{Refashioning: Boot Cut to Skinny}

I use Pinterest for everything!  Recipes, gift ideas, décor, fashion, sewing, gardening…everything. 

I recently pinned a tutorial on how to refashion boot cut jeans to skinny jeans:

Source: merricksart.blogspot.com via acharmingnest.com on Pinterest

I’m not a huge skinny jean fan, but I recently made an impulse purchase and bought a pair of boots and needed something to wear with them…I was thinking skirts and tights, and of course skinny jeans.

These are my new Born “Mallory” boots, and I love them…I really do!
I just don’t have anything to wear with them…yet.

So, I tried Merrick’s tutorial on sewing pre-owned bootleg jeans to a new pair of skinny jeans (A Skinny Jean is Born: Tutorial).  Check her out on her blog Merrick’s Art.  This girl can sew…I mean really sew.  She also may be the cutest thing out there in the blogosphere.

What I used:
pre-owned boot cut jeans (Lands End for $16, a clearance purchase a few months back)
invisible ink pen to make marks
pins
navy blue thread
my sewing machine

Following her directions, I put them on, pinned where I wanted the alteration, and I sewed my first leg… 

Before I trimmed the excess denim, I made another pass with my sewing machine and then used a zigzag stich in between the hems.

I used Fray Check at the bottom 4 inches of the pant leg.

Then I just folded the pants in half and used my disappearing marker to mark where the second leg should be.

Hint:  Sew the bottom of the leg first, so you can make sure that the
bottom hems line up exactly. 

I kept them a little long so I could fold a cuff and wear with ballet slippers.

(My right leg is “before” sewing.)

Here they are with my boots. 

Now, I know I’m a far cry from Merrick as a model, but oh well.  Plus, I know my skinny jeans aren’t really “tight and skinny” and I’m okay with that, too.  I usually shy away from anything “tight and skinny” since I don’t want to look like a 2 lb. ham stuffed in a 1 lb. can.  You know?

As far as I’m concerned, the best thing about the whole project: I didn’t have to run out and buy a thing!  To me, that’s the best kind of project!  I love the idea of refashioning.  I’m currently working on a cable knit cashmere sweater, turned into a cardigan with my sewing machine and ribbon.  It’s a work in progress, so we’ll see.

Yes, I did sew the second leg and plan on wearing them tomorrow for Christmas with the In-Laws!

Thank you, Merrick!