Upcyle Lace Curtains Into A Sweet Tiered Skirt!!

By Barbara Warholic

The next time you think about tossing out old lace valances or you see them in a thrift shop, STOP and think how these lacey valances could be given a new life. With the help of Rit dye and a little creativity.  Barbara turned them into a perky new skirt! The camisole was headed for Goodwill and just needed a new color. Check how I styled them up into the perfect outfit for a super night out on the town!

Before:

When looking for lace to dye, keep an eye out for cotton and nylon fabrics which dye up beautifully.  However, some lace curtains are made of polyester and, unfortunately, won't dye with Rit.

The finished length of this skirt is 22”. One lace panel is layered over the other so the overall length can be adjusted as desired. The curtain rod casing becomes the casing for the elastic. A separate underskirt is attached to the casing to prevent see-through. The skirt is sewn before dyeing.

SUPPLIES:

• Rit Liquid Dye: Fuchsia & Black

• 2 White Nylon or Cotton Lace Valance panels, 16” length x 48” wide

• ¾ yd. White Cotton Broadcloth, 48” – 52” wide for underskirt

• White Cotton Camisole

• 1 yd. Elastic, ¾” wide

• Coordinating Thread

• Small dishpan for dyeing

• Measuring Cup & Measuring Spoons

• Spoon for stirring dye

• Rubber Gloves

• Plastic Table Cover

• Sewing Supplies: Tape measure, scissors, bodkin or safety pin

• Sewing Machine

PREPARING THE UNDERSKIRT:

1. Measure the width of the lace valance panel. (This one was 48” wide.) Make sure it is wide enough to go around your hips with a few inches extra for ease. Cut a rectangle, 18” x 48” from the cotton broadcloth. If your fabric is not that wide, cut a 6 – 8” wide panel x 18” in length and stitch it to the wider panel so that the underskirt measures the same width as the valance.

2. Machine stitch a ¼” double hem along one long edge of the underskirt. Finish the other long edge with a zigzag stitch to prevent it from fraying.

SEWING THE SKIRT:

1. Lay out the underskirt. Then place lace valance panels over the underskirt. The underskirt should end ¼” beyond casing on top lace valance. Overlap and adjust lace panels to achieve the desired look and length. Then remove the top lace valance. Pin the under lace valance to the under skirt. Stitch close to top edge of valance, beginning and ending stitching ½” from each side. (Underskirt will extend above bottom valance.)

2. Then lay top valance over underskirt and bottom valance so that the top of the underskirt ends ¼” above top stitching line of casing; pin. Machine stitch layers together along top stitching line of casing. Begin and end stitching ½” from each side.

3. Measure down 1” from top stitching line of casing and stitch across the casing to make it narrower. (Casing should be ¼” wider than elastic.)

4. Stitch sides of underskirt and under lace valance together with a ½” seam. Trim seam allowances to ¼” and zigzag to finish. Then stitch sides of top lace valance together with a ½” seam, above and below casing. Leave casing area open.

5. Measure your waist and cut elastic 1” less than your waist measurement. Using a bodkin or safety pin, thread elastic through the casing. Cut and overlap ends of elastic; machine stitch together. Hand stitch casing closed.

DYEING SKIRT & CAMISOLE:

1. Cover work surface with plastic table cover.

2. Wet camisole and lace skirt in warm water. Set aside.

3. Pour 6 cups very hot water (at least 140º F) into plastic container or dishpan. Wearing rubber gloves, shake dye bottles and measure 6 Tablespoons Fuchsia and 2 Tablespoons Black. Add to water and stir well.

Note: If water is not hot enough, heat water in a tea kettle or in the microwave.

4. Immerse skirt and camisole in dye bath. Make sure both items get totally saturated. Stir continuously for 10 – 20 minutes. The longer items remain in dye bath, the darker they will be.

5. Remove items from dye bath. Rinse in cold water until water runs clear. Wash in warm water with mild detergent, rinse and hang to dry.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT !!