Due to certain circumstances, women's wardrobes very often contain things that do not fit the figure very well. And there are a great many reasons for this, from banal fluctuations in body weight to purchases on sales during seasonal discounts. Of course, if your favorite skirt has become too small, then the problem takes on the scale of a planetary catastrophe. But if, on the contrary, it turns out to be too big, then it is enough to just sew the skirt up, laying a few machine lines in new places.
We'll tell you how to do this work yourself.
How to sew a skirt at the waist
This option is ideal for any skirt without a belt, only with a facing, where the inner upper cut of the fabric is hidden with the help of an overlay:
- We need to make a “pocket” to thread a narrow elastic band or elastic band into the waistband of the skirt. We start reducing the waist from the front of the skirt. Fold the item in half and find the center on the belt. From the center of the skirt, measure 3 cm in each direction. Using a sewing chalk or marker, mark two small vertical lines on each side. If there is a fastener or zipper on the front of the skirt, then measure a distance of 3 cm in each direction from it.
- We measure 1 cm from the top point of the skirt. In order not to use a tailor's meter and not to draw a line on the skirt, you can focus on the metal plate of the machine located under the sewing foot - there is usually a ruler in millimeters on it. We place the upper edge of the belt under the foot, without starting to sew, lower the foot. The distance from the edge of the skirt should be at 1 cm. Sew a straight horizontal line. It will be: the distance from the top edge of the belt is 1 cm, and the distance from the center in each direction is 3 cm. We get a “semi-ring” that runs parallel to the top and does not meet in the center.
- We turn the thing inside out. Carefully, using a seam ripper, make small holes on both sides at the beginning of new lines. Holes are made only on the back of the fabric, they do not go through. The size of the hole should be slightly larger than the elastic band that we will stretch further.
- We measure the waist. Cut to the required size. We thread a safety pin through one end of the elastic, insert it into the hole in the skirt and pull it out along the entire length of the “pocket.” Pull out the pin from the other side. We do not tie the edges of the elastic, but fasten it to the skirt. We should get it: the elastic goes along the waist, but does not connect in the center.
- Now you need to secure the elastic band. Using a sewing machine, we sew the ends of the elastic to the item from the wrong side - we get two vertical lines along the edges of a long horizontal one.
- Cut off the remaining ends of the elastic.
Softening
Leather hardens after a while due to improper use or poor quality material. On the Internet, you can often come across articles where it is recommended to use coconut oil to soften the skin.
This is wrong advice. Coconut oil can affect the structure of the skin and change its color. In addition, it has a smell that is absorbed into the material and does not disappear for a long time.
The skirt must be lubricated with special products to moisturize real leather and its substitutes. These conditioning creams can be purchased at hardware stores. Before applying the product, the surface of the product must be cleaned of dust.
The conditioner is applied to the skin and left for 10-15 minutes. Then remove the remaining cream with a clean microfiber cloth. To prevent the skin from hardening, this procedure should be repeated every 6 months.
Such products should be used with caution. Some of them can slightly change the color of the skin if applied to areas with scuff marks. The material may become lighter in color at the site of damage.
How to narrow a skirt without ripping out seams
The method of reducing the waist without ripping the top is suitable if the item needs to be narrowed at the waist by no more than 2 cm.
The skirt is tried on and new top seam lines are determined. For those who have a belt, you can sew a seam right along it. If the product has only one seam, located in the center, then we remove all the extra centimeters of fabric into it. If the seams are on the sides, then distribute the excess fabric equally along them.
Draw a new seam line along the skirt. We stitch on a machine. The most important thing in this method is to avoid distortions and creases in the fabric along the line of the new seam. Therefore, it is important that the new seam smoothly transitions into the old one. Excess fabric is carefully cut off, and the cut is processed with an overlock stitch.
Skin restoration and elimination of defects on the skirt
Sometimes the leather may crack and lose color in some areas that have been subject to frequent rubbing. Most often, leather deteriorates where there are pockets and belt loops. Sometimes the edge of the hem and the top of the waistband are worn out.
For minor scuffs and scratches, you can apply shoe polish in the same color as the product itself. This is a temporary solution. The cream will be washed off during the next wash.
The article describes in detail how you can smooth a leather skirt.
Before applying the abrasion masking agent, the skin should be treated with alcohol wipes. The cream must be applied very carefully, in small quantities. You can use cotton swabs. A thick layer of cream can dry out the damaged surface more, so the product needs to be blended well.
Reducing a skirt without stitching
Unnecessary centimeters on the product can be removed without resorting to a sewing machine. In this case, you will need metal fasteners with hooks and a needle and thread. To understand how much to reduce your skirt, you need to try it on and mark the extra centimeters at the waist.
