How to Make Straight Leg Jeans
Fashionable, straight leg jeans maintain a steady width from the crotch to the ankle, making them fairly forgiving. Making straight leg jeans can save you some money and can be a fun craft to make. You can also make straight leg jeans from old flared jeans, giving an old pair of jeans a great revamp and recycling something you were ready to throw out.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- About 2 yards of denim fabric (consult your pattern for more information)
- Sewing machine
- Denim sewing machine needle
- Thread
- Pins
- Zipper
- Button
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure yourself at the waist, hip and inseam, and take down the measurements.
-
2
Find a pattern for a straight-leg jean using the measurements taken in Step 1. See the Resources for some suggestions of patterns you can obtain online.
-
-
3
Get any added accessories you need for your jeans. Consult the pattern for this information. You will likely need a button and a zipper in addition to the fabric.
-
4
Cut out your pattern, making sure to add any gradual cuts for size adjustments. For example, if your waist measurement is 28 and your hip measurement is 40, cut the pattern size with a 40-inch hip measurement and cut at a gentle grade to the 28-inch waist measurement.
-
5
Pin your pattern pieces to your denim, and cut your fabric.
-
6
Follow your pattern instructions. Most frequently you will pin the front and back pieces together with right sides facing and sew down both open sides.
-
7
Join the pant legs at the crotch section, making sure to align the seams at the crotch.
-
8
Sew along the crotch using a 5/8-inch seam allowance.
-
9
Add your waistband, making sure to turn out the corners gently and trim any excess fabric.
-
10
Create and add your belt loops by following pattern directions.
-
11
Insert your zipper and button.
-
12
Hem your pants by flipping up the bottom hem 1/2 inch and then another 1/2 inch. Press them and sew down along the edge of the fold.
-
13
Cut off any excess fabric and wear your jeans.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You can make a straight leg jean from a flared pair by measuring straight down from where the flare begins. Measure the width of the knee and make sure it is the same width as your ankle opening. Pin along the length of the jean to make sure this is the case and sew down your jean. Backstitch at both ends and trim away any excess fabric. Each pattern for straight leg jeans is different, but the fundamentals are the same. Check your pattern for detailed instructions on how to go about constructing the style of straight leg jean you chose.
