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We all have it—that one summer skirt in the closet that we love but probably won't ever fit into again (but oh, how we dream!). While we certainly can't part with it, our lovely skirt doesn't have to be condemned to a life of collecting dust.
There are tons of DIY projects for transforming old clothing—you can make a skirt and shrug from a sweater, a whole new sweater from pieces of a few sweaters, or a sexy cocktail dress from pants.
Cotton skirts are the perfect fit for an apron, and since you can't bear to part with said skirt, you're sure to enjoy the finished product for years to come. Plus, let's admit it: making our fav skirt into something useful is going to be a whole lot better for our psychological health than opening the closet, looking at the skirt that doesn't fit, and closing the closet with a sigh.
For this DIY project you'll need:
A knee-length skirt—A-line or full skirts work best
1-inch wide ribbon, 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 yards
Thread to match the skirt fabric and the ribbon
Sewing machine
Scissors
Straight Pins
Pencil
Ruler
The Bottom
This is the easy part. Start by making two cuts up the back of the skirt about 4 to 5 inches in from each of the side seams. Hem the seams to finish the bottom of the apron. (I told you it was easy.)
The Top
The top is where things get a little more complicated—but it's more tedious than difficult, so don't get discouraged!
Using the fabric you cut out from the back of the skirt, cut out a rectangle large enough to cover your chest and torso plus a one-quarter inch seam allowance on all sides. Cut another identical rectangle. If you don't have enough fabric for two rectangles, you can use any cotton fabric for the backing layer.
On the backside of one piece of fabric (the backing piece if you're using two different fabrics), draw a line one-quarter inch in from each edge. These lines will help you sew straight edges. Place the other piece of fabric face-up on the table, and then place the backing fabric on top with its backside facing up—in other words, you want the good sides of the fabric facing each other.
Pin the two pieces of fabric together along the two long edges and sew along the two lines. (Do not sew the top and bottom edges yet.) Turn the rectangle right side out and iron along the two seams so the fabric will lie flat.
Cut a piece of ribbon for the neck strap. The exact length will vary for each person, but you'll want it to attach at the far left and right of the top edge of the apron. (And make sure it's long enough to fit over your head!)
To attach the neck strap, sandwich one end of the ribbon between the two layers of fabric, making sure the ribbon is as close to the left side seam as possible. Pin the ribbon to the backing layer. Repeat with the opposite end of the piece of ribbon for the right side, and trim the ribbon about a half-inch below the pin.
Turn the fabric inside out. The neck strap should now be between the pieces of fabric. Pin along the hem line, making sure to pin the ribbon in place as well. Sew along your hem line, stitching together the two layers of fabric and the neck strap all at once (we love directions that let us skip a step!). Turn the fabric right side out again and iron along the three hem lines.
Assembly
This is where things finally come together! Pin the raw edge of the apron top to your apron skirt (or bottom), allowing the top to overlap on the front side of the bottom. Don't worry about the unfinished edge—you'll be covering it with ribbon. Sew the top and bottom together.
Cut a two- to three-yard piece of ribbon&madsh;you want enough to wrap around your waist and still have enough length to tie a bow. Fold the ribbon in half to find the center point and pin this to the center point of the top edge of the skirt. Continue to pin the ribbon to the top edge of the skirt, working outward; this will ensure your ties are the same length on both sides. The raw edge of the apron top should be hidden between the skirt and ribbon. Once the ribbon is pinned in place, sew along the top and then the bottom edge of the ribbon.
All that's left to do is test your apron in the kitchen!
Cara Smusiak writes on behalf of NaturallySavvy.com about how to live a more natural, organic and green lifestyle.
More on Upcycling Clothing from Planet Green:
Turn an Old Shirt into a Stylish Shrug
10 Reuses for Neckties
Make Mittens Out of an Old Sweater
How to Make a Hacky Sack Out of an Orphan Sock
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