Is The Pawn Shop The New Spot For Holiday Shopping?

Is The Pawn Shop The New Spot For Holiday Shopping? « CBS Detroit.

I found this article yesterday while browsing online.  I’m a big fan of shopping at the pawn shop.  A few years ago I found a beautiful ring at a pawn shop in the Midwest for $75– I wear it all the time and people have no idea this piece of jewelry came from a pawn shop.  (my little secret!)
Here is my “pawn shop ring”—

 

20111211-225647.jpg

How to Spend $10 for What You Wear Every Day

How to Spend $10 for What You Wear Every Day

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

The average woman spends $2000 a year on clothes.  Here’s how you can spend less and dress better than the average woman.

Steps

  1. Check on the Internet for the current designs, the colors and the look for the year 2011. This information will help you to know what to buy.
  2. Think thrifty. Most thrift stores have new clothes on their racks. They get new clothes that are donated by well known stores. These donations are tax write offs for the stores and give savvy thrift store buyers the opportunity to BUY NEW for pennies on the dollar. If you know the current styles and colors you will be able to buy a fashionable outfit, including shoes for around $10. Visit the thrift stores regularly as merchandise can change daily.
  3. Color matching of skirts and tops may be a problem. This may be the reason the clothes were given to the thrift store. The styles are current but the colors are hard to match. If you cannot find a top in a matching color you can always use a basic black top.
  4. Prefer the plain to the fancy. If the shirt or blouse is fancy you should match it with a plain skirt or pants. If the skirt or pant is fancy you should pair it with a plain blouse or shirt.
  5. Learn about fabrics so you can buy quality. Examine the garment labels carefully. They will tell you what the garment is made of and how to care for it. You may find a great bargain such as a blouse made of 100% silk or a 100% cashmere sweater.
  6. One of the advantages of shopping at thrift stores is that you are recycling. Not only that, you are helping people who need work. Many stores hire disabled people or others who need employment.
  7. Don’t shop by the size on the tag only. If it looks like it will fit, try it on if possible. If it’s a great bargain, buy it anyway. Many times it can be altered by a seamstress for a low price.
  8. Shop on the sale days at your thrift store. Many stores have senior discount days, tag color sale days, 50% discount sale days or other bargain days which allow you to save even more.

Tips

  • Choose one of the colors in a pattern garment to match. If the top has a pattern, choose one of the colors in it to go with a bottom in that color.
  • The hot styles in 2011 are Bohemia, the vintage and retro look of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, Sophisticated Glamour, wedge shoes, flat shoes and boots. The thrift store is the perfect place to look for retro clothes. Look on the Internet for the colors that are hot for the season.
  • Beauty on the outside attracts the eye. Beauty on the inside is more important. Be kind to others, be trustworthy, be loving and concerned about others needs and their welfare and you will be truly beautiful. The heart of a woman is more important than the clothes on her back.
  • The median income for a family of 4 is $46,326, $67,348 for a dual income family, and a high income family has an income of $118,200. The high income family is only about 17% of the population. That means that spending $5000 per year for clothing is out of reach for much of the population.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual.  All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Stylish Gift Wrap Ideas for the Frugal Santa

Stylish gift wrap doesn’t need to cost a ton of cash. You can easily wrap gifts with everyday items you already have on hand. Not only will you save, but people will appreciate your creativity.


Use the Sunday comics section. Brownie points for having a Peanuts comic strip prominently displayed.
Leftover wallpaper or fabric from your home improvement projects can add a touch of whimsy.  I’ve also used paper grocery bags to wrap gifts– I cut the bags into wrapping paper-like shape and then on the inside (plain side without writing) I painted a pretty design of a wreath or tree and sprinkled glitter.  For the “ribbon” I used a recycled ribbon.  Vintage Christmas cards make for pretty and interesting gift tags.  And this is all stuff you probably already have on hand in a clutter drawer in the kitchen!!


Hat and shoe boxes can be used for sentimental gifts, especially mementos or keepsakes.  Spray paint boxes with bright Christmas colors. This works great for large gifts that already come in their own boxes.
For a more rustic look, use craft or construction paper and dress up the package with twine, strings, sprigs, or pine cones.
You can also dress up plain construction paper with stickers, stencils, and stamps.

