Alterations: Part 1

Due to a lack of money and the desire for a new project, I have been working on altering some clothes during the past few weeks. It all started with a pair of pants like these:

You've seen these at the store. Jeans with the thick white/tan stitching with some jewels on the back pockets. I LOVE them and I have always wanted a pair. Too bad they are usually AT LEAST $80, if not more. If I were still single, I probably would've had a pair a long time ago. But with a family, I just can't justify spending that much on a pair of jeans.

But that would not stop me from figuring out a way to get a pair. One day I was just browsing through Wal-Mart and saw some thick white thread like the stuff used in these pants. I decided if I couldn't buy me a pair, then I would make me a pair. So I went to the DI and found these pants for $6. They are a little tight and not my favorite pants, but I figured they would be a good pair to experiment on. I didn't want to use a pair that I really liked in case it didn't work. Here are the before pictures:

Also notice how long the legs are. Definitely needed to be hemmed.

The thread is way to thick for a normal sewing machine so I did all the stitching by hand. I often had to use a pair of pliers to pull the needle through the layers of jean. I didn't keep track of how many hours it took me, but I know it was more than 20 hours.

All you need to get this look is:
1. A pair of jeans
2. Thick thread (your choice of color)
3. Thimble/pliers
4. Determination and time

Here is the finished look:

Apparently I took these pictures before I added the rhinestones. I put them over those brown metal circles on the front pockets, plus a few on the back pockets.

 

I also hemmed the bottom and added a slit to help them flare a bit. At first I hemmed them too long, so I took them up another inch or so and now I think they're too short once I add shoes. Ugh. Plus I had to cut off most of the flare, so the cut isn't very flattering. I'll prob end up rolling them up into capris most of the time. Or eventually just hem them up to capris.

 

 The usually don't post pictures of my backside, but I wanted to show all sides. Looks like I have the rhinestones in the corners on this picture.

Well there you have them. This pair of jeans cost me less than $10. Not bad, I say. Especially since I don't think people would guess that they aren't legit. I think it would be fun to experiment and maybe do a pair with hot pink stitching or something else cool like that.

I was also going to show all the shirts I have done as well, but I don't want to make this post any longer than it already is. I'll just do those in another post right after this one. Stayed tuned for more!