I made this top while at home over the Christmas break. The fabric, a sweet white and blue floral, is actually two pillowcases and only cost a couple of pounds.
An elastic skirt can be fun and easy to make. We show you how to transform that old pillowcase into a new skirt to wear to brighten up those cold, autumnal days
What you’ll need:
You will need a pillowcase, a length of elastic, a safety pin, a sewing machine and a pair of scissors
-A pillowcase
-A length of elastic the size of your waist
-A safety pin
-A pair of scissors
-A sewing machine
How to make:
1. Turn pillowcase inside out and cut at the seams
2. You should now have two pieces of fabric. Put these aside for a minute
3. Measure your waist with the elastic. Subtract two inches from this length and cut
4. Return to your fabric. Fold the longest side (width) of one piece over by 1 1/2 inches to make a casing for the elastic. Pin and sew, but leave the edges free as your elastic will go through this. Repeat with the second piece
Pin about an inch away from the edge to create a casing for the elastic
Sewing the casing for my elastic
Sew a casing for your elastic about an inch into your fabric
5. Attach the safety pin to one end of the elastic and thread through the casing of the first piece, bunching the fabric as you go. Repeat this for the second piece and then pin the two together, so that the skirt is inside out
Once you’re done sewing your casing, thread the safety pin through and bunch up the fabric as you go along. This creates the waistband of the skirt
6. Sew the front and back of the skirt together. Take the safety pin out and sew in the edges of the elastic
7. Hem the skirt and you’re done
I’ve mentioned before about how useful charity shops are for sourcing fabric and cheap clothing. Today I went on a fashion binge in one of my local shops. I hadn’t been for ages, so it was a nice treat for my meagre budget and I ended up buying quite a lot for a small amount of money.
Firstly, I bought two vintage floral pillowcases, in different patterns. Together, these were only £1 and I’m planning to make elastic skirts out of them. Once I’ve made one, I’ll put the DIY on the blog.
The pillowcases that I picked up for £1
I also bought a very nice purple stripy top, originally from H&M, a yellow floral Dorothy Perkins skirt that I’ve been wanting for ages and a Peter Pan collared polka dot dress.
This stripy top was originally from H&M
The Dorothy Perkins skirt
The Peter Pan collared dress I bought from a charity shop
Unfortunately, as is often the case when buying things from charity shops, the skirt is too big. But you have to take the bad with the good and I’ll probably just sell it on eBay or use the fabric to make something small.