Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Scout's Honor Skirt

I had this pair of brown pants, you see, and like most pants, they were a tad too short for my long legs. I could have sworn I had a before picture of the pants in question. However, it seems to have eluded me now. Let's just pretend they were these pants.

Bad to the Bone Tee & Trouser Shorts - Before

Only a little shorter. And not quite so wide-legged. But other than that, they were exactly the same pants.

Given that I turned the above-pictured pants into shorts, I had to do something else with these. I mean, brown shorts are rather versatile, but I don't want people thinking I only have one pair of shorts and just recycle them everyday. Gross.

So I decided that these not-pictured pants would become a skirt instead. A cute pleated skirt, like a schoolgirl skirt, but not the slutty kind. I began by cutting off the top portion just below the zipper and pockets, being careful not to snip the pocket lining along the way.

Scout's Honor Skirt

Then  I cut open the legs at one side seam...

Scout's Honor Skirt

...then the other side seam...

Scout's Honor Skirt

And finally, I cut each of these four pieces in two and evened up the edges, giving me eight same-sized rectangles.

Scout's Honor Skirt

I sewed these rectangles to one another so they formed a tube, and I pressed my seams.

Scout's Honor Skirt

I hemmed around one edge, which will be the bottom of my skirt eventually.

Scout's Honor Skirt

I used pins to mark where my pleats would be, about 1.5 inches to each side of each seam.

Scout's Honor Skirt

Then I folded from pin to pin and sewed roughly 1/8 of an inch from the fold on the right side of the fabric.

Scout's Honor Skirt

Next I made another fold halfway between each seam and each of my previous folds. And I sewed down those lines on the wrong side of the fabric. I chose to top-stitch my pleats like this since this brown denim-y fabric isn't really going to hold its shape, especially after washing.

Scout's Honor Skirt

So after repeating this process for each of the eight sections, now it's time to reattach the skirt to the waistband. With the waistband inside-out and the skirt right-side-out, I stuck the skirt into the waistband, lined up my eight pleats where I wanted them, and pinned it in place.

Scout's Honor SkirtScout's Honor Skirt

After a quick trip under the needle, I flipped the waistband up and top-stitched along the horizontal seam for a nice, clean, finished look.

Scout's Honor Skirt

And now I'm ready to go sell some Samoas and Tagalongs (but never Thin Mints! Ew!).

Scout's Honor SkirtScout's Honor Skirt

Nah, as long as I leave my merit badge sash at home, I don't think I'll be mistaken for a girl scout anytime soon.

Scout's Honor SkirtScout's Honor Skirt

Speaking of not being a girl scout anymore, I've got another artsy project to show you. This one's been in the back of my mind for at least five or ten years, but I finally took the plunge a couple weeks ago.

Knitting and Sewing Tattoos

Although the design is my own, I can't take credit for the execution obviously. That honor goes to Adrian at Death or Glory in Dallas, Texas. He did an amazing job! And now that they're all healed, I get to show you! Don't you love them!?!

Knitting and Sewing TattoosKnitting and Sewing Tattoos



Scouts Honor Skirt Before & After

17 comments:

  1. What!?!?! First, let's talk about your dislike for thin mints ... Tagalongs are my favorite but thin mints are my second favorite.

    I love love love the skirt. Very cute and I really like what you paired with it in the pictures. The green belt gives the outfit a very nice pop. Love it and I want it in my closet. :)

    I love your new tattoos! Very nice to show off what you love in life. So cool.

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    1. Chocolate and peanut butter is one of the best flavor combinations known to man. Chocolate with nuts, pretzels, caramel, nougat - all excellent choices. I'll even settle for chocolate-covered fruit if I'm really hard up. But putting mint in chocolate is an abomination. Pure evil. You will burn in the fondue pot of Chocolate Hell. Just sayin'.

      Ok, now that that's settled... thanks! I really like mostly-neutrals-with-a-pop-of-color outfits, trying to strike a balance between blending into the background and looking like a circus clown.

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  2. Once again, Carissa, this transformation "shouts out" your talent among the re-purposers!!!!!!!!
    Your thought process, execution and finishing are well about the average crafter out there. This skirt has one of a kind style as does your well designed tats!!

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    1. Thank you, Linda! You're making me blush!

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  3. great job! ..and the tats are pretty awesome!

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  4. Gracias por compartir, me encanto

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    1. Gracias, Fernanda! Me alegra que te guste.

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  5. Hi Carissa!
    OH MY! I am IN LOVE with this refashion! :D
    I am SO going to do this with a pair of trousers I have like this!!!
    Thank you for sharing!
    Kisses from Portugal!!!

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    1. I hope you do! And I hope you post pics!

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  6. P.S.: I just LOVE your tatoos!!!! Great choice!

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    1. Thanks! I'm completely in love with them too!

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  7. Such a fun skirt! It looks store bought!

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    1. Thank you, Heather! It came out exactly like the picture in my head. I love it when that happens!

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  8. Brilliant! I love your shoes, too!

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