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From: SewnCrazy
Date: 01-21-2007, 09:04 PM (1 of 10)
My dd has gotten taller but stayed the same size. I have a number of pants I wish to add length but dont know how to do it. I've seen jeans with ruffles, but not sure how to make them for pants without a pattern. Does anyone have a fairly easy way? 
Blessings to all!
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User: SewnCrazy
Member since: 01-26-2005 Total posts: 8 
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From: paroper
Date: 01-21-2007, 11:04 PM (2 of 10)
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depending upon her age you can add a cuff. You can also drop the hem and add a facing to the bottom..if you can get the lines out of the pant. Keep your seam at the bottom small to get max. length.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-22-2007, 12:47 AM (3 of 10)
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This is wordy, but try and picture it! If it's a ruffle you're after, try measuring the hem around the ankle. Now multiply by 2. that's your width. Decide how much length you want to add. I'll use 2 inches for the example. Add your 5/8 seam allowance for the top edge(really, measure the depth of the pants hem and make it match that) and let's say one inch for the hem. Cut that out, and roll a hem using the one inch that you allowed. Now sew a vertical seam, right sides together to make a loop, which you're going to fit around the original hem of the pants. Sew a couple of rows along the top of your ruffle near the stitching line, using your machine's longest stitch. Next, lay it over your pants hem (or lay the pants hem over your ruffle cuff, depending on whether you want it to appear that the ruffle is growing out from inside the pants or not), raw edge against the hem and right sides together. Pin it matching up vertical seam allowances. Pull the basting stitches on the ruffle until you've taken up the slack and distribute the gathers evenly. Baste all along the stitching line of the original pants hem. Turn it right side out. If you're happy with it, then go back over your basting with a regular length stitch. I like to press and then top stitch to keep ruffles facing the right way, but some prefer a less structured look. Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: paroper
Date: 01-22-2007, 06:57 AM (4 of 10)
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I prefer the self-faced ruffles..instead of adding a seam allowance, you just double the length, fold in the center and press so that you have a finished ruffle on both sides. The advantage is that if the ruffle "flops", you have finish on both sides.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: sewingrandma
Date: 01-22-2007, 11:23 AM (5 of 10)
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You can also add embroidered trim. It is sold by the yard and comes in various widths and weights. You can add it to the hemline or can cut across the leg of the pants and add the trim then sew on the part you had cut off.
Brockie
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User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 01-22-2007, 06:57 PM (6 of 10)
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we are going through this now at our house... so one one pair I ripped out the hem (jeans) and that gave a little length and is kinda trendy now and then laid wide satin ribbon under the hem and stitched it down to add a little more length. On another pair I had some 1" wide cotton lace and layered that with some ribbon and put that on the bottom. I did not gather them just straight around the bottom of the jeans. I've also seen the pre'ruffled trims at fabricland, those would work well too. Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: paroper
Date: 01-23-2007, 03:04 AM (7 of 10)
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I have 4 yr old that was a size 4 over the summer, 5 in the fall and 6 just before Christmas. We bought he 6 for Christmas and they are barely kissing the tops of her shoes...so I'm about to do the same thing.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-23-2007, 05:06 PM (8 of 10)
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My goodness! haha, I just got a new grow-light for plants in the house, and I'm afraid to let DD get too close to it. Little weeds, they are.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: hthegator
Date: 01-23-2007, 09:17 PM (9 of 10)
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My younger cousin grew sraight up about three inches over one year and I was given about half a dozen of her old jeans and I doctored them in a few different ways... My cousin requested a few hippie style jeans so to give them a "ruffled" look, I took a strip of fabric, gathered it and attached that to the bottom of a pair. Put right-sides together, attach the new fabric, then when you flip the new fabric down run a line of stitching to keep the fabric hanging downward. Or, you attach the new fabric to the inside of the jean and the cuff shows on top. Either way looks pretty neat. Those are the only ones that seemed "ruffled" but a few other ways I used were: I added a very wide fabric ribbon to the bottom of one pair. A few jeans had rips at the knees so I cut the legs off below the knees, added a few inches of fabric at the knee, then reattached the legs of the jeans. And one other pair I split the outside seams up to about mid-thigh, added a godet of fun fabric to bell them out a bit, and then added a few inches of the same fabric to the bottom for length. I sewed a bit of denim to the bottom of a pair and trimed the joining seam with rick rack. I aslo added buttons, a few patches, and some couching to jazz them up a bit. All of them were a a big hit at her school. |
User: hthegator
Member since: 11-08-2006 Total posts: 7 |
From: material_pakrat
Date: 01-24-2007, 12:09 PM (10 of 10)
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Another "hippy" style I have used is to cut the pants between the ankle and the knee, and add the extra material in there. I have added material into the side seams to add sizing that way (which I realise isn't needed in this case.) To tie the whole look in you can then add the same material as trim to the front or back pockets, or even replace the back pockets with it.
Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
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