Check out Georgia’s new cashmere pants.
Pretty cute eh? Even better, they cost me less than $5 and they are 100% cashmere! The best part –> I made them myself out of a thrift store sweater.
I am going to show you how. I want to apologize in advance, if I make errors in terminology etc.. This is only the 3rd or 4th time that I’ve used a sewing machine. I probably shouldn’t be showing anyone how to make anything with a sewing machine. The good news is, if I can do it, so can you!
Note: the sweater was washed and dried at least twice (hot wash, cold rinse, hot dry). This felts the wool.
I loosely used instructions found in this book. I am not so great at following instructions, even when I know nothing (like today), I tend to do my own thing.
Lay a pair of pants that you know fit your child on top of the adult sweater. This is your pattern for the new pants.
I used a pair of pants of Georgia’s that were actually getting too small (just in length), so I left about 1″ at the bottom for extra length. I am going to used the band of the sweater as the bottom of the pants, so I can avoid hemming. I pinned the pants to the sweater in about 1/2 dozen spots to keep it from shifting around.
Cut the pants out, adding about 1/2″ on the sides for seam allowance. Leave about 2″ on the top for the waistband. You probably won’t need this much (I didn’t), but it will leave you some leeway.
Cut out the second half of the pants, on the other side of the sweater. This time use the first set of legs you cut out and make the second set exactly the same size.
You should now have two identical sets.
Sew each set from the waist to the crotch. (see red line on photo)
Note: I was a bit worried about using a patterned fabric. In the end the stripes helped me keep the pants lined up. Unfortunately, it wreaked havoc on my camera. My apologies for the nasty photos.
Now unfold the two pieces. You should have front and back sides. Put them together with the ‘right-sides’ facing each other and pin the inside seam together. Sew them up –> from hem to crotch to hem. (see red line on photo).
Now pin and sew each outside seam.
At this point I put the pants on Georgia to determine exactly where I wanted the top of the waist to be. Leaving the pants inside out, I folded and pinned the waistband. I left enough depth for my 3/4″ elastic. I then sewed the pocket for the elastic, creating the waistband at the same time.
I had quite a bit of left over fabric around the waistband. As this fabric won’t fray, I trimmed the excess. It looks so much neater and will most likely be more comfy to wear.
I meant to leave a gap, so I could put the elastic in. I even marked the start and stop points, and then sewed right over them. It’s a good thing I used felted cashmere, it doesn’t fray. I cut a small hole and using a safety pin I threaded the elastic through.
Once through I overlapped the elastic by about one inch and sewed it together. I was going to sew a nice neat rectangle, but the sewing machine got away on me. You can see above that my sewing skills are HUGELY lacking.
They turned out pretty darn good anyway. My diligent pinning paid off and all the stripes line up nicely.
Georgia really likes them. She wore them all day.
Do you have any good ideas, for upcycling clothing? If so I want to know.
MK xo
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