My mission: To create an upcycled gypsy style skirt. I started with (from upper left, clockwise) a rayon patchwork tiered skirt (one size); a rayon long dress full of little holes (size medium), a tiered purple cotton skirt with interesting embroidery and metal findings detailing (size 4), and a child’s skirt with cotton underskirt and cotton velveteen top layer (size 8). I had overdyed the dress several months ago. Everything was from local thrift stores.

Working from the top down, the first thing I did was remove the rest of the patchwork skirt from the first tier using a seam ripper.

Next I cut the underskirt from the child’s skirt. I folded the side edges down on the diagonal and trimmed them.

I pressed the raw edge under 1/4″ then folded it over again and stitched it down on both sides.

I had already removed the bottom part of the purple tiered skirt from its yoke. I held this section up to the top edge of the skirt, and it hung too low to see the round silvertone sequins that are sewn around the skirt. I measured 2.5″ down from the top edge with my rolling chalk marker and cut on the line.

The rayon dress that I overdyed had two overlaid hanging pieces, front and back, pointed at the ends. I cut one off straight across after marking my cutting line with the rolling chalk marker.

Now all of my skirt components were ready to be assembled.

I laid out the skirt components to see if I liked the arrangement. I did!

I pinned and stitched the side panels to the top of the purple skirt before attaching the top yoke (waistband and first tier of patches). I pinned the skirt to the yoke and stitched a 3/8″ seam on my sewing machine before going around the sewn seam with my serger. Make sure your skirt is going to fit your hips before you stitch.

When I had the skirt laid out, I had the thought that the skirt would look and function even better if it had a pocket pouch. I happened to have the front of this embellished pouch already completed, and I had cut out a back from black brocade. I cut the lining from a silk shirt that I had already used the sleeves on another upcycled top. I made vertical buttonholes 1/2″ down from the top edge of the bag as close as I could to both sides, then measured the distance between the buttonholes. I sewed two red buttons onto the lower edge of the waistband after marking the distance with straight pins. I buttoned the pouch onto the skirt while it was on the dress form, and I liked it. It will be handy, and visually it adds a nice focal point. I’m very pleased with how this skirt turned out. I also have enough fabric left over from the garments I used to make several more upcycled projects, which makes each garment very inexpensive to make, besides giving old clothing a new incarnation.