Hola! I wanted to share with everyone how I upcycled old jeans into something completely different and cool. I love upcycling jeans and I try to think of new ways to repurpose them. For this project my darling husband donated a pair of his old jeans. I also used a pair of my old jeans to pair with the top. Upcycling clothes is great for the environment and it helps you save your coin$.
To make the top I designed it on my dress form with draping tape. I then draped it with muslin to form my pattern pieces. After draping I then transferred the muslin pattern pieces onto paper so that I could grade up/ resize the pattern pieces to fit my measurements.
What you’ll need for this project:
old pair of jeans, dress form, draping tape, chalk, muslin, scissors, pins, sharpie, rulers (curved & straight), separating zipper, plastic boning, thread, sewing machine(s), tape measure, needle and thread and roll of paper.
I grabbed my draping tape and designed the top on my dress form.
I used draping tape to create the design.
Time to drape. Use the muslin to copy the draping tape design.Pin the muslin to the dress form and smooth out the wrinkles.Use a sharpie to trace the draping tape.I use dots to copy the draping tape.
I used a curved ruler and a straight ruler to connect the dots.
If you need to resize the pattern pieces, this is the time. I usually true up the measurements before I separate the pattern pieces. It simplifies the process.Separate the pattern pieces onto paper. Separate 1 and 2 and so on. Once separated add an half inch seam allowance every pattern pieces.2 paris of gently used jeans. One to wear and the other to upcycle.Cut the pant leg up the inner seam.Lay the pants out flat as shown above.I then laid out all my pattern pieces right side up on jeans.
Pin all your pieces together.Sew all the pieces togetherPin the two halves together and sew.
Make a casing for the boning. I sewed the seam allowance closed right at the edge to make the casing.It also helps to do a small stitch across the top of the casing so that the boning won’t slide up.
Cut the boning. But, make sure to cut it at least 1/2 in shorter at the top and the bottom. Cut the boning shorter so that you won’t break the needle on your sewing machine.Slide your boning inside the casing.Boning insideBoning is all in place. I also overlocked the edges because, denim tends to unravel.This is what it looks like with the boning in place. I only used boning in the front for support. (rushing) I should have placed boning in back and sides also for more support.
I think it’s looking great so far. What do you guys think?
You must have a separating zipper for this project. This zipper I had was too long so I had to cut it.
Line the zipper up and cut it to the proper size.
Cut the top of the zipper but, make sure the zip at the bottom. I used needle and thread to make a catch for the zipper. I also removed 1/2 inch of the coils from the tops. I used a smaller wire cutter to remove the coils. You remove the coils so that you won’s sew them and break your sewing needle.
Pin the zipper in place. Make sure the coils are facing inwards.
I used a zipper foot.
Separating zipper installed.
I also topstitched the zipper to keep the zipper in place.
Check out the finished product and let me know what you guys think. Also, if you would like to see me upcycle a jean idea that you have; leave your idea in the comment section.
This is the reason I should have placed boing in the back and sides also. The boning would have prevented the buckling.
