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Char makes a new pair of shorts using thrifted dress pants.
Secondhand Sisters helps you navigate the dos and donโts of thrifting and upcycling. Weโre two sisters โ Char and Sophie โ who share a love of fashion and the planet. Check out more here!
How to Upcycle Pants into Shorts
Difficulty: 1/5
One of the most basic skills to have as a thrifter is to be able to turn pants into shortsโor even just adjust your pants hem a little shorter. This tutorial works for any pantsโdress pants, jeans, work pants, you name it. For warmer weather, this is an essential tutorial!
If your pants are tapered/fitted, you will need to use a smaller seam allowance so your hem will fold without puckering. If your pants are baggy or loose, you can use a larger seam allowance. Additionally, if you are working with a heavier material such as denim, ensure you use a denim needle when sewing.
What You Need
- Pants
- Chalk or a coloured pencil
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Iron and ironing board.
Directions
- Try on the pants you want to turn into shorts and mark how long you want your shorts to be with chalk or a coloured pencil.
- Lay the pants flat and mark your seam allowance below the line you drew.
- Measure from the hem of the pants to your seam allowance mark. Use this measurement to mark around the leg of the pants to ensure the same distance from the hem. Carefully cut along these marks.
- Mark the other pant leg with the same measurement from the hem and cut.
- Fold the new hem of the shorts up using half of your seam allowance measurement. Press with iron.
- Fold the hem up a second time using the same half-measurement, hiding the raw edge. Press with iron and pin.
- Sew neatly along the edge of your fold using matching thread and a straight stitch.
