Pretty up your turn up!

Pretty fabric turn-up jean hems

It seems like a long time since I've had the gratification of a quick and easy project.  So, last week, when I found myself with an hour to spare, I decided to scratch that itch and at the same time put another tick on my big list of 'stuff to try sometime'.

I got this idea from some jeans I saw in a shop.  A plain pair of jeans, with a little bit of pretty around the hem.  Simple but so very effective.  So effective in fact that I almost brought them right then and there but as it was also such a screamingly obvious 'you could do that yourself' type moment I forced myself to keep my purse closed and try it out when I got home.

As is my way, trying it as soon as I got home didn't quite happen and even though I had a pair of victims already in mind for the chop, the weeks rolled by, as weeks tend to do.  But, as that little hour landed in my lap, I knew what I was going to do.  Take the scissors to my most favourite, but decidedly seen much better days, pair of jeans.

My favourite jeans, ready for the chop and a new pretty hem

My favourite jeans, all shopped up ready for a new pretty hem

My jeans, with their pretty new floral fabric turn-up hem line.

It was a little bit of a flying by the seat of the pants type hour.  I'm not the worlds most naturally gifted sewer and speedy sewing projects aren't my forte.  A fair amount of sitting around and pondering is usually required but as I didn't have time for that I just kind of got stuck in.  The seamstresses amongst you would probably wince if I told you the details but at the end of that hour I still had a pair of jeans and what's more, I had a pair of pretty presentable turn-ups on them too - yay!

There's only one minor fly in the ointment.  They don't really fit anymore.

Okay, maybe a major fly.

I can get them on still, as you can see, but they are snug.  Not too bad while I'm standing but not so great when moving around is required.  I decided, as I liked them so much, I'd stubbornly wear them anyway.  So they were a little tight, so what?  Maybe they'd loosen up a little with wear?  That was a great theory until I knelt down to  play cards with little Miss that evening.  Cutting off the blood circulation to your lower calves is a little harder to ignore.  Humm, maybe sheer stubbornness wasn't going to work.

So, it's looking like the seam ripper might be the answer I need to really get the pretty hems I want, but I'm not giving up.  I love this idea and any talented sewers among you who have any tips to offer, please do speak up, I'm all ears.

And in the meantime, I've chosen the next victim...


The next pair of jeans to have the fabric hem turn-up treatment


S x




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Comments

  1. They look great Sandra! Pity about the 'fly in the ointment'. Keep trying, I am sure the next pair will work out just right! :) x

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  2. Oh what a great idea Sandra - just keep going with the victims until you find a pair that's comfy to wear for they really do look fantastic and a nice summery touch too! xoJoy

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  3. My Mom used to do this, when we were kids and the hem of our jeans used to be worn out more quickly than the rest.

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  4. couldn't you put splits up the side of the pretty turn up like capri pants? it might help with the whole circulation-cutting-off thing...you could top stitch up the sides of the splits in a contrasting thread colour. this is probably what you thought already! But it might help. I love the pretty turn ups, i must make me a pair of those! so lovely and fresh, but I need to build up my material stash first!

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  5. Now that is a brilliant idea! Thanks, I shall try that for sure :)

    Sandra x

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  6. Ooooo....I have jeans that need a little 'uplifting'. Great idea Sandra!

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  7. So pretty!!! It really turns jeans into a summery- beachy outfit, doesn't it?? Maybe just a little lower and not over the widest part of the calves???!!! Have a fab week!!!
    Love
    AMarie

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  8. I shall do that, it’s got to work out just right sooner or later hasn’t it? ;)

    Sandra x

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  9. If at first you don’t succeed… ;)


    Sandra x

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  10. Thanks so much and yes you’re completely right I need to aim a little lower. I would have done too except I waited so long to make the chop that the knees started to get holes too, so I went higher to cover the knee patches up a bit. If I’d don’t it when I’d first thought of it I wouldn’t have had that problem! Another reason why I should just get on with things a bit quicker! :)

    Sandra x

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  11. It's such a great idea :) I will jazz up my daughter's jeans :) Thanks fir sharing :)

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  12. So cute! I don't wear jeans because I'm short and they're always too long but I may get myself a pair now as I can cut them off and make a cute bottom for them like yours and they'll be just the right length and so much cuter and so much more fun than hand hemming any day! I'll have to sit and ponder too as to how to do it as I am not a great seamstress.

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  13. Do the jeans have a stretch to them? If so, that might be why the new hems - which are lovely by the way!! - are tight because there is no stretch to the cotton? I have no idea how to remedy that though, so perhaps someone else can make a suggestion! I hope that you can work it out though as they really look very pretty!!! xx

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  14. Brilliant idea! Love the fabric you chose as well...Chrissie x

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  15. Sandra, try cutting your cotton on the bias - that extra stretch might just work? You might need to use a zigzag stitch to attach it to your jeans too. I'm no expert though, so a trial run might be in order - good luck xxx

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  16. Sandra, you could try cutting the cotton on the bias and attaching with a zigzag stitch? Good luck xxx

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  17. They both sound like excellent suggestions, thank you. I was thinking maybe a fabric with some sort of stretch to it, but actually, cutting on the bias would help with that with cotton fabric and zig zag stitch - why on earth didn’t I think of that! I shall give that a whirl next time.
    Sandra x

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  18. I really like how they look. I would try it too, but I only have two pairs of jeans right now! I look forward to seeing the next contestants. :)

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  19. I tried this once but had a similar issue - I cut the fabric on the bias but the actual stitching was the problem - I did wonder about trying a stretch stitch but I think I will go with the slit option when I try again

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  20. Such a cute idea, they will look great when you get the fit how you want :) xx

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  21. Sounds like a great way to adapt them to your size and I’m glad I’m not the only one who needs a good ponder before she starts sewing! ;)
    Sandra x

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  22. They do have a little stretch to them and you’re right, fabric with a bit of stretch would probably have worked much better. Annoyingly I did think of that at some point before I started and then promptly forgot all about it when I sat down to make a start. Oh well, better luck next time!
    Sandra x

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  23. How cute is THAT? love, love, love

    Sheila

    http://sheilazachariae.blogspot.com/2014/06/gift-giving-hats-in-hat-boxliterally.html

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  24. These look so pretty! Fit issue could be many things... oh so helpful... length of Jean when cuff added, cuff fabric having no stretch. I can see why you would want to use this fabric though - maybe cutting on the bias may give it a little stretchibility?

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