Transforming Short Pants into Hippie Chick Capri's

I am 6'1" tall, but I began having trouble looking for pants that were long enough at about 5'8." It has been a lifetime struggle. Now, I have 3 daughters and I struggle again. In this house, there are two things I can count on. One: I am not going to shrink. Two: My kids are going to grow. That in mind, it was time to stop complaining, after 37 years and start getting creative!

I got the idea to cut ill-fitting long pants off and make Capri's last summer on a free day out of sheer desperation. I consider myself kind of a funky person and I love high end, unique clothing - so this was no easy undertaking. Oh, and did I mention I don't know how to sew? No worries. I have blazed the trail for you and wanted to share some simple tips that will make it super easy to transform those high-water pants that still fit in the hips, to an original work of art - on a budget!

Button Up

Taking jeans that flair are great for adding flair to the bottom of Capri's. This touch adds weight in appearance below the knee (instead of above it.) If you think this is a strange look, check out the Matilda Jane Website. She has perfected this pant in a way that is unmatched. Not being a seamstress, I love this style of capri because I can hide my messy seam.

Simply cut the jeans a little shorter than the desired length. Then cut the scrap denim (part you just cut off) in half. This is obviously a horizontal cut; taking off a few inches to make these pants intended Capri's instead of a weird, unwanted length. Take the bottom half of your scrap and sew it to the bottom of the Capri's, making a new pant length. Then comes the fun part, the buttons!

I had a lot of buttons in a craft box, but if you don't consider this: stray buttons at Michael's Craft Store in bunches, pretty cheap too. I have also raided my storage for old clothes I was going to sell or give away. A jacket can yield tons of buttons! Buttons can also be found on the inside of old sweaters and coats - the "replacement" buttons provided by manufacturers often never get used. Use these buttons to hide your seam by sewing them on one at a time while you watch a movie. It's so easy. You can make patterns, or go rainbow (as pictured) for a fun, groovy look.

Word to the Wise : On a pair of flair pants, the bottom is a lot wider than the middle of the cut off jeans that you will be sewing it to. Accommodate for this by folding over the fabric you are sewing on to make a pleat. I always place my fold on the inseam (or do two smaller folds on the out and in seam to even things up.) Taking the time to pin it with straight pins will add to a more professional look. Plus, it will give your new jean Capri's hippie flair,

Tuck and Flair
To create this more tailored, tame Capri, you will use a similar process to the one used to make the Button Up pants. Flair jeans work great, but for a straighter leg, with more of a taper, it would also work.

Once you cut the jeans off to Capri-length, you will take the scrap bottoms and cut those into strips (keeping the circle of the leg in tact.) The straighter you make the horizontal cut of your strips the easier it will be to align your sew job. Select two 1-inch strips cut and sew them to the bottom of the Capri.

I sewed my strips on the underside of the Capri's, hanging out about one inch (sort of making a stacked effect. Then I did the same thing with the second strip, sewing it under the previous. To add the jagged edge was as simple as cutting triangles out of the fray left hanging over. These Capri's didn't have a really good look until I washed them a couple of times. But they are incredibly easy to coordinate and draw little fanfare for a more practical day.

On the Fringe

I call this creation Fringe Pants (although an older woman at Sam's said to me the other day, "I sure do like those pirate britches.") Don't know about looking like a pirate, but these wide leg slacks from the Gap were transformed with a little fringe. I bought a throw pillow from Goodwill and cut the fringe of the pillow off, leaving the top seam in tact. I cut the pants the length I wanted them and sewed the fringe on the bottom. They have a great sway and swing when you walk and are very easy to dress up or down.

Mardi-Gras Party Pants
I love to look festive, because I want my clothes to reflect who I am. These jean Capri's were a breeze. I made a trip to Wal-Mart and bought these balls-on-a-string. (I seriously doubt that is what they are called. Did I mention I am no seamstress?) They are in the fabric department right by the ribbon. It is clearly trim of some kind. Anyway, about 4 yards did the trick. I simply sewed the trim in rows on the bottom of jeans I cut off. To balance things out, I added some trim to the back pocket with scraps. I suggest different colors on the same pair because they are easier to match with the perfect shirt, as opposed to being locked into a single color to match.

Getting creative sure made my comfy jean selection grow and added a little spark to my casual wardrobe. And remember, this works great on little legs too! My 6 year old twins grow like weeds, yet have maintained a similar waste size for over a year. They love their Capri's. These ideas, or creating your own with these as a foundation, are great way to personalize your wardrobe and make your clothes reflect the side of you that can't be found in stores!