Next, measure this distance, divided in half, from the edge of the belt. Using a needle, sew a hook at the very top of one edge of the skirt, and a metal loop from it on the other. It is important to ensure that both the loop and the hook are at the same level.
Things you shouldn't do to your skin
There are several prohibitions in the rules for caring for leather products:
- Do not store clothes in a bag where air does not circulate. In the closet, the skirt should hang, not lie. It is advisable to cover the product with a cotton cloth, which will protect it from dust.
- It is prohibited to use degreasers to remove dirt. Any substance that is used for the first time should be tested on the back of the lining or seams.
- In damp and rainy weather, wearing a leather skirt is not recommended. High humidity can cause it to stretch.
- During the washing process, do not rub the material, twist or stretch it.
Knowing how to properly wash, iron and store leather clothing will help keep your favorite clothes in good condition. A leather skirt can last from 7 to 10 years if you care for it following all the recommendations.
How to stitch correctly on the sides
It often happens that when you buy a new skirt in a store, especially during sales, at home you begin to understand that it is somewhat large at the waist and “bulges” at the hips. But the product model does not allow inserting or changing darts or cutting the waistband. In this case, we sew the skirt so that it becomes “ideal”.
To begin, take the skirt and evenly distribute the excess fabric along the side seams, pin it together, giving it the desired silhouette.
Then we turn the product inside out and create the necessary contours for it - first we draw a line of pins with tailor’s chalk, drawing out the necessary outlines of the skirt. Draw a new line so that it smoothly completes the old seam. You may know that the length of the new seam will take about 10-20 cm of the skirt, the main thing is a soft, kink-free transition.
We check the symmetry of the lines on both sides and adjust if necessary. Next, use a different thread color to sew along the lines of the new seams. We try on a new skirt and sew the seams on a machine.
At the end, we cut off the excess fabric and process it with an overlock stitch.
Rules for daily care of a leather skirt
What rules should you follow:
- Things hanging next to the skirt on hangers should not squeeze the leather product, otherwise it will become very wrinkled and then the material will be impossible to straighten.
- Hangers with clothespins and clips must not be used. They will leave dents on the skin that cannot be smoothed out.
- When purchasing a leather skirt, you should make sure that it fits the owner in size. Otherwise, the material will sag in some places, or, conversely, become very stretched. In this case, loss of product shape is guaranteed.
- Do not use substances containing chlorine, solvents or gasoline to remove stains.
These are general rules for caring for a leather skirt. However, it should be remembered that real and synthetic leather differ from each other in texture, so care for such clothing must be carried out, taking into account some nuances.
Made from genuine leather
Caring for a real leather skirt should be delicate.
Main rules:
- It is advisable to clean the skin of dirt and stains without contact with water.
- Washing is required only in special cases. Real leather must be washed by hand. Do not use a washing machine.
- It is not recommended to dry the skirt with a hairdryer, or hang it on the sunny side of the balcony.
Improper care can harm the skin. It will harden, crack and lose its attractive appearance.
PU Leather
Leatherette is less “demanding” to care for.
What rules should you follow:
- You can use a washing machine, provided that the temperature conditions are observed. The water should not be hotter than 25 °C.
- Occasionally you can dry it in a centrifuge.
- Stain removal solutions should not be applied directly to the surface of the skin. First, you need to soak a cotton pad or cotton napkin with them, and then try to remove the dirt.
Further in the article you can read the rules about caring for skirts made of artificial leather and natural materials in more detail.
Features of sewing a pencil skirt
This skirt model should fit strictly according to your figure. And it is important to understand that when reducing the waist, it is necessary to reshape the item not only in the upper part, but also on the sides for the entire length of the skirt. To give the item the desired silhouette, we take a few simple steps:
- we rip the top of the product: turning it inside out, carefully rip off the facing (additional fabric that “hides” the upper sections);
- We mark the new contours of the skirt along the sides. It is important that the line smoothly transitions into the old seam. This will help avoid “bubbles” on the sides. Additionally, the line should be long enough to complement the smoothness of the outline. Before marking future seams, you first need to measure your parameters and how many centimeters to remove on the sides;
- the facing detail of the skirt should follow the lines of the top of the skirt;
- Using threads of a different color, different from the skirt, we sweep away the lines of the new seams;
- try on the skirt, look at the smoothness of the seams. At the very beginning, we connect the skirt with the facing and sew it on a sewing machine. Next we make the side seams;
- cut off the excess fabric, process new cuts with an overlock or zigzag stitch.
Master class: how to sew a skirt on the sides and at the waist. Step-by-step instruction.
