Sooooo, I’ve been totally coveting a high-waist pencil skirt with the new below-knee hemline like this one by Ralph Lauren Black Label…

 

 

But you can just bet that I wasn’t in the least bit interested in it’s budget-busting $1000 price tag.  (Yes, it’s retail price really IS $1000!)

So I went on the hunt for a high waisted black skirt at my favorite thrift stores.  My theory was that if I got lucky I’d find a high-waisted pencil skirt and if I didn’t I was hoping to find a high-waisted straight skirt that could be refashioned into a pencil skirt.  I knew it was like looking for a needle in a haystack; most clothing manufacturers prefer to do a natural waist skirt since that’s more “fit friendly” for the average woman.

After weeks of diligence going through every single black skirt on the rack I hit paydirt: a black high waisted straight skirt!

 

 

Here’s why this skirt was a winner:

Solid Construction – the skirt was well constructed with no puckering along the side seams or in the darts that create the high waisted look.

Good Fabric – the fabric was a medium weight woven blend which draped well, had no snags or pulls, and although the label had been cut out, the skirt was easily department-store level quality fabric.

Invisible Zipper – high end skirts, like the Ralph Lauren, all use invisible zippers.  This skirt also had an invisible zipper, creating that high-end designer look. (Soooo relieved, there’s nothing I hate more that putting in a zipper!)

Long Hemline – the skirt was sooooo long that there was plenty of length to create the below knee hemline I was looking for.

No Lining – I knew I wanted to do a quick and easy refashion and that meant I didn’t want to fuss with altering a lining.  (Note: a slip under an unlined skirt is an Absolute Must for giving the impression that you’re actually wearing a lined, high end piece.)

So I happily paid the $6.99 for my new skirt and headed home to begin the transformation.  Once again, here’s what I started with

 

 

I confess I was in a bit of a rush to get the skirt done in time to wear, so no couture techniques were used in the refashioning of this skirt.  I just did the basics and had that skirt done, start to finish in under one hour!  Here’s what I did:

1.  Pin the skirt together at the top, matching the front of the skirt to the back.

 

 

2. Now pin the skirt together at the bottom, smoothing out any wrinkles, matching the front of the skirt to the back.

3.  Run your tape measure down the center of the skirt and mark your desired length.  I knew that I wanted a 26″ skirt so I marked it at 27″ to allow for a 1 inch hem.

 

 

4.  Repeat step #3 approximately 2 inches in from the side seams.

5.  Double check your measurements BEFORE you cut.  Remember, measure twice – cut once. 

6.  Using a straight-edge, draw a line for your cutting line by connecting your marks, and cut off excess fabric.

 

 

7.  Turn the skirt inside out and mark 7  to 9 inches above the hem along the side seam.  I marked at 8 inches; this is where my taper will join the original side seam.

 

 

8.  Now at the hemline measure in 1 to 2 inches and mark that point; I wanted a definate taper so I marked 2 inches.

9.  Measure up the side seam 3.5 to 4 inches (your half-way point) and measure in one-half of the width you used in step #8.  I went up the side seam 4 inchdes and marked 1 inch.

10. You now have your sewing marks to create the taper of your pencil skirt.

11.  Beginning at the side seam point, sew a line connecting your marks down to the hemline. Repeat on the other side.  Trim off any excess fabric.

 

 

12.  Hem skirt by hand or machine according to your preference.  I added an iron on hem tape, top-stitched it (so much faster than pinning) and did a quick machine hem.

 

 

13.  Press your skirt and style it as you please.  I just couldn’t resist styling it like the model in the Ralph Lauren photo above:

 

 

Notice how the skirt is tapered to narrow at the below-knee-length hem.

 

 

Let me know if you do your own straight skirt to pencil skirt refashion.  And don’t forget the most important step:

14.  Put your new skirt on, dance around the room and admire your handiwork!  YOU are a Refashion Genuis!

XOXO,

Valerie

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