About Kat

I started this blog to share with you all the results of years of turning trash into treasures. Hopefully I'll spark some new creative thoughts and if that happens I hope that you'll share your discoveries and together we’ll build a blog that will singlehandedly reduce global warming and save the world! Okay, maybe that’s a grand goal but we should be able to at least downsize our own trash output.

How to Take In Your Jeans – The Quick and Easy Way

There are quite a few tutes out there on how to take in denim and while I looked at them, in the end I did it completely different and so I thought I’d share my way with you all in case it’s helpful. I’ll also share a mistake I made so that you don’t go down that road also.

I wanted them to fit above the knee just like a pair of leggings and since these are stretch denim I was able to use a pair of leggings laid on top of them for a pattern.

chill out cute leggings - imitation is flattery

Since my seam was going to be only on the outside of the jeans I didn’t center the leggings on my jeans, but rather moved them so that they were right in line with the inside leg of the jeans. I used straight pins to pin the jeans just outside the outline of the leggings, then tried the jeans on inside out to see how they fit.  I made a few adjustments then sewed them up using a sewing machine.

straight pins hurt - safety pins do not

 

 

sportin' my new jeans

 

and from the side

 

 

and from the other side

And since you made it all the way through a bunch of pics showing me in jeans I’m going to award you all with a special bonus – how to care for your jeans! Some of you may already be aware of these tips but since we’re on the subject I thought I may as well throw these tidbits into the mix. So here goes:

Always turn them inside out to wash them. This not only protects your jeans but protects the other clothing in your laundry from getting roughed up by the rivets and other hardware on your jeans.

Wash in cold water with white vinegar or a handful of salt. The vinegar or salt helps to hold the color in.

Keeping them inside out hang to dry. The dryer breaks down clothing fibers.

 

 

How To Lengthen Your Jeans

I have a pair of jeans that I usually tuck into my boots so I don’t mind that they’re a little short, but this year I want to wear them over booties and I want a little extra length. Not everybody will like my solution but I really like the double hem effect these jeans now have.

I had another pair of jeans in my refashion pile that were a similar color but way too small for me. I cut off a 4 inch section from the bottom of each leg and pinned each one to the leg of the jeans I was lengthening, playing with it a little until I got the length I wanted.

one down - one to go

 

pinned in place

 

Then it was a simple matter of stitching them using navy thread right below the original gold stitching which served to hide the new stitching. And if you don’t like the double hem effect you could still use this idea but add enough so that you can cuff the jeans and still have the length that you want.

 

 

Bubble Wrap & The Odd Window

Most of our IA readers know not to throw out bubble wrap. You all faithfully stash it and use it to package items you are shipping or moving, but how about thinking outside of the box (pun intended) and using your bubble wrap to:

Insulate Windows – spray windows with water and press bubble wrap directly onto the glass. The water will hold the bubble wrap tight against the glass for weeks and is easily removed when the weather turns warm.

Plant Protection – use bubble wrap to loosely tent over plants to protect from light frost.

Protect Your China – cut into squares and use in between plates and bowls when stacking in your cupboards. You can also use this technique to protect pots and pans stored inside each other.

Stadium Seating – tape a square or two to the bottom of your stadium cushion for an extra layer of warmth and cushioning.

Decorative Paint Treatment – use a brush to dab or brush on one or more colors directly onto a 5 inches to 12 inch square of bubble wrap. Press the painted side of the bubble wrap onto the surface you want to paint. Lift the bubble wrap away from the wall a bit and turn and press again. Continue turning and pressing until you get the effect you want. This is similar to sponge painting but has more depth and can be used to create effects such as suede or marble.

Shower Curtain – tape sheets of bubble wrap together with clear shipping tape or colored duct tape for a fun shower curtain.

Have Fun & Destress – go ahead, pop it! You know you want to.