How to Turn Regular Jeans Into Skinny Jeans for Boots

Revive your wardrobe by altering your jeans.

Skinny jeans are fashionable and tuck easily into boots to give you a lean silhouette, but it may be difficult to find a pair that fits properly. If you have a favorite pair of jeans that fit at the waist and hips, but are boot-cut or flare legs, you can make them into skinny jeans. The alterations work best on jeans that contain some Lycra. Taper the jeans from the hip to the hem for the best results.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• Straight pins
• Fabric chalk pencil
• Scissors
• Sewing machine or hand sewing needles
• Thread

Instructions

1. Put on the jeans inside out. Put a pin in the fabric next to your hip to mark the spot.

2. Pin the outside leg fabric vertically from the hip to the hem to create the fit you want. Take off the jeans.

3. Lay the jeans on a table and use the ruler and chalk pencil to draw a straight line connecting the pin at the hip to the pin at the hem.

4. Draw another line 1/2" away from the sewing line.

5. Cut the jeans at the outside chalk line to remove excess fabric. Sew the leg with a 1/2" seam allowance.

Tips & Warnings

• For the best fit, the tapering should be gradual from the hip to the hem.

• Make sure the leg opening of your jeans is wide enough before you cut them.

• The hem may be too thick to go under the machine's needle. If that happens, sew the hem by hand.

References

• "Vogue Sewing"; Vogue Editorial Board; 1980

Resources

• "Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing"; Editors of Reader's Digest; 1981