Have you tried to make a flowy skirt using knit material? This high waisted circle mini skirt from old t-shirt gives a nice cinch around the narrow part of your body and gives nice flare with a flirty silhouette.
From tassel trim to side ruched, you will enjoy upcycling a t-shirt into mini skirt. Each design showcases an easy beginner level sewing project that everyone can have fun with.
Each t-shirt upcycle tutorial focuses one design element, which is perfect for beginner level. Step up to the zero waste challenge and incorporate upcycled clothing to upgrade your wardrobe collection.
Enjoy the hot weather season with this circle skirt. When you recycle old t-shirt into new clothes, you are able to adjust the length of the design from mini to midi or even maxi based on your personal preference.
You will love this high waisted circle mini skirt from t-shirt because…
- Learn how to transform any t-shirt into a circle skirt without a sewing pattern.
- Takes only 10 minutes to sew.
- Use your body measurements to accomplish a perfectly fitted skirt.
- Practice making perfect overlock and straight stitches.
- Master sewing elastic band around the waist.
For this tutorial, I picked a plain t-shirt that was 100% jersey knit. The initial goals was to make a matching set for the crop top from t-shirts in order to bring new life to old clothes.
High waisted bottoms are perfect for crop length tops because the very subtle bottoms pair well with the exaggerated top silhouette. From drawstrings to ruffle detail, you can’t go wrong with each piece.
You will feel rewarded and look good at the same time. Explore the different upcycled mini skirt ideas for you to add to your DIY fashion wardrobe.
Grab your favorite tee and convert into a high waisted circle mini skirt this week.
How to make high waisted circle mini skirt from t-shirt?
To accomplish a DIY high waisted circle mini skirt, you will need to know your waist measurement. Before starting this tutorial, I recommend using a tape measure to take body measurement for clothing. Grab the right waist measurement and also desired skirt length.
This upcycle project is fairly straight forward, but I do recommend having a basic sewing kit with essential supplies and tools. Grab your supplies, any t-shirt and let’s get started!
DIY High Waisted Circle Mini Skirt Materials:
- T-Shirt
- ¾” Elastic Band
- Sewing Machine
- Fabric Chalk
- Measuring Tape
- Ruler
- Straight Pins
- Scissors
To make a high waisted circle mini skirt from t-shirt, lay the tee flat and draw a straight line from the armhole seam to the hemline.
Then, draw a perpendicular line along the hem of the shirt.
Mark a one quarter circle to make the waistline of the circle skirt.
Next, measure and mark the length of the circle skirt. I choose 16” for the length of this circle mini skirt.
Attach the front of the circle skirt to the back of the circle skirt with the right sides facing together.
Cut a piece of ¾” elastic band to make the exposed waistband.
Pin to secure the elastic band to the waistline, and zigzag stitch to complete the high waisted circle mini skirt from a t-shirt.
DIY High Waisted Circle Mini Skirt Sewing Tips:
If you have never sewn before, this DIY high waisted circle mini skirt tutorial will increase your confidence by starting with knit fabric. Once you understand what to do with old t-shirts, you can create almost any garment with these simple techniques.
Prepare the upcycle project by reviewing the sewing tips listed below to prevent from getting stuck and also to avoid any mistakes:
- Sewing Needle: Make a habit of changing up the sewing needle based on the fabric you are working with. For knit fabric, ballpoint or stretch sewing needles will prevent excessive damage to the surface of the material.
- Thread: Double check the care label to make sure that the knit is not delicate or a specific blend. Then, try to match the content of the knit with the thread content. This will help to maintain similarity with the new clothes after multiple wears and washes. In general, I choose polyester thread when working with rayon jersey knit t-shirts.
- Hemming: There are a couple of different methods to hem knits. You can stabilize the hem with fusible elastic interfacing, spray starch or use a tear-away stabilizer. A walking foot with double needle also give a clean finish to the hemline all the way around the skirt.
- Foot: A very stretchy fabric gets eaten up by the sewing machine, therefore a walking foot is ideal when working with material that stretches easily. A walking foot helps to move the knit fabric so it doesn’t stretch out of shape.
- Waistband: Making a waistband for your circle skirt is super easy. Simply measure the circumference of the waist opening of your garment and make a cover for the elastic band. No need to add extra length because we are going to create a smooth transition seam line instead of gathering the fabric with bunching along the waist.
Don’t be afraid to reach out if you have any questions about the process! Leave a comment below and I will try my best to help you out along the way!
My goal is to share tips that will help you improve your sewing skills so that you can also build a DIY capsule wardrobe that you are proud to wear.
More mini skirt from a t-shirt upcycle projects:
How To Make High Waisted Circle Mini Skirt
Follow the step by step photos, detailed guide and video instructions to learn how to make high waisted circle mini skirt. Use the sewing tips and techniques to inspire you with different mediums such as chiffon or even poly blend fabrications to duplicate the skirt design.
Materials
- T-Shirt
- ¾” Elastic Band
Tools
- Sewing Machine
- Fabric Chalk
- Measuring Tape
- Ruler
- Straight Pins
- Scissors
Instructions
- For this high waisted circle mini skirt from t-shirt tutorial, start by laying the tee flat.
Draw a straight line from the armhole seam to the bottom of the shirt.
Draw a straight line along the hemline of the shirt to make a 90 degree angle.
- To make the waistline of the circle skirt, use a measuring tape to draw a one quarter circle that is a 13” long arch.
- To measure the length of the circle skirt, mark 16” away from the waistline of the circle skirt.
- To make the circle skirt, cut along the lines.
- To attach the front to the back of the circle skirt, lay the pieces on top of each other with the right sides facing together.
Pin to secure and sew along the side seams.
- To make the exposed waistband, cut a piece of ¾” elastic band that is 25” long.
Attach both ends of the elastic band to make a loop.
Pin the elastic band to the waistline and zigzag stitch to finish this high waisted circle mini skirt from a t-shirt.
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