topic Re: Altering jeans in Fashion

Altering jeans

feline groovy — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 23:45:22 GMT

I have a (very) bootcut pair of jeans that I love, but wish to turn into slim ones.

You know, just narrowing the legs from the knee on down.

Since I currently can't afford a pro, is there a strong, non-sewing way (besides a stapler or duct tape, ha-ha) to do this?

TIA, everyone.

Re: Altering jeans

SuziQ2 — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 23:47:36 GMT

I don't think so. Go to a fabric store and see if they have the name(s) of ladies in your area that will alter them for you. They are usually less than a dry cleaners. To have it

done nice is worth the small price you will pay.

Re: Altering jeans

Nataliesgramma — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 23:53:03 GMT

No...there isn't......If you have welts (like most jeans do) on the outside of the pants....they really need to be done by a seamstress to look right.

If you just don't like them...but don't want to just throw them away.....you could just make 'cut-offs' with them for the summer......

Re: Altering jeans

ECBG — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 00:19:55 GMT

Sorry, I taught tailoring and you will have to go to a professional. The jeans will essentially have to be remade.

Re: Altering jeans

elated — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 00:42:57 GMT

I always have my jeans tailored by a professional seamstress. My jeans always look nice. She charges me $12.00 to hem my jeans. She has them done in a couple of days.I can't sew and would not attempt to do it myself. OMG that would be a disaster!!!

Re: Altering jeans

handygal2 — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 01:18:15 GMT

I think that type of alteration would be quite costly. I have experience in sewing. The double (flat-felled) seams, that most jeans have on the outside of each leg, would be time-consuming to cut open from above the knee, and re-sew.

l would cut down those jeans, and convert them to this type of shorts:

Re: Altering jeans

TY — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 09:41:16 GMT

Try googling how to make skinny jeans out of a pair of bootcut ones. There are blog and youtube video tutorials about this. I do sew and it does take a sewing machine to sew the bottom of the legs on both the inside and outside seams. You basically use a pair of existing skinny jeans as a template to use when you are deciding how much to narrow the bootleg jeans. If you don't have a sewing machine look for a mall tailor or a dry cleaner who can alter them for you.

Re: Altering jeans

SilleeMee — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 19:03:37 GMT

If it just involved hemming then it would be worth taking to a tailor. But since the alteration involves reconstructing the pant legs plus hem, it could possibly cost more than the jeans are worth. I used to do alterations professionally and believe me jeans are no fun at all to mess with.

There really isn't any other way I see to reconstruct jeans without actually sewing through the fabric. However, I have used a product called "Shoe Goo" to repair ripped jeans and torn pockets but this is very messy and you need to know what you are doing. Could end up with a disaster on your hands.

Re: Altering jeans

abbeythe 8th — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 19:09:34 GMT

Altering the leg width on jeans is not something that can be done without at the very least a heavy duty sewing machine. Having it done professionally could cost as much as a new pair of jeans. You are better making them cut-offs.

Re: Altering jeans

chrystaltree — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 19:31:46 GMT

I don't think super glue would work...lol But a tailor or dressmaker can do it for you and you won't even know that the jeans were altered.

Re: Altering jeans

feline groovy — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 01:53:40 GMT

Appreciate all your responses.

Re: Altering jeans

Shanus — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 02:30:34 GMT

@feline groovy. Hold off. If you follow Susan Graver's idea of fashion, when she presents on the Q, she's wearing very wide bell bottom jeans she purchased in London, no less. She's supposedly bringing them to QVC by viewers' requests. You may just save yourself big money by already being ahead of the fad!! 👍🏼

Re: Altering jeans

ID2 — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 11:29:24 GMT

I really don't know why someone would want to go through the time, effort and expense to remake a pair of jeans! You can find a cheap pair out there, my vote is to just go out and buy a new pair. It'll be cheaper!

Re: Altering jeans

MacDUFF — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 14:11:34 GMT

@feline groovy

I understand why you want to tweak your jeans because you said you love them. With the difficulty of finding a pair of jeans you love, it would make sense to me to have them professionally altered. I would find out how much it will cost and then save the $$ to do it. I have done the very same thing...re-making a pair of bootcut (not extreme, more like a baby boot cut) into slim...and I don't recall it being extremely expensive...maybe $25...probably depends on where you live. Hope it works for you.

Re: Altering jeans

NicksmomESQ — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 14:28:59 GMT

It may cost more to alter than you originally paid for the jeans.But I understand why you would want to do it.I have a favorite pair of jeans that fit perfectly. They recently caught on something & ripped!! I paid my tailer $35 to mend them.But she did a perfect job!! You can't even tell they had been torn.

If you really love those jeans & want them to be made into a slimmer leg.Go for it.It's worth it!!

Re: Altering jeans

feline groovy — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 19:50:23 GMT

@ID2

@ID2 wrote:
I really don't know why someone would want to go through the time, effort and expense to remake a pair of jeans! You can find a cheap pair out there, my vote is to just go out and buy a new pair. It'll be cheaper!

Because the inseam is rare and perfect for me.
And the rise also works well.

Plus they're Levi's, my fave.

Re: Altering jeans

Trix — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 19:20:41 GMT

@feline groovy, I get it that the inseam and fit are so perfect on your bootcuts, as to why you don't want to part with them. That said, if professional tailoring prices in your community are anywhere near what I pay in Chicago, the alteration on jeans could be anywhere from $50 to $80. During the post holiday retail sale period of January, I would search that specific brand tirelessly on the interenet trying to find a slim/skinny leg pair (in the same waist/length size) at a fabulous sale price.