https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 09 May 2026 11:15:30 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-141026 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:07:44 +0000 Inge 141026@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just cannot get over the fact that you did this yourself! (and you too Kate!!) Wow, there are some talented people on the YLF forum!-))</p> <p>Thank you for explaining this in such detail for us Kim, I am staying clear of needles and sewing machines, but I'm sure a lot of the handy lasses here will benefit from this excellent tutorial. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-141023 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:05:10 +0000 AJ 141023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kim, I think I'm getting what you're saying. I would turn the leg so that the seam is on the edge instead of the seam facing inward? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-141021 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:57:06 +0000 Queen Mum 141021@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>AJ- that was a hard one for me to try to verbalize- what I meant was that rather than sew in from the seamline with the jeans still laying flat and the back panel "wrapped around" like in this picture...<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4493552449/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....493552449/</a></p> <p>you would lay your jeans flat with the seam at the edge (I don't know how else to say that) and sew in from that seam.<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4494327352/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....494327352/</a><br /> You sew in from each side seam like this.</p> <p>If you take a pair of jeans, turn them inside out and lay them on a table, you might see better what I'm talking about.<br /> Does that help, or confuse you even more? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-141018 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:40:23 +0000 taylor 141018@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kim, I did have one leg on a pair of jeans that the seam slightly twisted...is that what you mean? I couldn't figure out why that happend...you are on to something. Seriously, I am not as skilled as you, so It never occurred to me:) I assumed the seam may have been slightly twisted to begin with, </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140990 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:02:34 +0000 AJ 140990@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow! I am so impressed! Thanks for putting this post together for us! I was able to mentally follow along until you said:</p> <p>Before you sew along the lines you drew, note that you will be readjusting the seams at the side. You will fold along the current seams before you begin sewiing.</p> <p>You lost me there, but if I ever attempt to do this, I will be asking you lots of questions. : ) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140913 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:33:23 +0000 Katiepea 140913@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow - what an amazing tutorial! You now have me eyeing off a pair of bootlegs that have been hiding in my wardrobe for a while and pondering "I wonder......" </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140796 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:30:03 +0000 Mac 140796@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Can't wait to try this - Thanks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140722 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:40:54 +0000 Queen Mum 140722@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>awe, thanks Angie. I love YLF awards ;-)<br /> Taylor and Kate- doesn't only sewing down the outside seam of your jeans pull the grain askew? I took in evenly from both sides to keep the grain of the fabric running straight down my leg. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140679 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 04:27:07 +0000 Angie 140679@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>YOU ROCK!!! </p> <p>You just won the next YLF award, Kim. What an extremely thoughtful, creative and helpful thread. I am in awe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140653 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 03:21:36 +0000 taylor 140653@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a favorite pair of skinnies that I use as a template, and sew down the outside seam only . This seems to work best for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140601 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:24:49 +0000 shana 140601@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooh, Kim, what a great tutorial - I so wish I could sew! Once my life settles down a bit, I am going to learn. I will have to refer back to this - hopefully skinnies are still in fashion!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140578 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 22:50:11 +0000 Theresa 140578@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great Tutorial Kim!</p> <p>If I manage to find another pair to alter (not having much luck at the moment), I'll probably follow your more precise method than my *rougher* method for my first pair LOL </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140548 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:10:55 +0000 Kate 140548@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fascinating!</p> <p>When I made my skinnies, I put the jeans on inside out and pinned along the inseam, like this: <a href="http://juniperjames.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/skinny-jeans-pins-1.jpg?w=196&#038;h=263" rel="nofollow">http://juniperjames.files.word.....#038;h=263</a> </p> <p>Using this method, they better fit the contour of my body, and are just as skinny as I want them to be for the various places on my legs. The downside to this method is that you have to be careful taking the pants off - be sure to place the pins pointing upwards so that they don't stab you when you take the jeans off.</p> <p>Also, you should sew along either the inseam or the outseam, depending on how the jeans were made. </p> <p>Sew along the seam that looks like this: <a href="http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/Boogle_01/DIY%20Projects/Photo116.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://i54.photobucket.com/alb.....oto116.jpg</a></p> <p>Not the seam that looks like this: <a href="http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/Boogle_01/DIY%20Projects/Photo117.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://i54.photobucket.com/alb.....oto117.jpg</a></p> <p>Finally, be sure to try the jeans on before cutting off material and re-hemming the bottom! It's possible to rip out the stitches and start over if you haven't cut the fabric yet! