DIY #3: Pepping Up a Plain Skirt, Vol. I

Our suggestions: Shorten to knee-length, sew on hand-made appliques, pickstitch along the hem in a contrast color, add contrast functional buttons at the waistband.
Inspiration: Old-fashioned crafting, our blue bird tags, etsy.com, the 1960s
Tools: Long plain skirt, thread or thin yarn in a fun color, scraps of fabric in bright colors or patterns, 2 interesting/colorful buttons (make sure they are the right size to fit through the buttonhole), hand-sewing needle, scissors, stick pins, pencil/pen & thick paper (for the stencil for the appliques).
Difficulty Rating: 4 (Challenging)
Wear with...solid sweater/tee and boots or flats

I wasn't able to take a "before" picture
because I did this project awhile ago,
but here's the "after" picture.

1. Try the skirt on and determine where you want it to hit (somewhere around the knee), and cut accordingly - allowing extra room for hemming.
2. Hem by hand. Turn it under twice and "pickstitch" with thread in contrast color. See the picture below. Just tie a knot in the hem on the "wrong side" and poke the needle through on each side about every 1/8." The "right side" and the "wrong side" should look identical. This is a very easy way to clean finish a hem, and it's an easy way to add interest to a garment. 3. Choose the shape for your appliques: birds, anchors, balloons, etc. Make a quick stencil, using some thick paper. Choose your fabric (or use scraps or old garments), and cut in desired shape using the stencil. Arrange the appliques in desired placement on the skirt and secure with pins. Attach to fabric with pickstitch in contrast thread.

4. If there are boring buttons on the skirt (on the waistband or down the front), replace them with interesting buttons (in a similar size of course). See DIY#1 for button tutorial, if needed.This project can work on almost any skirt or dress.

Feel free to tweak. For example, you could pin the stencil in place
on the skirt and embroider the outline of your designs
using the pickstitch, rather than using appliques.