i very rarely browse through the clearance section anywhere.

i used to love to do it pre-kids.

tj maxx, marshalls, ross – those were my favorite places to shop.

but now, now i can’t stand them!

maybe its the messiness that i can’t deal with when i have little time and 3 little kids.

maybe its the crammed quarters and no guarantee that i’ll find anything.

but awhile back i happened to look in the clearance section at target.

see, they’re smart and mix the clearance racks in with the regular priced items, so they tricked me.

i found this dress for $5!

i knew immediately that i would never wear it as a dress for a couple reasons: 1 – because it would be too short, and 2 – because the smocking at the top was ridiculously tight – probably why it was on clearance.

so i got it anyway and brought it home to chop up.

and then it sat in my drawer of things to revamp.

yes, i have a drawer for that stuff.

finally a few weeks ago i found time to make this dress into a skirt.

i think it took me all of 30 minutes, at the most.

i made it while the kids and i were taking a break from home school.

this is something anyone with a sewing machine could make – truly super easy!

first i held the dress at my waist in the mirror and guesstimated where i wanted to cut it.

i knew i wanted it just above my knees, but needed to allow enough room for the elastic waist.

once i decided on the length, plus a couple inches, i brought it to my cutting mat and chopped off the top.  i made sure i allowed a little extra length just in case it was too short.  you can always shorten something more, but lengthening is not so easy.

next i ironed down the top of the skirt just a bit, maybe a 1/4 inch.  i did this to make the channel that the elastic will go in.  i almost never measure, because its quicker to just eyeball it.

then i eyeballed it again using the elastic i had on hand (~1″  width i think) as a guide.  the next fold needed to allow for the elastic to fit as well as leave room for the stitching.

i ironed it again and double checked the width with the elastic.

next i stitched all around the bottom of the fold that i just made, maybe 1/4 inch up from the bottom.  i left a small opening at a seam to slide the elastic in.  i attached a large safety pin to one end of the elastic and pushed it through the channel until it came out the other end.

then i tried on the skirt and adjusted the elastic until it was comfortable,  pinned it there, then stitched it a few times with my machine.

ta da!  it only took 2 stitches!  crazy right?!  i was afraid the elastic waist would be too bunchy, but it really isn’t bad, and its very comfy.

here it is in action for a what i wore wednesday post.

do you have any old clothes that you could do a simple revamp with?

can you do it in 2 stitches or less?

i dare ya!