Clothes Swap Skirt

Sunday, May 08, 2016


I found a skirt at a clothes swap back in February and although the fit and elastic waist weren't really to my taste, the material was right up my street, and it had pockets!

I brought it home and hatched a plan to alter it in time for my spring capsule wardrobe (better late than never).

I wanted to add a zip and waistband, and make it more fitted around the waist. I needed to mend my paisley dress too, so I borrowed my Mum's sewing machine and set about both projects.

Altering the skirt was trickier than I first anticipated. My sewing skills are a little rusty. I found gathering the skirt really awkward, and the waistband could be much tidier, as could the buttonhole, but I used a nifty tutorial I found via Pinterest (where else?) that helped me sew the neatest zip ever sewn (or rather the neatest zip I've ever sewn).


The skirt was rather unflattering before (above) .....

But now I love it! I finished it, photographed it, and wore it out to dinner. I think I'm going to enjoy styling this in different ways.


I see the skirt as being free because I picked it up at a clothes swap but I spent £6.58 on the waistband material, interfacing, thread and a zip, I used a button from my stash. Which is not a bad price for a skirt and will undoubtedly be worn countless times over the spring and summer.

Do you alter clothes, or do you do what I normally do and let them sit in a mend pile for several months before giving them to charity?

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10 comments

  1. Yes, I am of the latter kind!!!!! The skirt looks brilliant! Well done for saving it and making it Hazelesque!x

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    1. It's very unlike me to actually make an alteration like this! I'm really pleased with how it's turned out.

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  2. Ooh I love that fabric! I'm terrible at gathers too - there's a dress sitting in my sewing pile that I've fallen out with because I tried to later the gathered skirt and it just looks pants, I must go back to it one day...

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    1. I'm sure there's a knack to it, I just need to figure out what it is...

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  3. Your skirt looks great, the kind of thing you could live in.
    I'm constantly mending stuff, I can't bear vintage sellers who sell clothes with "needs repairing" scribbled on the label. xxx

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    1. It's highly likely that I will live in it :)
      Yeah, I don't think I buy something that needed repairing, altering yes, but I've got enough repairing to do that I've generated myself without adding to the pile!

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  4. I love this, it looks so comfortable and floaty - perfect for summer and it looks great on you too. Love the way you were able to breathe new life into it as well with some minimal alterations - I love it when you can find clothes like that. - Tasha

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    1. thank you :) It's so nice to wear - easy, comfy, cool for summer but as it's a midi skirt it'll be OK for cooler days too - win!

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  5. You turned it from frumpy to fab. I love how you've styled it!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. It's a really easy piece to wear and long enough and just thick enough to be good for cooler days too :)

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Thank you for taking the time to comment x

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All products that are featured on Hazel’s World of Joy have been purchased by me unless otherwise stated. Any PR samples, items that have been sent to me for review or similar will be declared as such at the end of the post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.