Making a small skirt fit my waist!
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- I love this thrifted skirt but it was WAY TOO SMALL for me! In this video, I’ll show you how to take a long, flared skirt and turn it into a comfortable, elastic waist skirt that you can wear and love!
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My serger - an old Kenmore
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#diyfashion #upcycling #thrifting
Music: A Caring Friend by Bad Snacks from the UA-cam Audio Library
EMAIL: contactcatherinesews@gmail.com
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~Catherine
You not only made the waist bigger, you made it much more comfortable. You look very professional in your beautiful make overs. Wonderful.
I have 3 skirts that I have salvaged from my own wardrobe in a similar way--2 of them wool, and probably at least 25 yrs old! However, I make a casing to feed the elastic though, because every time I've sewn in the elastic, it's way too big when finished (the elastic stretches), and then there's no easy fix. Also upon weight loss, it's easier to open a casing a tad and take in the elastic.
I enjoy your channel. Recently you somehow inspired me to shorten a funnel neckline to keep the back out of my hair! Thank you!
PS--I'm from PA, but visited BC in the mid 1960s--beautiful place!!
This turned out so nice. I would have passed on a skirt like this because it never would have occurred to me to just shorten it 🤯 Thank you so much ♥️
I agree, cutting off the skirt at the top is brilliant, and the skirt will look good with riding boots in the fall!
Cutting the skirt off at the top is brilliant!
I started watching your channel several days ago and have been bin watching to catch up. Needless to say they are as enjoyable as they are educational. I'm 71 yrs old and "back in the day" when I first learned to sew my teacher would rip out mistakes we made while sewing so sewing would stay enjoyable for us as we learned. I always really like her for that because it struck me as something way beyond what she needed to do. I liked all my sewing teachers but she was the one I always remember. Then when I watched your video on your classroom and saw the inbox of projects you seam ripped for your students I was reminded of her and thought her kindness lives on. Your students are lucky to have you.
The skirt looks amazing! I as well would have passed on a skirt that was a little too tight and too long but now I won't!
Brilliant! Wish I hadn’t cleaned my wardrobe out of skirts that were too small…. Simply a genius fix!!!
We make and tailor a lot of skirts around here (5 daughters), so it was very helpful to see you do that waistband. My elastic waistbands looked awful on the inside. Plus, it never dawned on me to *go down the a-line to get a bigger waist*! So, so, so helpful and inspiring you are!
OMG!!! I have an elastic waist pleated skirt in my closet right now! It is way too long going all the way down to the floor and that's why I haven't worn it. Your timing is perfect as was your tutorial❤
That’s so great to hear! I hope it works out well!
I've been doing this for years. I'm only 5' tall, which was part of the reason I began sewing when I was 13 or so. Once I started thrifting, it was easier to redo the waist than it was to hem many of the skirts. And I can thrift skirts that would normally be too small. I'm really enjoying all of your videos!
Finally, being short comes in handy!
You have so many clever ideas for refashioning!! I love sewing new things but you’ve inspired me a lot to remake clothing and now I have been refashioning clothes for myself from my own closet, my husband’s, and even my late mom’s. I feel her hugging me as I wear a summer top made from her muumuu 🥰
-Addie
Addie, I love this so much! It’s wonderful that refashioning your mum’s clothes help you to feel her presence. That gives me a “hug” as well!!
The pace of your videos is perfect and you explain everything beautifully. Oh- and your voice is so darn cute! Thank you for being so good at this.
Perfectly said!!
Genius! I definitely have donated skirts before that I hated parting with and could have easily made fit again with that method! And the outfit looks great on you :)
I love how you didn't bother cutting off the bottom and used the skirts size to fit you.
I would have done it the hard way and probably not got it finished. I Love this idea!
Great job. Loved the detail and simplicity.
Wow... I thought about doing this to my favourite skirt 5 years ago, but chickened out.
You make me brave Catherine!
Of course it's awesome..!!! I found a black background dress with bright color abstract print, top way too big, cut it off, made elastic waist (used fold over soft elastic) and skirt fits better and I love it.😊😊😊😊😊😂❤
Love all your alteration videos!
