If you’ve followed this blog for a while (thank you, if that’s you!), you will know that I am very much in favour of recycling and upcycling. So this week, I’m sharing a post about making an adult skirt into a toddler pinafore.
This skirt was a charity shop find. It was an A-line skirt with two front zip pockets in a dark brown corduroy fabric. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, I couldn’t try it on. When I did, I found that the shape wasn’t quite right for me, so I decided to make it into something else.
I cut two pieces from the skirt for the back and front of the pinafore, using a very simple shape that I drafted on a piece of newspaper first. The key measurement is across the lower chest of the child. I didn’t put any fastenings on the side; the pinafore just drops over the head. I used the top part of the same newspaper pattern to cut a facing for the top part of the front and of the back, seen here in a photo of the finished pinafore. I used some toning printed cotton fabric for the facings I finished the bottom edge of each facing and placed one facing right sides together with the front and stitched round the top.
I used the same fabric to back the straps which I cut from another section of the skirt. For a short person, the straps can be quite short! I then attached the second facing right sides together with the straps encased in the seam.
I top-stitched round the edge of the pinafore and also stitched on a small triangle at the centre back hem.
At the front I stitched a large press-stud at the point where the straps join the bib.
On the strap, the other press-stud part can be placed exactly to fit the child and it can even be moved for growth.
On the outside of the strap, I sewed a pretty button.
Here is the finished skirt.
Let’s continue to look for ways to recycle, upcycle and re-purpose clothing.
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Talking of small creatures(!) here is the ‘Jaguar and Cub’ fabric design, available here
Amanda Jane Textiles 