Sweater: Forever 21
Denim shirt: Gap
Jeans: Old Navy Rockstar
Boots: Frye Rory Slouch
Awhile back I posted about these purple Old Navy pants that had totally stretched out after a few wears and I was asking for help with shrinking them back down. Well, I tried washing them with super hot water and then blasting them in the dryer, but it only made them super crispy, and the next time I wore them, they immediately stretched right back out.
I used my sewing machine to slim the legs and now they fit so much better! I just sewed a straight line down the inside of the legs. There was more than an extra inch of fabric in the inner thighs and it was creating this really awkward and ugly bunching. Much better now!
Before/After
And this polka dot top was originally had a really high neckline that looked like I was wearing the shirt backwards, but since it was only like $5, I decided to bring it home and alter the neckline myself to a lower scoop neck. My 3-year old loves to "help" me sew, so I let him step on the pedal while the machine was set to the slowest stitch. There was a lot of "STOP STOP STOP STOP!!!! STEP OFF THE PEDAL!!!" shouting involved, but the neckline turned out alright I guess. Not professional by any means, but it works for me. After seeing these pictures though, I might slim the sides a little bit so it's not so boxy and wide. Probably when my kid is sleeping though.
Day 4 of Take One, Pass It On!
I always forget you have kids until you mention them. You look so young! Hilarious about the machine pedal though.. you're a brave mom to let them help! LOL.
ReplyDeleteSo inspired by you tailoring your own pants & top though! I can't see the top well enough to judge but those pants look fantastic! I hate jeans that stretch out when you wear them. I find myself wearing them for half a day and then just taking them off to "scorch-wash" as I call it, trying to shrink them. Why do they continue making pants in this awful material that stretches?!
So cute, Kimmie! You did a great job. And I can so see your little one 'helping'. :) I love it when my little guy wants to help with cleaning and laundry and cooking, but it always takes about four times as long. :) Most of the time I let him. There will come a day when he won't want to or can do it by himself. They grow up so fast, don't they?
ReplyDeleteHope y'all have a great weekend. :)
Ugh thanks for pointing out my piss poor job at sleeve rolling. I did try the J.Crew tip and I can't get it right yet, and I didn't notice how bad it looked until after I opened up the photos on my computer.
ReplyDeleteand OMG such a fatty. I don't know if I could be friends with someone whose thighs touch. barefoot blonde legs only please.
Ugh yes I've regrettably donated a few pairs of those pants that stretch out after like 5 minutes, and now I'm just thinking that I could have easily altered them down to fit better! Oh well.
ReplyDeleteOn one hand, I love stretchy jeans/pants as opposed to the stiffer non-elastic kind because they're so comfortable, but yeah, sometimes there's just TOO much stretch. Saggy butts and baggy knees galore.
hahahaha STOOOOOPPPPP. I bet that was a really fun experience.
ReplyDeleteI think the improvements you made, especially on the pants, were so easy but improved the look so much. Look at your tiny legs! I never have the problem where there is too much fabric between my thighs (complete opposite, as I rub through the thighs. #fatty).
A+ outfit. are those j.crew rolled sleeves? it's like the only trick I used from the "tips from a j.crew personal stylist"
Haha yes, right now he's not that great at "helping" yet so I usually only let him help with things that are really easy like matching socks in the laundry or setting the table :)
ReplyDeleteYour pants turned out great...such an easy alteration can make such a big difference! I need to tackle my massive alterations pile right about now!
ReplyDeleteI love how you layered your tops...the polka dots are so cute :)
Natasha ~ TashaDelrae.com
Man your little boy is so lucky! I ALWAYS wanted to step on the pedal when my granny was sewing but it was always a no. The shouting "STOP STOP STOP STOP" must have been a funny sight to see, but not for you of course.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! I just posted about a pair of skinny jeans with bunchy knees - I'm inspired to take them in finally, so they're more wearable!!
ReplyDeleteI have the opposite problem with pants...I need the thighs to be bigger to fit my thunder thighs..haha...
ReplyDeleteIt's weird to me when I see other sewers say that they don't like sewing garments from scratch but they are good at alterations....because I am the EXACT opposite. I love sewing something from scratch, but when I buy something at Goodwill to alter it to something else....more often than not, I end up completely screwing it up. Which is rather unfortunate.
I need to get better at alterations. I bought one of those wool navy blazers from the Neimen Marcus+Target collection on final clearance(it was like $30, originally $130) and I got the wrong size. I thought it looked okay in the store, but just tried it on this past weekend(after it sat in my closet for 4 weeks) and it's huge. GAH....that will be quite the undertaking. I might need to go professional for it....blech
Wow, that is so great that you can do your own alterations! I have thought about getting a sewing machine, but I'm not sure I am coordinated enough to do it...lol.
ReplyDeleteAvec Amber
Can you show how you altered the jeans? I'm petite but have some pretty muscular legs, so most jeans fit weird. I would love it! <3
ReplyDeleteGreat job on both! I can't believe you let him "help" out! I'd totally be afraid to sew fingers together or something!
ReplyDeleteI can't even sew a straight line :(
ReplyDeleteHaha, his little fingers kept wanting to help me guide the fabric but I told him there were sharp needles and that he should help me step on the pedal instead :)
ReplyDeleteI just turned them inside out and sewed a straight line along the inside leg seam. Merrick has a good tutorial about slimming pants, but she only did it from the knee down, whereas I did it from the crotch to the knee: http://www.merricksart.com/2012/05/skinny-jean-refashion-tutorial.html Hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteOMG altering a blazer? I would have no idea where to even start. I stick with hemming things and slimming skirts/pants that only require a straight line. Anything with lining or taking off/reattaching sleeves or involving zippers, nope. I can't do it.
ReplyDeleteI try to only alter items that I wouldn't be too heartbroken about ruining, but sometimes if I love it enough but can't wear it because it doesn't fit right, then it's worth the risk. :)
I don't know if slimming pants will help with the bunchy knees, because I still have them! I really have no idea how to get rid of them.
ReplyDeletehahaha! I'm sure you can!
ReplyDeleteAwesome tip on slimming the legs of pants - I was wondering if an easy fix like that would actually work, because I have a few pairs of pants that I wanted to alter, but I'm no master seamstress! :)
ReplyDelete