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I made a DIY denim mini skirt from an old sewing pattern. And I ended up hacking the waistband and adding elastic to the back for a nice, comfy fit.
And this one took a bit of trial and error to get it just right. Oh yeah, and don’t let me forget there’s a zipper in the back too!
Simplicity S2758 Skirt Pattern
I dug through my stash and found Simplicity S2758 sewing pattern. It has a blouse and skirt with the option to add front patch pockets.
This pattern is out of print and was part of the Threads Magazine collection. By the way, I had a subscription back in the day.
There are variations to sew a circle skirt and an A-line one. For my project, I used variation E without the inverted pleat down the middle.
Materials
Here are the fabric and notions I used for this project. It wasn’t too costly, so I’m happy about that.Â
Fabric: I got stretch denim from the fashion district near me. It was some cheap stuff and slightly off-grain.
I only planned to use it for a mockup—to do some experimenting.
It was a little stiff, but washing it softened it up. Fabric choices can really alter your results.
I’ve also made this A-line skirt in maroon baby cord and twill. Both came out nice.
The suggested fabrics for this pattern are denim, poplin, wool, crepe, sandwashed silk, linen, satin, lightweight double knits, and suede cloth.
Notions: The 7-inch denim zipper also came from the fashion district. I really like it, and should have grabbed more!
I used an extra-large hook and eye closure with the zipper. This zipper doesn’t have a good lock and cannot be trusted to hold up by itself.
For the waistband, I used 1-1/14 inch (1.25-inch) woven non-roll elastic and medium-weight fusible interfacing.
Sewing the Denim Mini Skirt
Although this skirt was easy to sew, the finishing touches took time. I spent a lot of time thinking about how to make it work.
Since I’ve made this pattern a few times, I already knew the sewing directions. My favorite creation was made a long time ago in baby cord.
And I mean, a long, long time ago. I made a mini skirt with an inverted pleat, and it hung low on my waist.
I don’t wear my skirts that low anymore. But I used it as my mockup and knew how much ease the pattern would give me.
Since I’ve sized up since then, I knew I’d cut a larger size for my denim skirt. I also considered the elastane in the fabric.
So, I cut the basic A-line shape for starters. Again, I planned to experiment with this process.
After constructing the skirt, it looked very plain and was not something I’d want to wear. So, I spruced it up!
I deconstructed the waistband, decreased the width, ripped out the interfacing in the back, and secured the elastic.
Finally, I added a hook-and-eye closure, carriers around the waist, and topstitched with gold thread.
But this skirt felt so incomplete without pockets! I wished I had made side pockets.
So, I ripped off the back pockets from some old jeans in my closet. Then I topstitched them on my skirt.
The colors don’t quite match, but it’s close enough.
Lastly, I took my skirt through a couple of washes with vinegar to soften it up more. I also used baking soda and a washing booster to help fade the color.
Notes
As you can see, my final version looks so different from the initial one. Don’t be afraid to play around with sewing patterns. It’s all a part of the creative process.
Maybe I should plan to finish my mockups in case they turn out wearable. Most times, they come out pretty decent!
In the end, my skirt came out A-Okay. What I like the most is this new, upgraded, comfy waistband!
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