This was really useful to see for working with waistbands! Speaking of waistbands, I have some skirts and pants I love but they have like a smocked elastic stitched waistband and the elastic thread has lost it's elasticity... if you ever do a video on how good ideas to rehab smocked waists that have lost their stretch (whether how to do re-smocking or something more creative) I'd love to see your ideas for that too! I just found your channel the other night, love it, makes me wish I had kept up with my sewing more from my one year foray into fashion school in my 20's, but I'm trying to get back into it!
Perfect timing, I have one small skirt to modified like this one. Thank you!
I've taken the opportunity to add inseam pockets to a skirt while doing this type of alteration - since pockets are a necessity for me.
I wish I had chosen to use an elastic waistband like this. It would have been far simpler than removing the waist band, enlarging it with fabric from the top part I was cutting off, and re-attaching it, and the zipper, which also went into the lining. (So much basting!)
But, it was educational. And I did get it done!
Love that skirt - you look great!
It's brilliant Catherine! Love it
You explain so nicely!
I have pleated skirts that won’t fit anymore!! And this is a great help! 😊 thank you
Very clever and you made it look so easy. You can see the potential in thrifted items - a real gift.
Love it! Your explanations are amazing and easy to follow!
Another winner! Love the tip for using the heel of the hand to position & guide the fabric -thanks!
Oh my God that is fabulous. I would never have thought of doing that to a pleated skirt. absolutely amazing!! You are my hero, a total genius.
So appreciate you sharing your knowledge! I have learnt so much from watching your videos! I would never have thought of shortening it from the top to fit. Great info. Thankyou.
Hello beautiful, I was on my scrolling mode when I saw your comment and was moved to send a text to you hope you don't find it pestering..?
So awesome! Love your videos. Never too complicated to do myself. Genius ideas! Keep them coming!
Im so happy you talking about fall ... it means spring is coming to us 🎉 .... from South Africa 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Nice results. I have done this same thing to several skirts and I love it. I usually do it to chiffon or pleated skirts for the same reason I use a different method of attaching the elastic but the end result is similar.
I love shortening a skirt from the waist. I’ve done that with a few skirts and have another one in my sewing basket right now.
Only just seen this video, omg I have a skirt that is dying to have this alteration done, thank you so much, once again you've taught me something new, I am getting a lot of use out of some of my "has beens" thank you so much
Thank you! I have a skirt to try this on and your tutorial has given me the confidence to fix it!
Wonderful!! This is such perfect timing fir me to see this because i have 4 pre-COVID weight-gain skirts that I want to wear but can't anymore because this weight wont budge! Like your gray skirt, they all have extra length and lots of flare at the bottom (like I have!), so they will be easy to ammend. I'll buy some elastic and get started TODAY.💪🤓🤩
Thanks for your great videos - I love your sense of humor & funny comments!
What a great video! Thanks for helping me see new solutions.
Great video Catherine! Such a useful idea and much more comfortable :)
Thank you so much for this video, I have a skirt that I love but is too tight on the waist and now I know what to do.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I have a pleated skirt that does not fit, I now know how to fix it, awesome!
Omg i have a similar skirt i really love i was going to give away, but after this tutorial I'm stoked that i might be able to save it!!
What a great idea! It looks super!!
That was a good one Catherine!
This video is insanely helpful! You filmed everything so clear and explained so well!
Oh, I have the exact same problem - a pleated skirt of elastic velvet - very pretty but way too narrow at waist. I've been trying to widen it by removing and lengthening the waist band but it's been an awful lot of work to get the pleats fitted back to the new lengthened waist so I think I'll abandon that idea and try the elastic method instead! Thank you for posting 🙏!
I have been looking for a video about this exact adjustment for so long!! Thank you for creating it!!
This is such a helpful tutorial, thank you so much from Belgium :)
Youre a genius! I would have never thought of soung that! Rhanks for the video!
Very nice. I really like this upcycle. I wouldn't have bought the skirt know that there was no way I would want to try that hem! Not to mention the waist!
