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refashion: “new” skinny jeans

You know what’s weird about skinny jeans? They never look too short. There are long and ankle length. When they really get short, they become capris. You just can’t go wrong. This is good when your daughter is growing like a weed, but only up and not out.

Temps are getting cooler, so we went through her stash of jeans this weekend. The 10s were a wee bit too short, but fit fine in the waist. The 12s were also a wee bit short, and were way too big in the waist. I decided to do the only logical thing: turn the 10s into skinny jeans.

Ironically, she has a really nice, brand new pair that she hates. They have a decorative seam down the top center that “feels weird.” They look so great on that I refuse to let them go. I’m convinced she’ll come to love them. In the meantime, they became the perfect pattern for refashioning four other pairs.

It’s really amazing to see a pair of pants transformed from something that looks like they’re ready for a flood to something cute and trendy. She was particularly happy that I gave new life to her sparkly Jordaches. (I got my first pair of Jordache jeans when I was just a little bit older than she is now. I LOVED them.)

So today was a good day. I watched football, had a Starbucks, and sewed up a storm. Hello, Fall. We’re ready for you!

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fixing the other christmas jammies

christmas jammies

Last year I bought my daughter size medium pajamas from Target. Within a year they were above her ankles. I knew size large would be too big because I measured them in the store. (Yes, that weirdo with the tape measure in the clothing department is me.) However, I don’t have time to make all of her pajamas by hand, so I bought them and hoped for the best.

First problem: the waist kept falling down. I had to run some elastic around to keep them up. Second problem: she was tripping over them. I wound up hemming THREE INCHES. How can the difference between medium and large be that great? They are polyester, so I know last year’s didn’t shrink.

I’m thinking making them by hand might have been easier after all.

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details: christmas jammies

christmas jammies

I wish I had more to tell you about these jammies, but I didn’t even follow a tutorial. I used last year’s pajama bottoms as my pattern and just added about an inch to the seam allowance. The only thing I really paid attention to was adding extra length for the rise and the inseam.

christmas jammies

There are quite a few inches in the hem, and I’m hoping that I can let them down next year and she’ll get another season out of them. I may have to re-hem, though, because she tripped over them while dancing in the kitchen.

christmas jammies

The top is just a plain white shirt from Target. She picked the fabric and art directed the tree. I used heat-n-bond to hold it in place while I edge-stitched it down.

I’ve made pj bottoms before and had lots of links to tutorials in my old google rss. When I transferred everything over to feedly, I lost everything. Years worth of linking gone in a flash! If you are looking for specific instructions, here’s what I can remember: Don’t Get Out of Bed Tutorial, How to Make Easy Kids Pants, and Vintage Pillowcase Pants. The last two are more for little kids, and I used the Vintage Pillowcase Pants five years ago. (Five years ago?!?!)

christmas jammies

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last minute christmas jammies

christmas jammies

We are at a frustrating time where clothes that fit her in the body are way too short and those that are long enough are too big everywhere else. I have a longer story to tell about a fancy red dress and elf pajamas with only boys on them, but the shorter version is last night she asked me if I would make her some Christmas jammies today.

I really winged it. I had to let my perfectionism go. Also, my serger is awesome. Whipped the pants up between lunch and Christmas Eve mass. Appliquéd the tree on the shirt while she was in the shower. I’ll post better pics and links to helpful tutorials soon.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate!

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some non-thanksgiving stuffing

puppy

You’ve seen him before. Puppy was the star of my “how to fix a stuffed animal’s nose in 4 easy steps” tutorial a few years ago. He was getting a little thin around the neck and shoulder area, and my daughter asked if I could add some extra stuffing.

It wasn’t hard. Once I pulled apart the well-loved fur and found a seam I could open, that is. I suggested adding some reinforcement fabric to the inside, too, because he’s taken up bungee jumping off the stairs and I worry about the thin spots. My daughter said no thanks.

However, she did request another nose. I think that makes number four.

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how to: my third (and final?) waistband tutorial

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It’s that time of year again. Spring. When leggings from last Fall are too short, but it’s not warm enough to pair them with sandals and call them capris.

My daughter is a size 7/8 waist and a 9/10 inseam. It’s so annoying.

To the casual observer, it might seem I’m obsessed with waistbands. I’ve already written two tutorials on the subject: taking in the waist on jeans and adding adjustable elastic. But what about comfy pants and leggings? That, my friends, is super easy.

Materials
elastic
small, sharp pair of scissors
pin, needle and thread

Step 1
If you can find a seam, grab a seam ripper to open up the waist. So far I haven’t been able to do this. A lot of times the elastic is actually sewn to the fabric. Find an inconspicuous spot and snip a hole.

Step 2
Measure your/your child’s waist size and cut an elastic the same length. Thread it through the casing right along with the original elastic.

Step 3
Overlap the ends about an inch and stitch together—by machine if you’re too lazy to sew by hand, by hand if you’re too lazy to get out your machine.

Now would be a good time to try on and make sure all is good.

Step 4
Stitch up the little hole you made in Step 1. I used to just add a few drops of Fray Check on the raw ends, but my daughter says it’s too itchy.

I’ll be assembly lining a bunch of these tonight. Happy Spring!

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once a refashioner…

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After you’ve been taking apart clothing for a few years, you start to deconstruct items before you even buy them. I found this cute dress for my daughter’s First Communion, but it was sleeveless and she’d have to wear a shrug, which covered up the cute flower on the front. I immediately looked at the stitches and tried to figure out how easy it would be to remove. Then I thought, I could buy a simple veil and stitch it on to match the dress. It turned out pretty perfect. I love when that happens.

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wardrobe refashion: shorts

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I can never seem to find shorts that I like. I’m too old for short shorts and too young for culottes. The perfect length for me is cutoff style, especially when I cut them myself.

I found two pairs of pants at the thrift store for my little experiment. I put them on, marked the length I wanted and cut.

Ok, I did a bit more than that.

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I stitched around the bottom of the leg about 1/4 inch to make them look more finished. I had planned to let them fringe on their own, but after the first wash the strings were driving me crazy. I followed the Purl Bee’s instructions for fringing, but only for about halfway up to the stitch line.

I’m loving my new shorts, and giving the jeans in my closet a closer look. Maybe I should make another trip to the thrift store.

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is there problem fray check can’t solve?

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A friend of mine asked me to hem a pair of jeans for her. Last time I did this, I didn’t have to take them up too much, and I just tacked the extra material to the inside seam.

This pair needed to be taken up more than that, and there was quite a bit of denim leftover, making a giant cuff on the inside of the leg. My plan was to cut it off and serge the ends to keep it from fraying. When it came to the side seams, my serger had other plans. “No thank you,” it politely said as the denim refused to let go of the needle.

So I fell back on my tried and true method for raw edges: fray check. It feels a little stiff now, but I bet after one washing it will soften up.

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another baptism prayer pillow

Remember the first prayer pillow I made? Well, the recipient’s sister was baptized last weekend, so I thought she should have one of her very own. Everything came from my stash. My daughter approved the colors and fabric.

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I had some more expensive transfer paper on hand and found I didn’t like the way it worked as much as the original paper I used. I do like how it looks all distressed, but I can’t see that look working for all kinds of projects.

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