Here’s The Skinny

I’ve had these magenta cords since college, where I found them on a clearance rack in Fashion Bug for seven bucks:  jan42012 002

They had them in light pink and powder blue too so, since a deal I spotted, all three I bought(ed).  I’ve since given the blue ones to a loving home via Goodwill (a decision I now regret) and haven’t worn the pink ones much in the past few years because I’ve grown a little weary of the fit.  They originally had a six inch fold in the bottom complete with a nice little slit up the back.  Long legs over here took out the fold right after the purchase which still left me with the slit…something I thought actually gave them character whilst walking campus (“oh my, did she really just say that?”). 

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  Well, I came to my fashion senses and decided some time ago that they’re just a little too baggy and much too long for my more mature, post-college self.  So, out came the sewing machine and in went the legs.  Now I know I’ve posted about turning wide legs into skinnies before but this time I thought I’d write up a proper tutorial.

banda

(Before I started, I ripped out the seams along the slit in the back and sewed it right up, perfectly aware that I was taking away the awe-inducing flash of my sexy heels…meeeow.)

So, first I brought out my fave skinny jeans and, working on one leg at a time, laid them over the top of the inside-out pink cords – making sure they lined up along the outside thigh and crotch – and traced a dotted line along the inside edge of the jeans onto the cords.jan42012 007    

Then, making sure the leg I was working on was perfectly flat on the table and folded along the outside seam, I pinned along my dotted line.   jan42012 008

I sewed two stitches, 1) a straight stitch along my dotted line and 2) a zigzag stitch along the outside edge of the straight one to insure a nice strong seam (lazy man’s serge).  I actually sewed the straight stitch into both legs, tried the cords on to make sure they fit the way I wanted, and then went back and sewed the zigzag stitch.jan42012 009Side note:  I once read that when turning boot/wide leg pants into skinnies, you should take in both sides of your pant leg for the pants to fit right in the end but every pair I’ve altered by only stitching up the inside has turned out great.

Last, I cut off the extra fabric with a pinking shears and sewed a half-inch hem into the bottoms.  jan42012 011

With a snip snip of a few threads I had new pants that would even make Barney jealous.  :)

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Who knew that the colored corduroy investment I made almost ten years ago would pay off circa 2012-3?  Might have to rethink those ankle length denim dresses complete with metal buckles found in abundance at the local thrift.  They might be keeping a secret only time will tell.  ;)

10 comments

  1. I've just recently begun dappling in the world of DIY tailoring. The barney pants look fab (and I'm sure that ankle slit was totally h.o.t. :)

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  2. I reallllly need to learn to sew. Glad you could breathe new life into old cords!

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    1. you should learn! it's a little intimidating at first (at least to me it was), but pretty simple once you get past threading the machine, and it's soo worth it! youtube has great tutorials by the way! :)

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  3. I just did a post too about changing boot leg into skinny. Wait but what are we going to do when wide leg is back in?!?!

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    1. awesome! i love your take!
      funny thought about a wide leg comeback! i guess all i can say is i hope multiple seams are in and color block stays in cause we be 'inserting' some fabric!! :)

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  4. I'm in awe, Sheena! They look great!

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  5. too good...amazing. they look like mine that I paid $ for! cheers. you got talent, yo.

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  6. thanks girls! let's just hope i won't go through too much withdrawl this summer! :)

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  7. Hey, those are great! You are amazing!

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  8. To keep correct straight of grain, you should alter equal amounts on both seams.

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