Use things related to the gift– such as pages from magazines related to your gift. For example, Vogue for clothing, Rolling Stone for CDs, National Geographic for business traveler’s gifts, Wired for gadgets, etc.  Use old school computer paper (the kind with hole-punched edges) for computer products, and use maps for gifts related to traveling (i.e. those annoying travel size grooming kits).

Use Child Labor– Children’s drawings made in school are wonderful as gift wrap for grandparents .  (Grandma will definitely want to “save” this wrapping paper!)  Another fun option is your children’s hand prints on white construction paper. Acrylic paint is usually the best choice for these kinds of projects.  If you have a baby, little foot prints would also work (I did this myself when my son was a baby– we made a wreath-look wrapping paper with his footprints).

These are just a few fun ideas for low-cost and creative wrapping paper for holiday gifts.  Much more fun than store-bought.

How to Make a Duct Tape Mini Skirt

How to Make a Duct Tape Mini Skirt

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

So you’ve always thought duct tape was cool, and been jealous of those totally unique people with their original fashion sense? Then a duct tape mini skirt might satisfy you on both counts! But even if none of the above applies, it’s still a fun project!

Make a Duct Tape Mini Skirt

Steps

  1. Take a few measurements. Measure your hips and the length you want the skirt to go down from your hips. Now add two inches to both measurements. (Measurements are made bigger because it is easier to cut off than to add on when using duct tape.)
  2. Divide your hip measurement in half, and then cut a strip of duct tape a little longer than that measurement. Lay it flat on the floor (or other large flat surface) stickyside up and cut another one. Lay that one stickyside up so that the long edge overlaps the long edge of the first piece just a little. Add more strips in the same fashion till it is a little bit longer than your skirt length. What you’re essentially doing here is making duct tape fabric that forms the front half of your skirt.
  3. Cut another strip of duct tape the same length. This time, instead of laying it overlapping one of the other strips, lay it stickyside down on top of the top piece of duct tape. It is a good idea to make sure you have a firm hold of the tape so that a part you don’t want to touch your skirt will not accidentally become stuck to it. Put one end of your new piece of tape down and slowly smooth the rest out across the skirt. Don’t worry if your ends don’t meet up on either side. Just continue this until you’ve covered your entire sheet.
  4. Make another one, but this one should be at least several inches wider so it can wrap around the back. The more ample your backside, the wider the fabric should be!
  5. Cut off any extra sticky parts on the sides.
  6. Tape one side of two pieces loosely together and hold it up to your body. Measure where you should cut off the other side and make a mark using a pen or pencil. (Remember, you’ll need room to get in and out!)
  7. Tape both sides together firmly, making sure they won’t come apart. Cut little slits on each side, as it will be hard to maneuver otherwise.

A small side slit

Cut a long gash that allows you to slip out of it easily on one side of the top of the skirt, and add a button to it so it doesn’t fall off while you wear it.

Fold another layer of duct tape around the edges of the skirt so that any rough edges will be smoothed over.

Buttons in pretty colors

Tips

  • Duct tape comes in all types of colors and patterns. Don’t just be limited to a grey skirt! denim colors are best for an original/modern look.
  • This project can be very difficult, so don’t be discouraged if your first attempt is a failure. Duct tape is a hard material to work with. Start with a smaller project, like a bracelet, then graduate to the mini skirt.
  • Tie up loose hair, tidy up your work area, and thoroughly moisturize your hands before beginning; minimize the irritation of the tape’s stickiness by minimizing the availability of things for it to stick to.
  • Remember to take your time!
  • Duct tape can be very irritating to the skin so it is a good idea to wear shorts, tights, leggings or jeans under the skirt. (As tacky as it sounds, a duct tape skirt looks great over light jeans.)

Things You’ll Need

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Duct Tape Mini Skirt. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Recycled Fashion: How to make a necktie headband

“Upcycling” clothing is  a fun way to re-purpose old fabrics into new clothes for children and adults.  Upcycling involves incorporating the materials from old clothes, changing the style and turning it into something different.  Upcycled clothing is usually less expensive than new.

You can find lots of old neckties in the thrift store or your closet. Neckties are a  long strip of fabric that would be perfect for a hairband.


