Making Bell-Bottom Jeans

 Hello Reader. I thought I would make a simple monochromatic outfit from this purple shirt and pants. I got side-tracked and ended up with these little bell-bottoms instead. 

Before and after.

These jeans are not great on me. The length isn't right. 

I think this was the biggest problem. The waist was too big. It added bulk where I do not need bulk added. (I had 3 kids. I have plenty of tummy bulge without these jeans adding to it.) 

I marked where I needed my new side seam to be. I made the jeans smooth and flat and I sewed a new seam in the right spot. 

I cut off the extra fabric. You can see my new seam here. 

I wanted to close up the edge so it would not fray. That would weaken my jeans over time. I used my serger but you could also use a zigzag stitch on the edge to prevent that fraying. 

I cut some length off the jeans. They were too long on me. (#shortlegs) I thought I would use some of this cut off fabric to make the jeans into more of a boot leg shape.

I used a seam ripper to open the jeans on the outside seams. 

This is where I got distracted. I remembered I had some fabric in a similar shade of purple. I could put some of this polka dot fabric in the openings I had made. 

I switched my plan and decided to add this fabric in the openings. Why not have some fun with these jeans. 

 

I made my fabric triangles very sharp and neat with my rotary cutter. This will make it easier to sew in the jeans neatly. I used this triangle as a pattern for the second. They need to be identical.

I sewed the purple triangles to the small inner strip of fabric at the seam. 

I ironed these panels and they looked very sharp and crisp. And they were so much fun. 

I thought I should add a tan layer because the little dots were tan. But I had several tan vests? Why so many? I don't know. 

I chose this long one. It is actually a dress that my daughter refashioned into a vest. What do you think? Was this the right piece to layer on top? Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update***- I still like these so much.

A Tea Shirt

 Hello Readers. I love to sew and refashion but you don't always have to sew to refashion your clothes. No-sew refashions can be a lot of fun and easy to do. Let me show you a couple recent refashions like this.

Before and after.

I am still in my happy yellow phase this month and this shirt was a fabulous find for me. I am a tea drinker and I love a good pun. This shirt had everything I could want in a tea/T shirt. It was a little boxy so I decided to do some quick work on it.

I usually find the round high neck on t-shirts to be uncomfortable. I like to cut the neckband off. The knit fabric will not fray so you can cut the neckline however you like most, round or V shape. Removing the neckband opens up the neckline, elongates the neck which is more flattering on me. It also feels more comfortable to me when I am wearing it. 

My next step was to cut off the end of the sleeves. I cut mine at an angle so I would get a little cap sleeve look.

I pulled on the cut edge so that the fabric would roll up in a curl. I like this look and I thought it would look cute on the short sleeves. I wanted them to be as loose and fluttery as possible.

I cut off the bottom of the shirt. I also pulled and stretched the cut edge to make it roll. Then I cut a slit in the center of the shirt. I liked the curled up edge. 

I tied the 2 corners into a knot in the front. The knot looks cute and it pulls the sides of the shirt in and gives shirt more shape. With no sewing! It's so fast and easy.

*** PART 2 ***

These black jeans fit perfectly and were very comfortable. But they were too long. I am really short so that was not surprising. I wanted to make them shorter. I could have just cut the jeans straight around each leg but I wanted to do something different.

I cut the jeans shorter and made it fun too.

I washed and dried the jeans and I got some great fraying. I cut off the really long strings so they wouldn't tickle my feet. (No tickling allowed ever! I hate it.) You can cut off as much of the jeans as you want. Have fun with it. 

The shirt was easy to wear and felt light and open. I tucked it in for this picture. The jeans were now the right length and I liked how the back of the leg is longer than the front. I really liked the fit of these jeans. They are Gloria Vanderbilt from Kohl's. They make my mom gut seem to disappear. (Not an ad. I just like them.)

I like the knot detail on the front out as well. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

*Year End Note From Chickie- I love this and will forever. A "tea" shirt! Come on now, that's funny.