How to clean?
Some stains can be wiped off the skin with wet wipes. Contaminants that cannot be removed by this method are removed with vinegar, alcohol or soap solution. You can read about dry skin cleaning methods further in the article.
Wet wipes
What wipes are allowed to be used and what can be removed from the surfaces of leather items.
Children's | They erase oil stains, lipstick marks and other decorative cosmetics well. |
Antibacterial | Suitable for removing stains from soapy water. |
Alcohol | They erase grease stains and remove traces of spilled wine. |
Alcohol-free | Helps remove dust. |
Stains must be removed immediately. The longer a foreign substance is in contact with the material, the more strongly it will “eat” into its structure. Grease and oil stains are absorbed into the skin faster than any other contaminants. Therefore, when putting on a leather skirt, you should always take a pack of wet wipes with you.
Ammonia
Ammonia will help remove stubborn stains. In small quantities, it is unable to cause damage to the skin.
How to properly use ammonia to clean a skirt:
- Apply 3-4 drops of ammonia to a cotton pad.
- Lightly rub the contaminated area. You should make careful movements, erasing the stain from its edges, gradually moving towards the center.
- If the dirt is not completely removed the first time, the procedure must be repeated.
- Remove any remaining alcohol from the surface of the skin with wet wipes.
Before using ammonia, you need to open the windows in the room. Protective gloves should be worn on your hands.
Soap solution
Soap solutions should be prepared using soft substances, such as baby soap or shampoo. The main condition when preparing the solution is that it should not contain components containing chlorine and phosphates. For 1 liter of water, 1 tsp is enough. shampoo or 25 g of ground soap.
Ethanol
Ethyl alcohol effectively removes greasy stains. To remove dirt, alcohol should be applied to a cotton pad and gently rubbed onto the area of skin that needs to be cleaned.
This treatment helps to quickly degrease the stained area and remove the stain from its surface. When the dirt is removed, the cleaned area will need to be lubricated with lemon juice, then a thin layer of glycerin should be applied on top. These are preventive measures against cracking of the material.
Vinegar
Vinegar can be used to remove salt stains and remove stains that may form after washing. If the skirt is not rinsed well after washing, then during the drying process whitish spots (stripes in the form of stripes) appear on it.
A cotton napkin soaked in table vinegar will remove these stains. You need to wipe the pockets and side seams of the skirt with vinegar after washing to remove any remaining soap from the threads with which the skirt is sewn.
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We sew in the waist
Most often, adjustments to denim skirts are required in the waist area. At home, such an alteration can be done without problems, provided that the back seam on the product is overlocked and not replaced with a double stitch.
In the second option, you will need not just the hand of a master - you need a professional sewing machine, since not every home machine is capable of taking such a line. Manual repair, especially of denim products, is not carried out.
A seam finished with overlock is easy to adjust and includes the following algorithms:
First you need to remove the belt loop located in the middle of the belt on the back side (this is the part through which the belt is threaded).
Then the belt is trimmed to the left and right of the seam by 8-10 centimeters and cut in the center.
Rip the seam from below and up to the yoke (or to the hip line), freeing this area from the overlock.
The middle seam is adjusted to the desired fit length using a basting stitch.
If the fitting went satisfactorily, you can stitch the seam on a machine.
Having trimmed off the excess, the edges are overlocked together (or processed with a zigzag stitch), folded and the front stitching is restored.
The belt is shortened to the required length (on both sides of the incision) and stitched. Having placed it on the skirt, attach it with a front seam.
Now you can put the belt loop back in place.
That’s all the “passion” on the topic of how to sew a denim skirt at the waist. And if you are wondering what to wear with blue women's trousers, then follow the link and get detailed information.
Useful tips
Beginners are advised to follow the advice of experienced seamstresses. They will help to properly sew the product without spoiling the appearance. For those who doubt whether it is possible to sew a denim skirt at home on their own, the main tips are as follows:
- 90% of success in the suturing process depends on proper taking of measurements.
- It is important not to hem an item without first trying it on. All defects can be corrected at the initial stage, when the seams are just basted.
- All seams should always be ironed well. Only in this case will the product have an ideal appearance. Ironing must be done through gauze or thin fabric, even if the iron has a steam function.
Correctly ironing seams
A competent approach and following all the recommendations of experienced seamstresses will help give your favorite product an updated appearance.
Is it possible to wash Eco-leather in a washing machine?
You can wash an eco-leather product in a washing machine only if the manufacturer allows this process. ... If the manufacturer prohibits machine spinning, carefully remove the product and carefully squeeze it by hand. Hang it on a hanger and straighten the material so that there are no wrinkles.
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