Altering jeans

feline groovy · ‎07-29-2014

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.

SuziQ2 · ‎04-20-2010

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.

Nataliesgramma · ‎03-28-2015

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......

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

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

elated · ‎06-09-2010

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!!!

handygal2 · ‎01-19-2015

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:

~~Be careful when you follow the masses. Sometimes the 'm' is silent.~~

TY · ‎03-10-2010

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.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

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.

abbeythe 8th · ‎04-17-2010

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.