Use your sewing tape measure to measure from the chin, around the ears, and back  to the chin again. Measure and mark the fabric  elastic and cut it. Place the fabric elastic from the top of the head, around  the bottom of the chin and up to the top of the head again. Stretch the fabric  elastic. Determine whether you want to cut off more elastic to make a tighter  fit.

  • Find a tie that is longer than the head measurement that you made with the  tape measure. Cut off at least an inch of the tie on either end. Keep the center  of the tie because that’s the part that’s approximately the same width all the  way down. Measure the tie according to the head measurement on the tape measure.  Leave approximately half an inch of extra fabric on the tie on either end for a  hem.

  • Pin the fabric elastic in the center of the necktie. There will likely be an  inch or half an inch of fabric on the end of the necktie that won’t have fabric  elastic. It will be used for the hem, and the fabric elastic needs  to be shorter than the fabric so that it will pull tight to the head. Choose a  thread that complements the tie fabric. Begin sewing the fabric elastic in the  middle of the tie. Sew all the way to the end of the fabric elastic. Begin in  the middle again and sew all the way to the other end. Do the same thing on both  sides of the fabric elastic until it’s well-anchored to the  necktie.

If you want a smaller hairband, fold in the edges of the necktie until they meet  in the middle and overlap them slightly. Sew the edges together in the middle of  the headband. If you want a wider necktie, you may want to sew a separate piece  of fabric underneath the necktie so that it will disguise the fabric elastic.

Finally, take the necktie fabric that extends beyond the elastic and pin it  together. Sew a seam through the half-inch of fabric so that the necktie makes a  full circle. Fold over the excess fabric and hem it neatly or cut it away. Put  the hairband onto your head and make sure that it fits. If it’s too loose, you  can always hem it again and make it a little tighter

Cheapskate Guide: Tips for Frugal Living- Part 2

I can’t get enough of these tips for a frugal lifestyle.  With the economy the way it is now– being thrifty is more important than ever.  You don’t need to plunge into the icy waters of the frugal lifestyle all at once.  Apply a few of these tips a little at a time and before you know it you’ll be a hardcore “cheapskate”!

 

  • Stop using credit cards. Credit cards are not evil. I realize that they can be used to good purpose. If that’s how you use them, then that’s good, skip this tip. For others, credit cards make buying too easy, and end up making them buy too much.  If you don’t pay your bill in full each month, they will cost you a lot in interest. The average American with at least 1 credit card has more than $9,500 in credit card debt. Don’t be that person.

  • Cancel subscriptions.  Do you really need magazine subscriptions? With all the news online, do you really need a newspaper subscription? If you can get DVDs for free or cheap, do you really need Netflix? (Confession time: I do have magazine subscriptions-but I don’t have Netflix.)
  • Make your own. I won’t go into all the possibilities here, but many times we buy things when we could make them ourselves for much cheaper if we get a little creative.
  • Do it yourself. Instead of hiring someone to do something, try doing it yourself. It’s also educational, if you don’t know how to do it — again, do an online search, read up on it, and give it a go. Frugality freaks are DIYers.
  • Stop paying interest. I mentioned the interest of credit cards, and auto loans, and mortgages. I consider them a waste of money. Consider any other accounts or loans where you pay interest, and see if you can eventually eliminate as much of these as possible.
  • Reduce convenience foods. Frozen foods, microwaveable stuff, junk food … anything that’s packaged and prepared for our convenience is not only more expensive than something you cook yourself but likely less healthy.

  • Travel frugally. Airfare is expensive so look to buy your ticket in advance. Maybe consider train travel. Shop around for car rental rates, as they can vary greatly (or use public transportation). Look for cheaper accommodations, or stay with a friend or relative.
  • Cut your own hair. This one isn’t for everybody and definitely not for me as I am a woman with long hair. However, if you are a guy with short hair or no hair– go for it!
  • Maintain stuff. This is a no-brainer:  if you take care of what you have, it will last. You’ll then spend less on buying new stuff. When you buy something worth maintaining, take a few minutes to read the maintenance manual, and create a maintenance checklist that you can attach to the item. For important things like your car’s oil changes or tune-ups, put them in your calendar.
  • Save energy. There are little things we can do to lower our power bill.
  • Save gas. With the rising price of gas (and no end in sight), fuel has become a major monthly expense for many people.

