Colorful, Cut Jeans Modification

Intro: Colorful, Cut Jeans Modification

Ever wanted something unique but not over the top?

Try this jean modification!

It shows just the right amount of skin, adds color to a boring pair of jeans, and makes you stand out.  And is nice and breezy on a lovely summer day.

I've had a pair of jeans with the green... "garter hole thingy" in it for years, and this instructable will go through how to make one with pink ribbon.  You can try what ever color you like.  If you make the ribbons black, they kinda look like a garter.  Or you can make the "hole" thing rainbow colored and sew buttons and draw pretty pictures on the rest of the jeans.  It's up to you!

STEP 1: Materials Needed

-A pair of jeans
     Try using an older pair if it's your first time in case you mess up.  Also, people will notice if you wear these for consecutive days, so you might not want to use your best pair of jeans.

-Length of fabric ribbon
     For doing one leg, measure around the leg twice and add a little for leeway.  (I got 1.25 yards for my pink pair).  I get my ribbon at Walmart, but you can get it at some at any craft of fabric store.  Make sure the ribbon has a double edge and is meant to be sewed onto the edge of fabric, such as quilt edges.

-Some regular ribbon
     Get some regular ribbon to connect the leg of the pants.  This should probably match the color of your other ribbon.

-Scissors
     Using big sewing scissors is best to cut through jeans.

-Sewing chalk or pencil
     this is to outline where on the jeans you are going to cut.

-Sewing machine
     This makes for sewing the edging onto the jeans much easier and looks neater.  But you can do it by hand.  With a lot of patience that is.

-Colored tread
     To match your ribbon.

-Pins
     To hold the ribbons in place.

-Tape Measure

STEP 2: Cutting Up the Jeans

First, put on the jeans.  Decide where on which leg you want to put the "hole," as I'm going to call it.  I like mine on the thigh, but it can go wherever if you prefer.

Then do a rough marking all around with your chalk, pencil, or sharpie.  It helps if you have a friend helping you, since it's kind of hard to mark your entire leg around by yourself.  Make sure to do the top and bottom edges.

Then take off the pants (put on something else of course!) and lay them on a flat surface.  Take your scissors and cut the marks very straight across.  Now you have a pair of jeans with one leg attached, and the other floating around somewhere.

STEP 3: Sewing on the Pretty Ribbon

Now that you have exposed edges, you need to cover them up with something pretty.  Take your pretty ribbon and pin it onto the edges.  The ribbon just has to sit on top of the edge but enough so you can't see the frayed edges.  The pins hold it in place while you sew it on.  Use the zig-zag setting on your sewing machine to keep the ribbon sturdy.

Sew all the way around, making sure to overlap a little once you've made a complete circle.  Repeat with other edge.

STEP 4: Connect the Pants Back Together

Now put the pants back on (the cut leg and everything).

Measure the length between the hole.

Take the regular ribbon, but them into strips that are 1 inch longer than what you measured.  Mark the half an inch in on each side.  Pin 4 of the regular ribbon strips to the inside of the jeans.  They should be evenly spaced, two in front, two in back.

Once they're all pinned in, put the pants back on, check the length, and make adjustments.  The back ribbons will be slightly shorter the the front, usually.

Take them off, and sew a straight line right across the regular ribbon, on top of the fancy ribbon (so it doesn't show up on the jeans).  Make sure the stiching is good, do it a few times if you have to, since those ribbons will be the only thing holding your pant leg up.  Use straight sticking, by the way.

STEP 5: Look Styish

Hey look at that.  You're done.

Now you have a simple modification to your jeans that will definitely get compliments.  It gives you something unique and stands out.

But make sure to credit me with the idea!  Cause I really love my little creations =)

Okay!  Enjoy and look awesome!

Comments

[OlwenKelly]

Absolutely gorgeous! Really simple and easy to do. Can't wait to get started!

[kingmii]

These are so cute i would so do this if i were a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hifuqua]

You could make a few simple changes to make it suitable for guys, too. Instead of lace maybe a strip of faux leather wide enough to accommodate grommets. Then link the two pieces together with decorative chain.

[ChildofLore]

OK, that looks awesome.

[SiderAnne]

This is a great 'ible! I've been looking for something for my steampunk costume that was a little more covering than the short skirts but not as hobbling as the long skirts. Black jeans and some red and black lace/ribbon make for a great vampire hunter!

[sunhea]

Ooh that would be really cute, I love steampunk!

[akagoldminer]

Nice job i love it . one thing though you could do it to both legs and attach the ribbon with a buttton sewn on the inside to make the legs removeable to convert to shorts. great idea for my wife.

[geckits]

I know my girlfriend would love wearing this! And I can certainly say I wouldn't mind seeing her in it either ;)

[PSPerson]

you could make a killing on store shelves....

[kingmii]

Yea =(

[lovebirdy]

Wow that is so cool. Very sexy indeed

[kingmii]

I could. I do love the pink lace.there are so many great instructables for woman's clothes.

[deofthedead]

Quite nice! I've got a pair of retired work jeans that I love, but have holes wearing along the insides because of how much I walk around... I think this would be a great way to rescue them, and make them super cute to wear outside of work! Yay!

[tesla94]

That's super cute! The only things that would worry me is the strength of the ribbon, and the tan line it would leave behind. I love the pink one though - and I'm definitely going to try it. Great job!

[sunhea]

I've had the green one for years and the ribbon has never broken on me. It's pretty sturdy.

[JohnJY]

Nice job, very sexy.