alter jeans ?

homealone_2

sorry if in wrong place but am looking for some help with some jeans i have. they are new but hipsters and can only wear high waist jeans. i am very new on sewing machine but getting there in baby steps. so am wondering if it is possible or am i pushing alterations too far? i am also looking for something to wear using fine knit stretch material, its like sort of tshirt material? or any easy patterns gratefully received

worn_out_mum

It is possible to alter jeans to put jersey fabric at the top. I did it last year to make maternity jeans rather than buy them at £25+ a pair. If you Google make maternity jeans and follow the instructions, but rather than cutting a bump shape just add your fabric near the top of your waist band.
Hth

thriftwizard

Hmm - I may well be wrong, but I don't see how this could be done; unless they're way too long, there's not going to be enough fabric there to add a panel in between the hip-line and the waistband. Plus the belt-carriers would have to be moved, and the pockets will then be in the wrong place, which wouldn't matter with the back patch pockets (if they're a traditional design) which can be removed & replaced, but would look very odd with the front inset ones. Also denim is a heavy-duty fabric that many lightweight modern machines will struggle with once there's more than a couple of thicknesses. Have to say, I wouldn't try it, but would be looking at returning them for a refund, or turning them into a beach bag!

Jersey fabric: if you have an old favourite t-shirt or similar that's at the end of its useful life, you could cut it apart for a pattern to cut around?

homealone_2

worn_out_mum wrote: »

It is possible to alter jeans to put jersey fabric at the top. I did it last year to make maternity jeans rather than buy them at £25+ a pair. If you Google make maternity jeans and follow the instructions, but rather than cutting a bump shape just add your fabric near the top of your waist band.
Hth

thanks i will look that up and see if within my capabilities :rotfl:

homealone_2

thriftwizard wrote: »

Hmm - I may well be wrong, but I don't see how this could be done; unless they're way too long, there's not going to be enough fabric there to add a panel in between the hip-line and the waistband. Plus the belt-carriers would have to be moved, and the pockets will then be in the wrong place, which wouldn't matter with the back patch pockets (if they're a traditional design) which can be removed & replaced, but would look very odd with the front inset ones. Also denim is a heavy-duty fabric that many lightweight modern machines will struggle with once there's more than a couple of thicknesses. Have to say, I wouldn't try it, but would be looking at returning them for a refund, or turning them into a beach bag!

Jersey fabric: if you have an old favourite t-shirt or similar that's at the end of its useful life, you could cut it apart for a pattern to cut around?

yes i can see what you mean. my machine is very basics and just with thin material it sounds like i am digging the road. cutting up t shirt for pattern good idea, i have couple of dresses that i can do the same with, thanks

lovelovinghorses

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Maternity-Jeans-Using-Regular-Jeans-an/

lovelovinghorses

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Regular-Pants-into-Maternity-Pants

worn_out_mum

That's the website I used lovelovinghorses. Thank you, it worked for me, I sewed by hand as I didn't have my sewing machine then. They lasted me through my pregnancy and the 'tummy like a deflated balloon' months too (third baby so it took ages to go back to normal!). I used an old t-shirt with elastic in the waistband.