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The Upcycled Denim Project: Pants to Skirt Workshop with Wilhelmina

$50.00 USD

CLASS DETAILS

Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Instructor: Wilhelmina Thomas
Class Fee: $50
Age: Adults 18+
Experience Level: Beginner to intermediate; basic sewing-machine experience is helpful
Location: Bib & Tucker Sew-Op Shop
7001 Crestwood Blvd., Suite #806
Birmingham, AL 35210

Class Size: Limited to 10 students
Duration: Five hours

See full details

ABOUT THIS CLASS

Give an old pair of jeans a creative new life in The Upcycled Denim Project: Pants to Skirt Workshop.

In this hands-on workshop, instructor Wilhelmina Thomas will guide you through transforming jeans that fit comfortably at the waist and hips into a one-of-a-kind denim skirt. You’ll learn how to carefully deconstruct the jeans, reshape the garment, and add denim or contrasting fabric panels to create your desired silhouette.

Choose a classic A-line or flared design, or experiment with plaid, thrifted shirts, vintage ties, and remnant fabrics to create a more colorful, pieced look. You’ll finish your skirt with topstitching, a traditional hem, or a deliberately distressed raw edge.

WHAT TO BRING

Please bring:

  • A sewing machine
  • Heavy-duty denim sewing-machine needles
  • Heavy-duty or topstitching thread
  • One or two pairs of old or thrifted jeans that fit comfortably at the waist and hips

Optional materials for contrast panels:

  • Scrap fabric
  • Plaid or flannel shirts
  • Vintage neckties
  • Thrifted button-down shirts
  • Fabric remnants or printed fabrics

PROVIDED FOR YOU

The following shared tools will be available during class:

  • Fabric scissors
  • Seam rippers
  • Rotary cutters and cutting mats
  • Pins
  • Tailor’s chalk
  • Measuring tapes

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

During this workshop, you’ll learn and practice:

  • Unpicking and cutting inner-leg, crotch, or side seams
  • Preserving the original waistband and hip construction
  • Using saved denim to create A-line or flared inserts
  • Adding contrasting fabric panels
  • Creating multi-panel, pieced, bohemian, or tiered silhouettes
  • Inserting gussets and shaping the finished skirt
  • Topstitching and traditional hem finishing
  • Creating an intentional raw or distressed edge
  • Combining denim with other textiles through mixed-media piecing

BEFORE CLASS

Participants should have basic sewing-machine experience and be comfortable operating their own machines.

Please make sure your jeans fit comfortably at the waist and hips before class. The legs will be altered, but the original waistband and upper portion of the jeans will remain part of the finished skirt.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Wilhelmina Thomas | Textile Artist and Community Educator

Wilhelmina Thomas is a Birmingham-based living-history interpreter, textile artist, and founder of Masonton, a nonprofit dedicated to community preservation and historical storytelling. With a background in graphic design and extensive experience facilitating community sewing, embroidery, and quilting workshops throughout Jefferson County, she brings a deep passion for sustainable craft and creative reuse to every class. Her hands-on teaching style empowers makers of all skill levels to transform forgotten textiles into meaningful, modern garments.