Thank you I really needed this
SUCH a great alteration!!! Thank you!
Such a classy and timeless outfit! Reminds me of Rachel Weisz in The Mummy. The skirt turns out beautiful! Great job🙌
So clever. I learn so many great tips from you!
GREAT JOB!👍🏾❤️ I needed a video to help me do a similar alteration. Thank you so much.😍
i am very grateful for this video. Thank you very much 😊
So cute! Love your sewing.
Thankyou for explaining and showing the details..xx
That was an awesome fix. I subscribed so I can see other good ideas.
This is such a great tutorial - thank you!
Very good Catherine. Thanks.
You are brilliant! What a great idea!
Great job. Now I will try your technique! Thank you
I love your videos. You are so inspiring. I've tried many of your ideas and while it takes me way longer to do than it probably took you, I have been pretty successful. Thank you.
Another winner!
And Vavooom! You are amazing!
You are an absolute delight to watch. Thank you. Great video.
Great solution! I have a skirt that I want to do this to! Thanks for sharing! 🤗💗
Wonderfully done tutorial.😍
Wow. I have the same skirt and this will solve my problems-too tight at waist and too long
Looks great
Great tutorial!
Love the outfit , very Ralph Loren!
Fabulous thank you for this x
So helpful!🎉
Yes that works wonders, easy to do. But you do loose a bit of length, depends on what shoes ed you will be wearing it. For me, I prefer my skirts as long as possible (goth eh) so this would be an awkward length and would be needing a long lace kind of thing under it... But if the skirt also needs a bit of shortening, it is win win.
I absolutely love your videos
Hello beautiful 👋🌹, how are you doing?
Thank you💐
Well done I've learned something today thnx😊
You have scraps to make belt loops if you choose. You are such a clever woman!🎉
Hello beautiful 👋🌹, how are you doing?
Great work
Love it! Love it!
Thank you
This is so helpful.
Awesome tip! Thank you!
Never thought of shortening the skirt from the top. 😮
Another fab video as always! Catherine, why is it easier to loosen than tighten the elastic if you get it slightly wrong?
Good question, Katie! If it’s too loose, you have to seam rip the whole elastic out, but if it’s too tight, you can sew multiple lines of stitching over it as I did. The stitching holds the elastic in a slightly stretched out position.
Good question, Katie! If it’s too loose, you have to seam rip the whole elastic out, but if it’s too tight, you can sew multiple lines of stitching over it as I did. The stitching holds the elastic in a slightly stretched out position.
@@CatherineSews that makes so much sense! Thank you
Great upcycle.
Great video!! Thanks!!
Brilliant!
Do you have a video about working with knit skirts? I have a thrifted a-line maxi skirt that I'd be happy to have shorter. It's a pull-on and currently too small in the waist and belly. If I "lower" the waistline about 10" it will give me the breathing space I need. Knits, which curl up, intimidate me! This skirt has a medium-weight knit, so maybe it won't be too bad. Do you have a video with suggestions on how to make a new waistband? (Because it's a-line, if I turn down the new "top edge," it will be a bit narrower than the skirt part. Hope that makes sense.) Love your videos!
Hi Julie, great question. Do you have a serger? If you cut your skirt an inch and a half above the new top edge (wherever you decide that should be) then, before you stretch it out at all, serge or zigzag the new edge. Once you stretch it, it will definitely roll as you fear it will. It'll still have enough stretch that you can then just turn down a new elastic casing even though it is an A-line. I think you'll be fine!
Brilliant!!
VERY nice!
I have a skirt where I’m going to try this, but I have a question. I have a long denim skirt that I would also like to try this but it has pockets. What can be done in that case? Love your videos. They are so helpful. Thank you.
Oh darn it. Pockets definitely complicate things! You'll have to decide if you want to scrap the pockets and use this method, or remove them and resew them after you cut some off the top of the skirt.
Clever as usual.
Genius 🎉🎉
Love it ❤
Well, that's inspiring! I'll have to look at thrift skirts for possibilities. [Edited to correct Autocorrect]
Hello beautiful 👋🌹, how are you doing?