how to 'skinnify' your jeans...

Remember these? Last week I promised that I (well my ma) would show you how to 'skinnify' ones jeans/trousers. Before we started I assumed that this was gonna be really tricky. But is was easy. So easy that I feel rather stupid telling ye how. But I said I would so here it goes...

 You can sew them by hand if you wish but it would take much longer. If you aren't confident with a sewing machine get someone you know who is to help you. But this kind of sewing is quite simple. Even I can do it.

STEP 1: Figure out yourself how much there is to take off. It was roughly two inches at the bottom for me. Once you figured that out, mark on the jeans with some chalk where you need to sew. We marked from the end of the pocket down. When we were marking it we started at the edge and then tapered out gradually to the full two inches. You know your own legs best so you decide where and how much you'll need to taper off. For instance they might only need taken in from the knees down. 

STEP 2: Once both legs are finished a quick and easy way to see if both are even simply place one leg on top of the other one and line up the chalk on one leg to the edge of the other leg. If both chalk marks line up with their respective edges at the same time then it is even.

STEP 3: Now it's time to sew. Set the sewing machine to a single line stitching. Next, simply sew from the bottom of leg up to the bottom of the pocket by following the markings.* Once one leg is done, cut off the excess thread and repeat on the second leg.* It is good to remember that when you start and finish sewing you should sew back over the last inch of stitches. This way the stitches will keep. STEP 4: Once you have tried them on and are satisfied with the fit (remember you can keep doing this until you're happy, just rip the stitches) all you have left to do is to simply cut off the excess material.

And you're done! Told you it was easy.

first world problems: baggy trousers...

I love the colour of these jeans. It was the deciding fact when buying them online. That and the fact that I needed a new pair of skinny jeans. Yes I said skinny jeans. They are supposed to look like this! But sadly like most skinny jeans that I try on/purchase they are terribly baggy once they make it half way down my thigh. I always thought I had fairly shapely legs but evidently for my size I got scrawny yolks for pins. I know what you're thinking, this is a ridiculous thing to complain about and I should be happy with my relatively slender legs. I probably should get over it but if my legs are one of my best features I should be able to show them off in skinny jeans and these are sadly not working... And what's even more sad is that this isn't a new problem.

I am half way between an apple shape and an hourglass shape. And one of the tips the experts gave women who were apples was to show off their slender legs in skinny trousers and I happen to agree. I look best in skinny pants. I don't have to wear heels to make them look nicer and I don't have to choose the "right" top to make other pants look more flattering on me. They are truly my go to pants. This is why I love those heavy ski-pant type leggings (well that and they are so very comfy!) So you can understand that it can get a little more than vexing when you can't find anything to fit your legs and your waist.

So I am gonna do my first DIY post. Well I won't be doing anything I'll just be documenting it. My mother (wonder women with a sewing machine) is going to make the legs of what can only be called my chinos smaller so that I can prance around all carefree like I do in my head. I decided to document this because I cannot be the only girl to have this problem, I simply can't!

The post will be up in a few days...