If you're visiting from House of Estrela, welcome! Thanks for stopping by! If you enjoy this project, feel free to browse all of my refashions by clicking "Refashions" at the top of the page.
These pants are weird. They're too casual to be called slacks, and too dressy to look right with a t-shirt. They not blue, but they're not quite grey either. And to top it all off, they make my butt look awful (which I will not be sharing with the interwebs, thankyouverymuch). Since I bought them a couple years ago from the clearance rack at Target, I've worn them maybe half a dozen times.
As I was trying to decide how to improve them, all I could think was cargo pants. If only they had some extra pockets, then that murky blue-grey color would actually seem more appropriate. Obviously, I couldn't make matching pockets without losing some length, so I figured why not lose a lot of length? A cargo skirt would be perfect for summer!
The pants-to-skirt part was pretty much the same process I've done before with jeans. I began by trying them on and marking my skirt length with a safety pin. I then cut the legs off about 2 inches below the safety pin (for a nice, beefy hem later).
I picked out the inner seams.
Then I picked out the front seam up to the zipper and the back seam to the same height.
Next I sewed new front and back seams.
I top-stitched the new seams to match the old ones as best I could.
I folded up the bottom edge 1/2 inch, then again 1.5 inches for the beefy hem.
I decided to do two parallel lines of stitches to mimic the welted vertical seams.
With my skirt finished, it was time to make some pockets. From the leftover legs, I cut four squares about 5x5 inches (the fronts of the pockets), eight rectangles about 2.5x5 inches (the sides of the pockets), and four rectangles about 5x2.5 inches (the pocket flaps).
I paired off my pieces and sewed around the edges, leaving openings for turning them right-side-out.
Then (surprise!) I turned the right-side-out. I used the tip of my scissors to poke out the corners.
I top-stitched to close the openings on the top edge of the front and side panels, and along both sides and the bottom of the pocket flaps.
Each of the side panels got folded in half, and I sewed down the folded edge.
Then two side panels were sewn to each front panel.
And each set was attached to one side of the skirt.
One line of stitching across the bottom edge turned that pass-through into a pocket!
For the pocket flaps, I used the button hole feature on my sewing machine and then cut the little slip with my seam ripper.
I attached each flap with a line of stitching across the top edge.
Lastly, I sifted through my button stash for a couple buttons that matched the existing one on the waistband, and hand-stitched them onto the pockets.
I feel like, in its original state, these pants were trying so hard to be neutral that it just came across as boring. But now, I think it really does go with everything without risk of completely fading into the background.
Plus, the odd color makes a little more sense as a cargo skirt, to me at least.
Who needs a purse with pockets like these?
Cool Skirt!! I like how you created the roomy pocket by stitching on the fold of the side piece. Another winner!!
ReplyDeleteYep, polka dots and skirts with pockets - the two greatest loves of my life. Oh, and my husband. Yeah, him too. ;)
DeleteVery, very, VERY cute! Those pockets are put together wonderfully! I may have to use that method soon. :o)
ReplyDeletewww.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com
Please do! And let me know if I didn't explain myself clearly anywhere.
DeleteYour work is so fine, Carissa - it makes all the difference to the end product.
ReplyDeleteQuestion - do you actually use the cargo pockets instead of a purse? I feel stupid saying it, but I never would have thought of doing that :)
All the time! I don't like to carry a purse if I'm just running to the grocery store or taking Laika to the dog park or such as that. Keys in one pocket, phone, wallet in the other, and I'm all set!
DeleteReally no different than side pockets, now that I think about it.
Deleteoh so nice! and you look so great in it! Love the white shirt combo!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteA great refashion!!! Love how you've kept the pockets.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pam!
DeleteI am so late visiting everyone's posts... sorry!
ReplyDeleteI really liked this refashion. It surely looks so much better on you now than it did before as their first life as pants. Great job (again!).
No problem! Thanks again for the opportunity to share with your readers!
DeleteMost organizations have a clothing standard for their workers. Normally, you will need to be familiar with your works clothing regulation principles before shopping. houston embroidery
ReplyDeleteWith the growth of international trading, marine cargo or ocean freight has taken the center stage. The goods are transported from one continent to other via ships in large containers. Marine cargo transportation has its own draw backs, during transportation the large containers might shift and fall overboard especially when the ship has to negotiate large waves. Sometimes due to unexpected weather changes the ship along with its cargo might be lost in the sea. There are always chances of the cargo being damaged while using large cranes in the port. tengeri szállítmányozás
ReplyDeleteIn the event that you need to show your bends, you can choose to wear a low ascent or a tight small skirt. Leslie Jean Designs
ReplyDelete