Recycling Jeans to Shorts

So my pregnancy belly is starting to show and now none of my pants fit. But in an effort to save money I decided to go to the local goodwill or secondhand store to get some cheap maternity clothes. Unfortunately, the pickings were slim, especially in finding shorts. Being pregnant in the summer is definitely not a time to be wearing long pants, so instead of caving and buying brand new maternity shorts my mom suggested that we simply cut off the jeans to make shorts.

This is a great way to save money, especially if you already have a pair of pants that you want to cut off (maybe they have holes lower down) or you find some great pants at the second hand store that you just wish were shorts.

Step 1: Put on the pants and put a pin in the leg at the length you want them to be.

Step 2: Match the seams of the pants together. If you don't know what this means, it means find the thick sewn part of the pant legs (down by where your feet come out) and put all of the thick sections together. Make sure to lay the pants flat like this so that both pant legs are together. (The seam is the thick part in the middle of the pant leg on this picture)

Step 3: Measure 1" down from where the pin is. From that 1" down point measure down to the bottom of the pants. For me it was 18.5" so I'll use that measurement.

Step 4: Measure 18.5" (or whatever your measurement was) from the bottom of the pant leg up and cut the pants (one leg at a time). Make sure to move your measuring tape across the pants as you cut, don't just cut a straight line. Repeat this step for the other pant leg.

Step 5: Turn on the iron, roll the cut off part up 1/2" and iron it flat. Go all the way around the pant leg doing this.

Step 6: Roll the ironed pant leg up another 1/2", iron, and pin it all the way around the pant leg. Repeat steps 5 & 6 for the other pant leg.

At this point you should have both cut off pant legs rolled up 1/2" and ironed and then rolled up another 1/2" and pinned. This is how long your pants are going to be so if they're too long still, start over and cut them a little shorter.

Step 7: Fire up the sewing machine and start sewing. I started on the back side of the pants and did a back stitch, then just go all the way around until you come back to where you started, back stitch again, and you are done. Do this for both pant legs.

Step 8: Try on your brand new shorts and enjoy the summer!