This Denim Jumper Twirl Skirt tutorial is brought to you in partnership with Deseret Industries.
My kids are going back to school next week, and we have been finishing up the school shopping. When you have four kids to shop for, it can get pretty spendy pretty fast! One great way to save some money on school clothes is to check out your local thrift store.
My go-to thrift store is Deseret Industries. Most of my furniture makeovers have started there. But they also have a great selection of clothes, including designer brands that I would never buy at retail prices. You can find an entire outfit for under $10!
My five year old needed a few more items, so we headed there earlier this week. We found this darling shirt:
And this outfit:
Then I found this cute denim overall dress, and I knew just what I wanted to do with it.
I added some fabric to the bottom, and now it’s an adorable denim jumper twirl skirt. Rachel loves it, and so do I!
Here’s how you can make an adorable back to school dress for your little cutie.
Denim Jumper Twirl Skirt Tutorial
Supplies:
Pair of overalls or overall dress
1/2 -3/4 yard fabric (for a size 4-6 skirt)
Sewing machine/thread
Fabric Scissors
Pins
Iron/ironing board
Sewing machine/thread
Fabric Scissors
Pins
Iron/ironing board
Instructions:
1-Cut the overall dress (or overalls) just at the waist.
2- Cut your fabric strips.
Fabric length: You can make the skirt as long as you want it. I added 15 inches of fabric to the bottom of the denim.
Fabric width: After you sew your strips together, you want the total length to be at least 4 times the width of the bottom of your overalls. The bottom of mine measured 13″, so my fabric needed to be at least 52″ wide.
I used 9 strips 6″ wide and 9 strips 3″ wide. I used a 1/2 inch seam allowance, so it ends up being 9 strips 5″ wide (45) and 9 strips 2″ wide (18) for a total width of 63 inches. You can use strips of any width, the important part is how wide your strip is after they are sewn together.
If you want yours exactly like mine, you need 9 strips 15″x6″, and 9 strips 15″x3″.
If you want yours exactly like mine, you need 9 strips 15″x6″, and 9 strips 15″x3″.
3-Sew your strips together. Place right sides together, and sew up the long side. Continue adding strips till you have one long piece of fabric.
4-Press all of your seams to one side.
5-Gather the top of your strip till it is twice the length of the bottom of the cut overalls. (Mine were 13 inches, so I gathered mine till it was 26″ long.) I love using this method for sewing ruffles!
6-Sew the two short sides of your fabric piece together using a 1/2″ seam allowance. This will be your side seam.
7-Pin the gathered edge of your strip to the bottom edge of the overalls, right sides together. Make sure to distribute the gathers evenly around the edge. Sew the pieces together using a 1/2″ seam. I like to press the seam after I sew it.
8-You’re almost done! All you have left is hemming the skirt. Fold the bottom edge over 1/2″, then press it with a hot iron. Fold it over another 1/2″, then press it again. Sew a long running stitch all the way around, 1/2 inch from the edge.
Now just clip all of your threads, and your cute jumper twirl skirt is finished!
With just a little bit of work, you can turn thrift store clothing into one of a kind boutique clothing at the fraction of the cost!
If your family has clothes and other items they’ve outgrown, consider donating them to Deseret Industries. Donations are tax deductible and also help your community by providing job training for employees. Donated items can find new life with other families. It’s a win/win!
To find a location near you and check out the DI’s donation guidelines, visit deseretindustries.org
The Deseret Industries I shop at most often is located at 1415 North State Street in Provo, Utah. They are actually building a new one 15 minutes closer to my house, and I can’t wait for it to open!!
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your blog is amzing i always look articles
This dress looks so cute! I am so inspired by your creativity and want to make this one for my daughter. Thanks for the tutorial..
Thanks so much Roza! I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment. 🙂
This dress looks so cute! I am so inspired by your creativity and want to make this one for my daughter. Thanks for the tutorial.
Thanks so much Lisa! I miss the days when she would wear the skirts I sewed. Now she just wants to wear leggings all the time. Haha.
You’ve the cutest model. I love her smile and long hair! 🙂 The jumper it’s so much fun with the twirly skirt.
Thanks so much Cristina! I am jealous of her hair — the lucky girl!