My husband has a couple of pants and jeans who are no longer wearable due to some rips on obvious places. After being worn and washed so many times, the fabric has became soft and comfortable to the touch, unlike stiff brand new denim. I thought they would make good pants for Sidra, after all with his rapid growth, he’s always in continuous need of new pants.
I turned to my precious Pattern Drafting vol. II to find a pants pattern. This 1970 book has a small section on kidswear on the back. I drafted a basic straight pants pattern and then made several changes to it. The waistline is lowered, the legs are slimmed down, and I also made the usual shapes for jeans: hip yokes, slanted front pockets, and back pockets.
Before cutting the pattern, I saved the zipper, zipper fly, pocket linings, back pockets, belt carriers, and waistband with its button and buttonhole from my husband’s pants. Constructing the new pants was so much fun! I’ve never made jeans before, so I used another jeans to see how I should stitch the pieces together, where to topstitch, etc. Sidra’s pants has elastic with buttonholes so it is adjustable. I saved the elastic from Sidra’s old pants. Nothing is wasted here!
Love the result! The fit is perfect in my opinion, and the waistband is not too high. And since the fabric has been used and worn, they already have these lovely marks and lines on them.
I made a second pants from my husband’s black denim pants. The original pants has small pocket like most jeans, I reused them on Sidra’s pants. I also reused one of the original back pocket, adding topstitching in the shape of big X. The other back pocket is fake, it is only an outline stitching in the shape of pocket.
Sewing the pants was a bit difficult because the fabric is thicker. I wish my topstitching could be neater, but in the end they look okay. Now I’m waiting for my husband’s favorite corduroy pants to get ripped any time. They look perfect for Sidra’s next pants!
11 Comments
Ah!! Off to rip a pair of my husband’s pants! ;) Actually, I have two sons who are 6 and 9 years older than my youngest who is 7. The pants from the older two never make it as hand-me-downs to my youngest because too many years pass between the time they’re available and when they’d finally fit him but you’ve given me the perfect solution. Not sure I can pull it off as well as you did – those jeans look really well-fitted and I’ve never made my own pattern before but I’ve got several pairs of torn jeans to practice with. Thanks for the idea!
your blog is very inspiring..
keep up the good work
WoW! You are amazing! The pants turned out so cool~perfect fit!!
Very cool! Like it.
Hi, I’ve been checking your blog for several months now and wanted to let you know that you have a fan in Philadelphia. You’re inspiring me to do more sewing! Your family is adorable, too. :-)
Nice job! I used to make Jacob play pants out of my husband’s old pairs, but haven’t done that for years. Might do that again…
Indeed, they fit really well! I want to do jeans now!
that’s amazing! Fantastic recycling!
Cool pants & a very nice T! Greetings from your Polish fans:)
Hello there! Thank you so much! ^_^