Happy Labor Day, U.S. readers! I’m taking the day off, so here’s a tutorial that ran last month on Keeping it Simple.
Today I’m going to show you how to take jeans, cut them off, and hem them so they look like they were shorts all along!
Why not just buy shorts, you ask? Well, there are a couple reasons. First of all, I got the jeans for $3 at my local thrift store. Jeans are more readily available than shorts there. Secondly, I suspect a conspiracy, just like the intimate apparel/swimsuit makers have. I have no problem finding jeans I like, but shorts – as I said in my last contributor post here, I have a hard time finding ones that fit and flatter.
So, start with a pair of jeans. For this particular style, I chose a looser fitting trouser style pair of jeans.
The looser fit through the thighs is important to make sure these don’t end up looking like Daisy Dukes.
Try on your pants, and mark where you want the shorts to end. Make a long, straight mark. In my case, these pants already had a wear line (from being on a hanger?) right where I wanted them to end, so I used my ruler and made another line 1 1/2 inches below the fade line.
You’ll probably notice that your straight line you made when standing now looks angled. That’s OK, go with it. Cut one leg on the second line you drew, then fold in half to cut the other leg.
Don’t forget to save those jeans legs to make toddler shorts.
And then, enjoy your new shorts – which no one will suspect were once pants.
rachel
that was so simple and i love them