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140541 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:26:30 +0000 taylor 140541@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Haaaa !!! I figured, I only use them on blue/black denim. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140540 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:24:47 +0000 Queen Mum 140540@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>thanks Maya and Taylor.<br /> I should note that I did NOT use a black sharpie on my white jeans. I used a yellow magic marker instead. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140539 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:22:38 +0000 taylor 140539@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a fabulous and detailed tutorial!! You are amazing and talented.</p> <p>I giggled when you mentioned the sharpie...that is what I use too.:) We have similar technique, however I could have never explained it in such a clear and interesting way as you!! VERY nice job, they look beautiful on you!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140534 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:07:35 +0000 Maya 140534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, I am so impressed with your tutorial Kim! What a spectacular effort. I am clueless about sewing so I will not dare attempt this, but I'm sure it will come in handy for others. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/making-skinnies-tutorial#post-140520 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:58:49 +0000 Queen Mum 140520@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>after practicing on an old pair of jeans, I learned some little tricks and then was brave enough to narrow the legs of a brand new pair of jeans. here's how I did it... </p> <p>you will need:<br /> jeans, pins, sharpie, yardstick (or meter stick for the rest of the world :-), scizzors, sewing machine.</p> <p>first- put the jeans on and mark with straight pins the point where you want to start narrowing (most likely right at your knees)<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4493548645/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....493548645/</a></p> <p>next, turn the jeans inside out, lay flat on a table, front side up, and remark those same spots<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4494188398/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....494188398/</a></p> <p>If you can afford to lose an inch in the length, cut the current hem off. if not, you will need to rip out the hem stitching and take down the hem (iron it smooth).<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4493550931/in/photostream/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....otostream/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4494190636/in/photostream/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....otostream/</a></p> <p>Note that when your jeans are laying flat, the seams aren't on the sides, but are in a bit from where you have them folded. this is because the side seams of jeans are sewn slightly forward to create a more slender look. The back width of the jeans leg is a bit wider than the front width. We are going to keep this proportion with out newly narrowed jeans.<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4493552449/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....493552449/</a></p> <p>now, you need to determine the finished width that you want at the hem of your new pants. I measured my current favorite pair and noted that the width at the hem is 5 3/4 inches (note, this is the width with the jeans laying flat, not the circumference)<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4493549687/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....493549687/</a></p> <p>measure the current width of the pair you are altering in the same way. I measured mine at 8 3/4 inches.<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4493550273/in/photostream/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....otostream/</a></p> <p>subtract the width you are wanting from the width you currently have and divide by 2. In my case.... 8 3/4 minus 5 3/4 = 3 inches. Divide that number by 2.... 3 inches divided by 2 is 1 1/2 inches. This final number is how far you are going to measure in from both seams at the hemline. Mark (in my case 1 1/2 inches) in from both side seams.<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4494432714/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....494432714/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4494432990/in/photostream/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....otostream/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4493793041/in/photostream/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....otostream/</a></p> <p>Now, use your yard stick to draw a straight line from the straight pin at the knee, to the mark at the hem. Yur line will begin AT THE SEAM of your knee point.<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4493554347/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....493554347/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4494194532/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....494194532/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4493556111/in/photostream/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....otostream/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4494193852/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....494193852/</a></p> <p>your jeans should now look like this.<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4493556697/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....493556697/</a></p> <p>Before you sew along the lines you drew, note that you will be readjusting the seams at the side. You will fold along the current seams before you begin sewiing. this will allow your finished jeans to maintain the proportion of the front panel being narrower than the back. I hope this makes sense to you.<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4494327352/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....494327352/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4493688661/in/photostream/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....otostream/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43061463@N08/4494328008/in/photostream/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/4.....otostream/</a></p> <p>Now you are ready to sew along the lines you drew. trim the edges (I use pinking shears) and re- hem the bottom of your jeans. </p> <p>Please feel free to ask if you have any questions. I hope my explanation has been clear. Have fun and happy sewing! </p>