posted on June 4, 2012 in
DIY with
11 Comments We celebrated my mom’s birthday and 10-year cancer free party this past Friday. It was a casual bbq but a huge turnout! 75 people gathered at my parent’s home in mesa for dinner, dessert, a few tear-jerking speeches and line dancing!
My dad thought it would be fun if we girls all wore pink. I don’t own hardly any pink, so when my sisters and I went shopping at Last Chance two weekends ago I was on the lookout! The only pink dresses I found were too bridesmaidy. I looked at the skirts, no pink ones there. And then…there they were. This gem of a pair of pants for $4.95.
So I’ve been seeing floral pants all over the blogisphere {here, here, here, & here} and I didn’t really get it at first. I appreciated the quirkiness of it, but I was used to building my outfits around the same neutral pairs of jean or pants and getting creative with rockin’ tops or accessories.
{ Anthropologie, topshop, 7 for all mankind , current/elliot, Citizens of humanity }
But pants being the “punchline” of the outfit seems here to stay…for spring/summer anyways. They do scream trend, and like all trends I knew they wouldn’t be around forever. So I was definitely not willing to shell out the dough for some pants that the top denim brands were cranking out. But lo and behold this huge pair of denim floral pants (that happened to be a great orangy pink) fell into my lap, for $5 no less!
Now, one of my goals these next few months is to refashion clothing Cotton and Curls style. So I was amped to take on the challenge! I’m not a great seamstress, by any means so I watched her video here (and rewatched) and followed her photo tutorial here. They were super helpful. So here is an outline of what I did
Step 1. Cut off elastic waistband (at first I thought about leaving it and just sewing straight up the sides but the elastic caused the pants to bunch too much)
Step 2. Turn the pants inside out, put them on and follow her “pinch and mark” method (I used a silver sharpie to make sure the marks were clear, the fabric was thick enough to allow for this)
Step 3. Pin up the line of marks and try on. I used safety pins, mainly because I thought I would poke myself if I didn’t, straight pins are easier to move around however
Step 4. Adjustments will probably be needed, I originally pinned the ankle too close and had to move the pins to get my foot through
Step 5. Sew along the lines you have made (two outer lines and a U shaped line that goes along the inner part of the pant legs
Step 6. Again, adjustments may be needed, I sewed some parts a little loose and others too tight, I just seam ripped the ones that were too tight out and sewed new lines. I didn’t bother seam ripping the too loose ones, I just sewed on the inside. There was definitely a lot of turning these pants inside out and right-side again
Step 7. The ankles were still a little too tight getting them on over my heel so I made a little slit that was the width of the bottom hem. Luckily the length didn’t need adjusting!
Step 8. Once the legs are good, cut off the extra fabric. I left about a half inch seam.
Step 9. Now to focus on the waist. I left a little room in the waist because I needed to get them on! I sewed the front seam a little tighter and folded the raw front of the pant over to make a seam.
First I sewed the front straight and smooth, then for the back I sewed in part of the elastic waistband that I originally cut off. I followed what C&C did for the back of the pants
here. So I stretched the elastic it as far as it would stretch and cut it to the same width as the pants. I then pinned each end to each side seam along the back of the pants under the fold of fabric that was becoming the back waistband. (the pants are inside out this whole step) I sewed each side seam first, securing the elastic in there then finished sewing the back waistband, make sure that it is streteched super tight as you sew.
Step 10. Iron the seams flat, again C&C will show you how it’s done! At about 5:16 on the video
here.
Step 11. Go over all the raw edges with a zigzap stitch to prevent fraying. I need to do this still, but the party was on friday and it was 10:30 at night on thursday when I did this! Definitely do before the first wash!
And thats it! The top seam looks a little funny so I probably won’t wear any crop tops or tuck in my shirts but I love love how they turned out
I kept it simple with the rest of the outfit. Taupe
boots found at LC, lightweight vest (with tank underneath), and the Tanita Necklace (our japanese family crest or “Mon” as we call it)
The fit is pretty good, the pants don’t have any stretch but I like them. See the slit by the ankle? that was key to getting them on!
I love being tall in these boots, a friend remarked “your hairstyle makes you look taller” I cracked up as I pointed to my shoes, the 5″ heels help too! I really like this top as well, it’s flowy and simple but interesting with the lace detail and the racerback. I was worried about how the back of these pants would look after I used the elastic but with this longer shirt you cant even tell there is elastic!
Well my first refashioned pants are a success! So happy, from a large pair of elderly woman’s capris to floral ankle-cut skinnies!
It was funny how colorful pants seem to be a trend women love and men hate. Nick is definitely not a fan. He said “good job on the fit, I just don’t like patterned pants, they look like curtains” so all the guys called them my curtain pants, whatever I’ll take it! I love the sound of music. Maria was the original re-fashionista!
image via
here. Happy Tuesday!
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This is seriously impressive – they look amazing…well done! :)
Thanks so much! I was happy, despite my hubs :)
OMG, you did a phenomenal job! I’m jealous of this print/look! I adore the girly floral pants against the black tank! Well done girly:)
Thanks Lady! I’m nowhere near as fashionable as you but I’m trying!
They turned out fab! The print is to die for.
Thanks lady! go us for getting the trend for a bargain!
That is SO impressive!! What a transformation!!
good job Kat! Lookin’ fabulous! Meow.
WOW! Color me impressed! I thought the first picture meant you picked them up in a hurry and oops – I was so surprised as I scrolled down and saw the amazing transformation!
Woah!
These are smokin!
A. i can’t imagine any store anywhere selling pants for that much money, but then i don’t shop. at all.
B. you made those things look amazing! inspiring.
maybe someday i’ll take a day off from felting small, woollen animals and make myself some smokin pants. ;)
Yes do it! with your mad skills you would be fantastic!