  • Only buy bargain clothing (when you need clothes). OK, instead of buying new, look for thrift shops with good clothes. Or buy new, but only buy the stuff that’s 50% off and you’ll save a ton.
  • Telecommute. Telecommuting may not give you your dream job, but it’s a step in the right direction. In addition to allowing you to work in your pajamas (and who doesn’t have that dream?), telecommuting saves money on gas, on eating out (if you eat lunch at a restaurant), and on buying expensive work clothes.

  • Plan ahead. If you make it a habit to think ahead to things that are coming up in your life, you can save a lot of money. For example, if you think about where you’re going to get your meals when you go out to do errands, you can pack a lunch or dinner instead of eating out. If you pack a big container of iced water, you don’t need to buy expensive bottled water. If you know that a birthday is coming up, you can buy a gift on sale instead of spending more at the last-minute.
  • Cook ahead. If you have one free day a week (or even a month), cook food in big batches and freeze in dinner-sized portions. I don’t do this all the time, but I have done it and it saves money as well as time. You have to plan it out a bit, coming up with a menu and shopping, cooking enough meals for a week or a month. But once you’re done, your meals each night (and for lunch if you like) are quick and easy. This saves you from eating out or eating convenience food that is expensive.
  • Wash clothes less. Some people wear clothes and then wash them, but I’ve gotten into the habit of wearing my clothes more than once if they’re not really dirty. This saves on washing.
  • Sun-dry clothes. When my parents were young, everyone used a clothesline to dry clothes. If you don’t wash a ton of clothes it’s not hard to take a few minutes to hang them up. You’ll save a lot in electricity and your clothes last longer.
  • Eat less meat. I’m not saying you have to become a vegetarian but once in a while eat meatless dishes. Pasta, vegetarian chili, vegetarian Indian or Thai dishes, falafel with hummus and pitas and tomatoes and lettuce … there are plenty of tasty dishes without meat. And as meat is expensive (well, the fresh kind is …) and you’ll save money on meatless dishes.

  • Save on groceries. Coupon clipping anyone?
  • Frugal Christmas. Christmas is expensive.  People go on crazy shopping gorges.  While this makes the retailers happy, it doesn’t make our bank accounts happy. Break out of the cycle.

 

Stay Classy San Diego: Dumpster Dive with Dignity

Picture this it’s 10:30 at night and I’m outside getting ready to toss the trash into the dumpster.  I hear a slight rustling… could it be a rat? (I hate rats!)  And then, an older gentleman popped up out of the dumpster holding some glass bottles.  Yes, this actually happened to me recently!  While this can be the negative side of dumpster diving there are a lot of every day people who cruise dumpsters looking for treasure.  A few days after my run-in with the guy popping out of the trash, I met a college student who had just arrived in San Diego– she was near the dumpster pulling a nice bookcase away.
Here are a few rules to keep it classy when you’re cruising dumpsters:
Look before you “leap”
Scope out your options before heading out on your first official dive — take a walk, bike ride or drive around your neighborhood. Note which stores and apartment complexes seem like good places to stop.  If you are feeling extra enthusiastic, plot out a map of the stores or neighborhoods you plan to visit.
Keep an open mind
Dumpster diving is different from a trip to the department store.  View your dives as treasure hunts for free stuff and everything you find will seem like a small victory.
The right equipment is essential
Bare minimum, pack a flashlight, rubber gloves and bags to hold your loot. A change of clothes is also a good idea (especially if you are heading somewhere after your dive).
Don’t bring an entourage
Find one or two trusted friends to dive with, and make an agreement beforehand to be discreet, quick and respectful to the places you visit.  No need to trash out the trash can!
Trust your instincts
I’m not a fan of diving for food, but if you choose to go that route, bring a cooler for perishables.
Foods that tend to be particularly safe include bread/bagels/baked goods, packaged products (chips, cookies), boxed juices, canned goods (avoid bulging or dented cans) and fresh fruits and vegetables.
When diving for furniture, avoid mattresses at all costs (the potential bed bugs–not worth it) and take care to inspect upholstered items like chairs and couches for stains or dampness. Consider getting upholstered items professionally cleaned before bringing them into your house.
Don’t dig too deep
Dumpster diving requires a certain mind shift.  Dumpsters can be gross. Decide in advance how far you are willing to go.
Also,  if accessing a particular dumpster requires jumping a fence or somehow “breaking and entering,” just don’t do it.
Personally, I’ve found a few cute things near the dumpster in my apartment complex– everything from a nice patio table to a nightstand.  Last week someone left 2 dressers in “like new” condition down there with a sign that said “free to a good home.” I so would have taken these if I wasn’t downsizing in preparation for a move.  I’ve also discovered the Freecycle community website.  I’m on their email list for the San Diego chapter and have noticed there are some great items out there people are recycling amongst themselves.  Again, I can’t fully participate in this until after I re-settle.
Remember the rules- dive with dignity and keep it classy!

