Kick crops: is this a reasonable strategy?

Aziraphale

Quick question. I made a pair of kick crops by hacking a pair of old low-rise straight-leg pants, and I love 'em. I'd like a pair that have a more current, higher rise -- not super high, but mid-rise is actually pretty high on me. I can't be bothered to try to find petite ones in a wash I like (it'll be a pain), so I bought an inexpensive pair of Gap straight leg jeans that fit well at the waist, with the plan of hacking them myself. Is this I good idea or a dumb one?

If you have an opinion or advice, please let me know, because I'm itching to get out the scissors! The only thing that's stopping me is that it feels wrong to mutilate a brand-new pair of jeans.

9 years ago

Shopping

5 replies

Latest reply was from Aziraphale

Colette

Veteran

I think it's a good idea. (I think Angie mentioned doing exactly that as well.)

9 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I see nothing wrong with your strategy. If it were me, I would wash & dry them first to take care of any shrinkage, and pin them up at various lengths, and then be very, very cautious before taking scissors to them. Measure twice, cut once. I just got back my old baby boots from hemming to kick crop length, and I am quite happy. Due to bow legs, scoliosis, etc. I always pin myself because it is an uneven cut around and between legs. Taking up *X* amount never works on my body.

9 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

I cut off some thrifted jeans, but in hindsight, yeah, I'd cut them a little longer, and then see how it feels walking around before cutting higher up - in other words, I'd do it again in stages with a time gap.

Also wash and tumble dry (if you plan to in the future). By wetting my jeans (which had previously been washed and dried), stretching them, and hanging to dry I was able to get about a 1/2 inch of length back from the scissors .

The other thing I've noticed is that flared crops sometimes appear tighter just at the knee and through the thigh than a full-length bootcut or straight leg might be for example, so I'd check that before cutting too.

9 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thanks, Colette and Donna. Thanks for reminding me to wash ahead of time; I had forgotten. I will cut carefully. Usually the way I do it is I chop off less than I think I should, then try them on, and work my way up. I end up cutting a few times. Once I'm happy, I put them in the wash and let the hems fray. (For me the whole point of kick crops is frayed hems!)

9 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Rabbit, thanks for the tips. I've done this twice already, with success both times (although one pair was my old wide-leg surfer jeans that are now culottes) and I did cut a bunch of times.

I chose straight leg pants and not bootcuts because I don't want much of a "kick" -- I like it straighter.

9 years ago

Category