Turn your regular jeans into skinny jeans.

I don't know about everyone else, but I have 3 girls ages 11, 9 and 9. They have a ton of clothes and we especially love the hand me downs and thrift store shopping and even garage sales (thanks JP and Desiree for this obsession). Not only do we get more for our money, but we also find great brand names and gently used clothes....and man these girls have a crazy full closet. The downside.... old trends aren't necessarily new trends. The flair and bootcut jeans that look like new... just aren't the skinny style the girls want to wear. So after a little research we've decided to try it ourselves and see if we can transform some on a budget. Fair and bootcut to skinny jeans!!! Besides.. that means more $$ to spend on other things like SHOES!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I'm a beginning sewer, time for me 1 hour.

Items Needed:
1 pair of jeans
Stick pins
Straight edge (ruler)
Marker
Thread
Sewing machine (or by hand if you are able)
Heavy Duty Needle if you are sewing thru denim
Scissors

Step 1:
Find a pair of jeans you like, flair, bootcut, etc. Old, new, etc.. the best are 25 cents at garage sales SCORE. The pair today are a pair from last year with a bootcut.

Step 2:
Turn the jeans inside out and put them on.

Step 3:

Pull the outside seam of the jean, Pin down the outside of the legs so that the jeans fit snuggly but not to snug to wear. Carefully (very carefully, my daughter stuck herself) take them off.

Step 4:

Using a straight edge, draw a line down the side with a pen, using the pins as a guideline.

Step 5:
Realign pins, so that a pin is used to hold the bottom seam in place to keep it even.

Step 6:

Start sewing from hem up, remember to back stitch. Sew from the bottom seam up the leg along the line you drew and into existing seam on the inner side. Secure both ends with a back stitch.

Step 7:
Turn Jeans right side out and try on. If jeans are still too wide (which mine were a little this time) Run a new stitch down to make a little skinnier. This allows for adjustments before you cut.
If they are good continue to the next step.

Step 8:
Turn them inside out again.
Cut off the excess material, leaving a 5/8" seam.

Step 9:
Do a zig zag stich from the bottom up covering the raw edge of the fabric.
Cut off excess string.

Step 10: Final fitting- as long as you are happy with the fit, you are done!
My daughter came out smiling so I am assuming I was successful.

~Fin~

My next pairs will be a little tighter.