Vintage Lace Trim Jeans Tutorial - One Hour DIY Boutique Jeans

Do you have any blue jeans in your closet that are too short?  They're still like brand new because you never wear them. We used to call them "High Water Jeans" because whenever you wore them people asked you if you were expecting a flood.  In other words, short pants won't get wet as quickly as pants that are longer when the water starts rising. 

I've had a pair in my closet for about two years now.  They shrunk after being laundered.  The hem barely touched the tops of my ankles, and when I sat down they showed quite a bit of leg.  Honestly I was so embarrassed about the length that I barely ever wore them....until yesterday.

It was one of THOSE days. Procrastination changed the entire meaning of "Doing Laundry" and not in a good way.  It had evolved in from a normal item on the "TO DO" list to an absolute NECESSITY. All the blue jeans that actually fit me were in the hamper waiting to be washed. The hairdo was beginning to look frumpy and unkempt, too. The tell-tale gray roots were much too obvious.  

Well, I wasn't about to wear sweat pants to the hairdresser.  I grimaced and tried on my "high water" jeans.  Looking in the mirror, I could see my ankles peeking out from beneath the jeans hem.  Perfect.  Just perfect.  High waters are the perfect jeans to wear..... IF YOU'RE EXPECTING A FLOOD.

What to do, what to do? Why not add some lace trim to achieve the desired length on the jeans legs? I've seen lots of DIY blue jean projects over the years. Never before had it occurred to me to use my old tablecloth to make my jeans prettier and longer.  

DIY Vintage Lace Trim

I had quite a bit of the lace tablecloth leftover from making DIY Vintage Lace Trim .  My high water blue jean makeover was a surprisingly quick and easy project.  I love the way they look now.

FYI, here is a link to the tutorial for creating repurposed lace trim from tablecloths, curtains, etc: DIY Vintage Lace Trim just in case you need it. 

Vintage Lace Trim Jeans Tutorial



Supplies 

Lace Trim
Scissors
Tape measure
Fabric marker or chalk
Sewing Machine
Thread
1 /4" to 3/8" width ribbon


Directions

1. Cut off the hem on both legs of jeans as close to the edge as possible.  

2. Machine stitch around each leg near raw cut edge.  This will help prevent fraying.

3. Measure circumference of bottom of one jean leg.

Multiply x 2.  Now add two inches to that number.  This number is the length of lace needed to attach to jeans.

4. Cut lace to desired length. Fold lace in half and cut again to achieve two equal lengths.  Each one will be about an inch longer than the circumference of the jean leg.

5. Cut two pieces of ribbon to be the same length as the lace.

6. Machine baste ribbon to each lace piece about 1/2" from top edge.  

NOTE: The orange grosgrain ribbon basted on the lace is shown as an example because it contrasts nicely in photographs.  When choosing ribbon for this project, try to match the color of your lace or the color of your jeans as closely as possible. 

7. Fold raw edge of lace over ribbon.

8. Stitch folded over lace to ribbon.  The ribbon adds stability to the lace and makes the top edge of lace more even. This is the part of the lace to be stitched to jeans.

9. How much above the raw edge of jeans do you want the top edge of lace to be sewn?  How much length do you need?  How wide is lace?  Knowing the answers to these questions gives you the right guidance on where to attach the lace.

Locations of dashed blue ink pen lines atop lace edge are indicated by red arrows.

10.  Measure desired distance between raw edge at bottom of jean leg and top edge of lace and mark jeans with a little dashed line ----- using a fabric marker. (Because my blue denim jeans were quite dark, I used a blue ink pen to mark the dashes.)  Move your tape over an inch or so and make another mark. Repeat all the way around both jean leg bottoms.  This is your guide.

11.  Put folded-under edge of lace against right side of jeans, place lace on jean so that top of lace just touches bottom of dashed lines starting at inside jeans seam.  Machine baste lace to one jean leg.

12. Try on jeans.  Do you like the finished length? If the answer is yes, then machine stitch lace to both jean legs.  If the answer is no, then remove basting stitches, adjust lace accordingly, and then machine stitch.

13. Allow lace to overlap itself up to 1/4" or so after you stitch around full circle of jean leg and come back to inseam. 

