Got an old lace tablecloth? Whip it into an adorable high-waisted skirt

Don’t know what to do with that outdated lace tablecloth? Upcycle it into your new favorite skirt. While a lace tablecloth may look dowdy in the dining room, it’s anything but when transformed into this classic, feminine wardrobe staple. The scalloped edge of the tablecloth makes for a fashionable and fuss-free hemline, while the lace fabric offers timeless style.

One of this skirt's most appealing features is how simple it is to make, even for someone new to sewing. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to gather fabric by hand, because the elastic waistband effortlessly gathers the skirt on its own. The tablecloth's decorative edge doesn't require a hem, and the lining's hem stays hidden, so it’s not a problem if you haven't mastered perfect hemlines yet. There are enough simple techniques and clever tricks that make this a beginner sewing project with professional-level results.

Materials
- Lace tablecloth
- Muslin (yardage is dependent on the skirt length)
- Sewing machine
- Serger (optional)
- White thread
- Elastic, 3/4 inches wide
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Ruler
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Straight pins
- Safety pins, 2

Instructions
1. Cut the lace tablecloth to the desired skirt length. To do this, first measure from your waist to the desired length with a measuring tape. Add about 1 1/4 inches to the measurement to account for the elastic casing. Fold up the tablecloth, and place it on the cutting mat. Choose one of the longest decorative edges of the tablecloth for the bottom of your skirt, so keep that in mind before you fold and cut the fabric. Measure the desired length up from the decorative edge, then place a ruler on top of the fabric, and use it as a straight edge for the rotary cutter.

2. Cut the muslin or lining fabric to the same length as the lace fabric.

3. Trim any decorative edges off the sides of the lace fabric. Cut the remaining lace fabric in half. These pieces will be the front and back of your skirt. Cut the muslin so that you have two pieces of lining fabric that are the same width as the lace fabric. These pieces will be the front and back of your lining.

4. Lay the two lace pieces with the right sides together. Pin the pieces together, then sew the side seams, removing the pins as you sew. Serge or use a zigzag stitch along the seams. You should now have a very wide tube of fabric with a decorative edge, which will be the bottom of the skirt, and a straight, raw edge, which will become the waistband.

5. Repeat step 4 with the lining fabric. Once you have a tube of lining fabric, serge or use a zigzag stitch along the bottom edge.

6. With the tube of lining fabric still inside out, fold over the bottom edge 1/2 inch and pin down. Pin the entire hem, then sew. Iron the hem flat.

7. Flip the lace and lining fabric right side out. Slide the lining fabric inside the lace. Pin together the top edges of the two fabrics and sew together.

8. Turn the skirt inside out. Fold the top over 1 1/4 inches and pin down. Sew the waistband, leaving a small space, so you can feed the elastic through.

9. Take a piece of elastic and wrap it around your waist. Take a deep breath and relax, so that you don’t cut the elastic too short and make the skirt too tight. Cut the elastic to the desired length but with an extra inch to account for overlap.

10. Pin one end of the elastic to the skirt near the opening you made in step 8. Pin the other safety pin to the free end of the elastic. Feed this end of the elastic through the casing. Once it emerges from the other side of the opening, remove both safety pins and straight pin the ends together with about 1 inch of overlap. Sew the edges together by sewing a square where the elastic overlaps. This will give you enough reinforcement so that the elastic won't snap apart.

11. Adjust the elastic so it evenly gathers the skirt. Sew the space on the waistband closed. Your new skirt is ready to wear and enjoy!