How to Make Skinny Denim Jeans
Skinny jeans have come into popularity once again in recent years as styles move toward a leaner leg paired with loose, blousy tops and the ever-trendy dress and jeans combination. With the increase in popularity comes all of the trouble of fitting this style of jeans to a wide variety of body type. Often with commercial skinny jeans, it is difficult to find a pair that fits both the leg and the waist areas properly. The simplest way to ensure you have a pair of great-fitting skinny jeans is to alter an existing pair of looser-fitting jeans.
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Instructions
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Find a pair of jeans that fit you well in the waist and seat. The style of the leg does not matter so use jeans you already own or buy a cheap pair from a thrift store. Jeans with a slight stretch to the denim will be more comfortable to wear as skinny jeans. Turn the jeans inside out and try them on. Adjust the jeans so that they lay flat against your legs. If the hem is too long, roll up the bottom while you work so that the sagging fabric does not get in the way.
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Find a friend to help you pin your jean legs. Make sure the side seams of each leg are straight, and then have the friend pin each side of each leg closer to your leg. Do not make the jeans too tight against your legs. Leave a little room at the ankle, in particular, so that you can slip your foot out of the jeans. If necessary, pin all the way up the thigh or over the crotch seam. Make sure your pins meet the existing inseam wherever you finish at the top if you are not creating a new crotch seam.
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Carefully take the jeans off, trying not to stick yourself with the pins. Lay the jeans flat against the floor and neaten your pin lines. If you would like a more direct stitching guide, trace the pin line with a fabric pencil.
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Stitch along your lines on the sewing machine, making sure to tie off the thread ends. Double-stitch around the crotch area for durability. When you are finished, put the jeans on inside out again to make sure you have the fit you want. If you need to adjust the seams, tear out the stitches with a seam ripper in the problem areas and re-stitch them.
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Cut the spare fabric off the jeans, leaving at least 1/4-inch seam allowances on each side. Press the seam allowances flat; zigzag stitch the edges so that they do not fray. Turn the jeans right side out and iron them.
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Tips & Warnings
To strengthen your new crotch seam even more, hand sew all along the seam with a backstitch with a double layer of thread.