NOTE: Stretch lace may overlap at the top first before it overlaps at the bottom as shown in the photo below. If this happens to you, simply adjust the amount of overlap accordingly.

14. Machine or hand stitch top layer of lace over bottom layer at overlap.

15.  Trim any excess lace on top near stitching.

Now you have some cute, boutique-style jeans.  Wear them and enjoy the compliments.

This post is shared at:

The SITS Girls Saturday Sharefest February 22, 2014



Chic on a Shoestring: Flaunt it Friday  194




Sewlicious Home Decor: Saturday Showlicous Craft and Recipe Showcase February 22, 2014

Threading My Way: Threading Your Way - Pants for Women

Sew Crafty Angel: Turn It Up Tuesday #22

Sew Many Ways: Sew Darn Crafty Linky Party February 16, 2014

Sew Can Do: Craftastic Monday Link Party

Valentine's Day Tech Gift from HUBBY Scores Big with This Blogger!! Gateway NE 52219u Notebook PC Review

Happy Valentine's Day!  I am the luckiest gal in the .  HUBBY is so good to me.  Every year, without fail, he brings home my favorites - long stemmed red roses and gourmet chocolates.  Who could ask for more?  

This year, HUBBY went all out to give me something that I really wanted and needed.  A new Gateway NE52219u Notebook Computer! 

I know most people replace their desktops and laptops every few years.  We are NOT most people. Wanna see our tech history?  Read the very first Fresh Juniper blog post. The last NEW computer we purchased was in 2004.  It was a Dell PC running Windows XP with a Pentium IV processor.  HUBBY has kept it working fairly well.  He upgraded the monitor, the RAM, the hard drive, etc.  The Dell still works, but the 5 year old flat screen monitor finally crashed.  It was a big tech reversal for us.  HUBBY hooked the DELL up to an old-school monitor.  Remember the ones that were bigger and heavier than a microwave oven?  Yep, that's the dinosaur now occupying a major portion of the dining room. 

Thanks to my dearly beloved HUBBY, today I enter the blogosphere with a new and modern vehicle.  FYI don't judge me or my ability to write a laptop review by my former lack of tech advances at home.  HUBBY is certified A+ Comp Tech.  I work in a modern office with plenty of PC power.  

I love the new Gateway Laptop.  For those of you who need specs, here is the label.  

  
 As I said, it is a Gateway NE52219u. It has:

OS: Windows 8.1  OS
Pr3 Loocessor: AMD Quad Core A4 5000
LCD: 15.6 WXGA Acer Cinecrystal LED LCD
Memory: 8GB DDR
Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 8330
Hard Drive: 1 Terabyte
Webcam
Bluetooth
Microsoft Office

and so much more.

This baby zips through tasks like a hot knife through butter.  It is so lightweight and easy to handle.  I'm finally learning the Windows 8.1 OS.  

Wanna know how I got it?  FlexPay.  Yep, that's right.  I am a big fan of Home Shopping Network, aka HSN.  Don't judge me.  Remember my introductory blog post. We still don't have cable television.  Rural life, right!

There are only SO many channels available to regular free TV viewers.  HSN is one of my favorites.  I'd been watching them show this laptop off and on since just before Christmas 2013.  I lusted after the 8G RAM and everything that came with this package.  

FlexPay is HSN's way of letting a customer pay out the purchase over time with no credit card and no interest.  It's kinda like layaway, but you get the merchandise immediately with the first payment instead of waiting till it's paid off to bring it home.  Pretty awesome of them, I know.  

Another thing - their unbeatable 30 day money back guarantee.  Try it out for yourself.  If you don't like it, send it back.  No need to invent a reason to return it, just tell the truth and send it right back. They stand behind everything they sell.

FYI this post is not sponsored by anyone.  I just wanted to share something wonderful with you.

This post is shared at:

The SITS Girls Saturday Sharefest February 22, 2014

Seen Along A Road In Texas - Lone Star Legends #3 - Dr. Who's Toyota

Surprises have become the norm for me when driving along Texas roads. I save the best ones to share with y'all here on FJ's Seen Along A Road In Texas - Lone Star Legends.  I'd like to present edition #3 - Dr. Who's Toyota.  This post is dedicated to all the Whovians in the blogosphere. 

Surprise!  When the Tardis is in the shop, Dr. Who drives his other car - a silver Toyota.