How to Start Living in a Tiny House

How to Start Living in a Tiny House

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Living in a house smaller than some people’s walk-in closets may not be for everyone, but those who are able to do so reap many benefits for themselves and for the world around them. Here are some tips for choosing the best type of small house for you and how to simplify your life so living in a small house is enjoyable and not confining.

Steps

  1. Do your research. There are many types of tiny homes, from as small as 9 square feet up to 837 square feet. Look at the designs, which range from traditional to ultra-modern in design. Some incorporate off-the-grid designs like solar/wind power, rainwater collection, and composting toilets.
  2. Decide what you need from your dwelling and what you want from your dwelling. Most people need a comfortable, dry, quiet place to sleep; a clean place to perform personal hygiene (toilet, shower); a comfortable place to sit or lie down during the day; a place to store, prepare, and eat food for the day. You may want other creature comforts such as long-term refrigerated food storage, a clothes washer and dryer etc. But think of combining these appliances in one machine. Do you really need a dryer or could you dry your clothes outside?
  3. Look at the benefits of “living small:” less space to clean; less pack-ratting of unneeded clothes, broken appliances, etc.; lower energy bills and a greener environmental footprint; fresher food that is purchased, caught, or harvested on a more daily basis; more time available for outdoor activities and entertaining; no need to sell your home when you relocate (if your tiny home is towable).
  4. Realize that small houses cost more per square feet than large houses. Designing for smaller areas is more complex, as items such as built-in furniture have to be custom made to take advantage of all the space. Compact appliances sometimes cost much more than full sized appliances. If you are designing or building your own home on a trailer bed, you need to take plumbing (grey water and black water storage and disposal) into consideration.
  5. Decide if you will build your own home from plans, or if you will buy an already made home new, or if you will buy a used home. There are also “kits” available which come with all or most of the supplies for building the house, along with instructions. The cheapest option for small living is to buy a well-maintained used RV or travel trailer. Craigslist usually will have several listings under $5000. You get the advantage of having something already designed and constructed, but you have the disadvantage of not being able to fully customize your home to your needs and wants.
  6. Pare down your belongings: we spend about 80% of our time wearing 20% of the clothes we own, so by getting rid of most of that wasted 80%, your life becomes immediately simpler: less laundry and less indecision about what to wear that day. Instead of having 3 TVs, 2 computers, a VCR, DVD, Blu-Ray, and 3 different game stations, reduce to one computer–transfer your movies to a hard drive and a flat screen monitor can double as a TV. A laptop with a TV tuner is even more energy efficient.
  7. Be creative about storage and multi-function furniture: a bed platform could have clothing storage drawers underneath. If you make a built-in sofa (without a bed) you can use the space underneath to store lots of things. A table can be made with shelves for storage underneath the table surface. Or you could design a table that folds out of the wall, then folds up and down to become a bed. Use broad, deep shelves (including built-in) and drawers, and wall and ceiling mounted items, to minimize the proportion of wasted space above, below, and around the edges of items (due to packing geometry or falling-off-the-edge risk). Consider metal furniture to reduce the amount of space consumed by the furniture itself.

Tips

  • Don’t try to cram too much stuff into your small home–it will make it appear very cluttered. This goes double for furniture: a full size sofa, a king size bed, a 6-person dinette and a large Club chair or reclining lounger won’t leave a lot of space for you to walk around. An armless sofa, double-size or queen-size bed in a loft, and a folding table with 2 folding chairs that would allow you to seat 4 for dinner (using the sofa as seating) is more reasonable.
  • Build/design for your needs and prioritize your wants and add them one-by-one to the house until it is the perfect balance of desires and space.
  • To “test drive” tiny house living, you can rent an RV for a limited period of time (like six months) and get a feel for what you need – and don’t need – in terms of space.

