Tuesday, May 10, 2011

DIY - Edgy Spring Shorts

Our daily browsing brought us to this great website, "collegefashion.net". Their whole concept is "cheap & chic" which not only applies to college students but to everyone, who doesn't want to save a buck or two! I came across this great spring inspired DIY project. Try it out and send us a pic :)

Happy Sewing!


At some point or another, everyone has had to buy a pair of not-so-ideal black pants for work or an event. Then of course, those pants sit in the back of your closet, never to be worn again. With summer on the horizon, why not recycle those old pants instead of throwing them away? Here's a simple and inexpensive way to make a pair of cute and edgy shorts from your old pants.

What you will need:
  • Old pants
  • Scissors
  • Seam ripper
  • Ruler
  • Studs (find them at any craft store in the leather or embellishment section)


1. Measure the pants

Put on your old pants and decide how short you want the shorts to be, then mark this length with a piece of tape. Take the pants off, and lay them on a flat surface. Then measure 2 and 1/2 inches down the leg from your piece of tape as shown below. This 2 1/2 inch section will be the cuff of your shorts. Mark this length across each pant leg with tape. 


2. Cut

Cut the shorts on the line marked.



3. Fold and press

Fold the bottoms of the shorts 1 inch up, then press with an iron as shown below. Ironing is very important, as it makes the cuffs crisp and last longer. 


4. Fold and press again

Fold the 1 inch cuff up another 1 and 1/2 inches, so the raw edge in on the inside of the cuff and hidden, then press again. 


5. Apply the studs

Think about the style you want your shorts to have. I chose a simple row of four silver pyramid studs but the options are limitless: be creative!



To apply the studs, use a seam ripper to poke two very small slits through the cuff according to the width of the prongs on the back of the stud. 
Insert the stud prongs to these holes and fold the prongs in, so that they hold the stud in place. 





Be careful to line the studs up evenly; this make it look less "crafty" and more like you bought the shorts that way. Have fun with the stud size, colour and shape. This is a great way to make a very unique and personalized pair of shorts. 

6. Admire your finished project!


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