the skirt to start and end. Do this inside out so you can pin along where you want the top edge to be.

I had put on some thin cotton shorts underneath so I could kinda feel through the skirt where I wanted the waist to be.
Step 2
Now you need to measure for your elastic. Put the elastic around your waist like you're measuring it with measuring tape (don't stretch it) and make note of where the ends meet.

You might want to leave about half an inch or so extra, depending on how you plan to sew the elastic ends together.

Cut off about 3 inches shorter than your waist measurement. You can make this an inch more or less depending on how tight or loose you want the skirt to fit.
Step 3
Before you cut the skirt, leave some extra fabric at the top to wrap the elastic in. It should be enough to cover it about 3 times.

Cut evenly along this line making sure it is all even as you go.
Step 4
Your skirt will be much too wide for you now, but this is what will create the ruffle(?) effect.
Step 5
Next you will use the sewing machine. If you don't have one, I suppose you can just fold over the top edge and sew straight across, making a hole/tube/gap big enough to fit the elastic through. If you'll be doing this, be sure to keep it even and don't finish sewing it shut completely until you have pulled/pushed the elastic band through and sewn THAT together first.
Step 6
First, overlap the elastic ends about an inch and sew straight over the width of the band (the NON-stretchy way/direction). Sew on both ends of the bands; it will end up looking like a square. I also did one in the middle.
Step 7
Now you need to sew the elastic onto the top edge of the skirt. Do this with the skirt inside out! Pin the halfway points of the elastic and skirt together. Now stretch the elastic and pin the together the halfway point. Keep pinning the halfway points until you have them about 4 to 6 inches apart.

Sew with a straight stitch along the top edge while keeping the elastic stretched until it allows the fabric to completely line up with it and not be all floppy underneath it. (?? o_O) Make sure to back stitch.
Step 8
Now, with the skirt still inside out, flip the top down twice (I only did it once because I wanted to keep as much length as I could and I don't care what the inside looks like). Sew straight across along the bottom edge this time keeping the elastic stretched so that fabric isn't bunched up. Be sure to back stitch.
Step 9
Make sure to leave extra fabric length on the back portion btw for your derriere... Otherwise the skirt will be shorter on the back side under your butt, lol.