Warnings

  • There is a substantial investment involved in building or buying a tiny home. Be sure you are physically and mentally prepared.
  • Check local zoning codes for restrictions on minimum room size and RV/manufactured housing on residential lots. Many codes restrict houses to at least one room of 120 square feet and other rooms of a minimum 70 square feet. Some require the house to be built on a minimum percentage of the lot. You may be able to get exceptions granted to you, but be aware that many communities see small houses as something that depresses property values. Other communities see well-built smaller houses as something good for their infrastructure–less strain on the electric, sewer, and fresh water systems–and welcome them.
  • Not everyone will share your enthusiasm for living small. They will think you to be a little crazy to live full-time in something that they would consider living in only for one or two weeks per year at the most. If you are dating or married, be sure you and your partner are in full agreement on the subject of small living. If you are planning to have kids, be sure you know what will happen to your house at that time: will you build another small house and connect them together, or will you build a brand new house?
  • Used RVs and manufactured housing are prone to water leaks, so check for any if you choose to buy something pre-owned. If you design or build your own house, be sure to pay attention for potentially damaging water leaks.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Start Living in a Tiny House. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Small House Society

Pages: Home | About | Designers

via Small House Society.

Make a Denim Skirt from Recycled Jeans

This was too cool not to pass along. I'm going shopping at a few thrift stores tomorrow-- and definitely planning to look for something along the lines of "recycled jeans."

How to Make a Denim Skirt From Recycled Jeans

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Need a new miniskirt? Making a skirt from jeans is incredibly easy to do and gives an aging pair of jeans another chance at being fashionable. Here’s how to recycle a pair of jeans into your new denim skirt.

Steps

  1. Find an old pair of jeans. As long as the top part of the jeans is still in great condition, the condition lower down isn’t of such concern. Jeans with holes in the knees and frayed leg ends are ideal.
  2. Measure a suitable skirt length from the waist down the outside hem. The chosen measurement will serve as your hem boundary; leave about an inch (2.5cm) for the hem. Mark this length with a pencil (or sewing chalk).
  3. Cut off the legs following your marked line.
    • Or, for a more precise result, cut off the legs a few inches lower for now and finish them later. The overall shape will change as you let out previously bunched-up crotch seams. You could measure down evenly on each side and cut straight across on a tubular skirt, or down from the waistband evenly in several places for a more conical skirt so you don’t make the middle too short. (Laying a complex surface flat and measuring “straight across” can distort its ultimately three-dimensional form. Measure, chalk and wear in front of a mirror or friend, then cut.)
  4. Turn the jeans inside out. Using a seam ripper, undo the inside seam. This will open up the leg and crotch areas.
  5. Cut to straighten the curve of the crotch seams. Leave room for the new seam itself. Restitch the crotch seams into straight seams.
    • The amount of inside-the-leg fabric you retain controls the extent to which the skirt flares out. You’ll probably want a longer skirt to flare out for more freedom of movement. Experiment by attaching points along where the seam would go with safety pins before cutting.
  6. Decide whether you want a neatly hemmed edge or a frayed edge. The neat edge requires a little more work as you’ll need to stitch a hem in place, while a frayed edge is still very fashionable and easier to achieve.
    • Let the hemline naturally fray; or
    • Sew the hemline in place neatly.
  7. Decorate the skirt with patches, beads or sequins. This step is optional but can be a lot of fun and can also improve the look of denim that’s looking a bit faded… or jaded.

Tips

  • Buy jeans from a thrift shop for practice.
  • If fabric is prone to fray, place a zig zag stitch along the edge of the fabric, prior to stitching a seam.
  • For an even hemline, measure from the floor with a yardstick. Have a friend measure and mark the hemline with common pins while you are wearing the skirt.

Things You’ll Need

  • Jeans
  • Yardstick
  • Seam ripper
  • Needle
  • Matching thread
  • Sewing machine

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Denim Skirt From Recycled Jeans. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.