DIY Bubble Shorts from Old Jeans

Baggy jeans or pants can be cut off and altered into ADORABLE bubble shorts for girls. It is a quick and easy alteration, and I will walk you through every step. 

My daughter has a few pairs of hand-me-down pants that aren't the skinny style that is so "in" right now. They are in great shape, but definitely don't look up-to-date and fashionable. One pair was some well-made Hannah Anderson jeans that would likely be too short by the fall, so I decided they would make cute shorts if done right.

Here you get an idea of the way the jeans fit. 

(We had just bought her a new swim suit the day I did this, and she didn't want to change it for this pic, so I didn't push--we choose our battles, right?)

1. With chalk, draw off where you want the shorts to fall on her thigh. I made these a bit longer than some bubble shorts because the jeans are roomy enough in the waist that they may fit her for two summers!

2. Use a ruler or measuring tape to make sure your cut lines are equal distance from the pockets and along the inseam.

 3. Cut off the jean legs.

4. Take one of the cut off legs, and cut along one seam. Lay it out flat.

5. Measure around the thigh of the girl who will be wearing the shorts. Add 2 inches to that measurement. This will be the length of the strips you will cut. 

6.Cut 2 strips from the flattened leg piece that are 3 inches wide by the above length. 

 7. Iron the two strips in half along the length of the strips, wrong sides together. Then fold each piece inward along the length in quarters. These are the bands to give the bottom edge of the shorts a nice, finished look. It could be super cute to do a contrasting fabric here, if desired. 

 8. Sew a gathering stitch around the base of each shorts leg, 1/4 inch from the edge. Pull the bobbin thread to gather the legs to the desired width. I had my daughter try them on at this point to make sure I was leaving plenty of moving room. You could also take the thigh measurement from above (#5) and add 1 inch.

9. Beginning along the inseam, pin the bands around the unfinished edges of each leg, leaving 1/2 inch at each end.

 10. To hide the raw edges of the bands, tuck one end into the other, and turn the edges of the end on top under. Pin carefully in place. (Sewing tip: My non-industrial sewing machine managed this, but I had to proceed slowly, and I started with my machine's presser foot up.)

 11. Sew a top stitch along the top edge of the bands (about 1/8" down).  Sew a vertical top stitch down the closing seam on the inseam (shown in #10). 

And you are done! Instead of raggedy cut-offs, you have stylish, tailored bubble shorts!

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Ruffled T-Shirt Tutorial

I have a confession: I'm a bit of an online boutique junkie. I can shop for me, my kids, my mom, sisters, friends, neighbors--all from my home! And the styles are always so hip and trendy--so I (hopefully) don't look like I haven't been in a mall in over a year!

I have another confession: I'm a bit of a cheapskate.  If I see something at an online boutique that I could make fairly easily for a fraction of the price, I'm not buying it. This was the fuel behind my desire to make this trendy, fun, and flattering shirt. 

I saw similar shirts last week at an online boutique for $24. Not a bad deal, but I had a pretty good idea that I could make my own from a shirt and fabric I already had--so it would cost me $0!

Here's what you need: 

• A solid-color, fitted t-shirt. (TIP: This is a great way to make use of any shirts that have little mouse-holes in the front around the bottom of the shirt.) 
• 1/3 yard flowy/silky fabric--chiffon, modal, thin jersey knit, or poly-blend (You won't use all of this yardage, but if you are buying fabric from the store, I'd get this much. If you have scraps already, look ahead to the measurements to see if you have enough).
• Chalk
• Corresponding thread, scissors/rotary cutter, measuring tools, pins, sewing machine

Instructions: 

1. Put on the shirt and mark your waistline (at your navel) with chalk on the front of the shirt.

2. Mark the back of the shirt just above your bum. This will achieve the slightly high-low look (so the shirt falls lower in the back). 

3. Cut the back of the shirt from side seam to side seam.Then cut the front of the shirt starting at the side seam and curving up to the chalk mark and back down to the other side. 

4. Prepare your ruffle fabric. Measure the front of your shirt width. Multiply that by 4. This is how long your ruffle piece should be. Cut an 8 inch wide piece of fabric. If you need to piece two strips together, just make sure they are the same length. The seams can be lined up with the seams on the shirt when you attach it. 

5. Sew right sides together at the ends to make one big loop. Finish the edges of your fabric (if you are using a fabric that frays), with a rolled hem. 

6. Sew a gathering stitch along one edge of the fabric. Pull the bobbin thread to gather the ruffle to the same width as your shirt. 

7. Pin the ruffle to the shirt, wrong side of ruffle onto the right side of shirt.  Be generous with the pins. Be sure to match the seams of the ruffle to the shirt side seams. Sew a zig-zag top stitch across the pinned gathers to attach the ruffle to the shirt. I made two passes to make sure it was sewn securely. 

8. Measure and cut a 4 inch by 5 inch piece of fabric for the pocket. 

9. Press and pin a 1/4 inch double fold around the entire pocket back. I used one factory-finished edge, so I only did one fold on that side.  

10. Top stitch what will be the top of your pocket. 

11. Pin the pocket to your shirt. Again, be generous with your pin usage. You want your stitches to be small and close to the edge.

Done!  You have a fun and frilly shirt! Cute with jeans or shorts, pencil or maxi skirts! Great way to accentuate your true waistline and hide any "extra" you don't want to show off underneath! 

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How To Alter a Man's Shirt to a Woman's Shape

I love that collared shirts are in style. They are versatile, comfortable, and can easily dress up a casual outfit. Unfortunately, however, I don't have many. And most that I do have are too short for today's style.  So I decided to hit the local thrift store in search of men's shirts (so they'd be nice and long) to alter to my needs. 

Here is the man-shirt pre-altering. I bought this on half-off at Goodwill for $3. Pretty big and shape-less, huh?  But it has good arm length and fun, unusual pockets, so I was hoping for some potential. It's important to choose a shirt that isn't way too big in the collar or arm-length because those are not easily altered.

Now on to the altering process. It is SO quick and easy. If you are a sewing rookie, this would be a good way to get your feet wet.

1. Turn the shirt inside out and flatten along the seam on the inside of the arm and torso. 

 

2. Use chalk to draw a smooth line along the seam the amount you'd like to take the shirt in. Blend the ends of your chalk line into the existing seams prior to the cuff and base of the shirt.  If you are unsure of how much to take in, lay a shirt that fits as you would like this one to, and trace along that shirt's outline.

3. Cut along the lines you drew.

4. Lay the piece you cut out from the first side along the opposite edge to use as a guide to draw another chalk line.

5. Cut along the chalk line.

6. Pin the edges together, being sure to line up the cross seams at the armpit. Sew the new edges closed, blending into the existing seams at each end. I used a serger, but if you don't have a serger, a zig-zag stitch outside your first straight stitch will help prevent fraying.

Here it is all sewn up, but still inside out. It actually looks like a woman's shirt now!

Now I have a "new" shirt! 

Go thrift-store shopping or raid your hubby's closet and enjoy!

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