Adding ‘Flare’ to Narrow-Legged Jeans
NewbieSewer
| Posted in General Sewing Info on
I am a new sewer & have been asked to alter an old pair of narrow-legged jeans by adding a ‘flare’ to the sides. They don’t want bell-bottoms, just a boot-cut. They also need to add 1 1/2″ to the length. The length should be fairly easy, as I will be adding the length in the form of a ‘cuff’ in the same material as the flare, but I’m stumped on where to start with the flare. How far up the leg to I start, how do I tell how wide it should be? Does anyone know of any websites that could give me a ‘visual’?
Replies
I don't have a visual, but this is what I would do: either (1) take a pair of jeans that already is the perfect flare, length, etc, measure front width and back width and make an inset to match. You may have to do this on outside and inside seams to keep the grain in the right place. (2) Open the legs to the knee on outer seam and have the wearer put them on. Pin paper (it's stiff and it will keep flat) under the opening adding equally to the front and back (again, grain). You will have a triangle that is wider at the bottom and goes to practically nothing at the top. I would make a designer decision to topstitch the jeans over this triangle, matching the original stitching on both sides. As you can see (2) is easier and more straightforward. God Bless You as you increase your sewing skills.
By the way, do you know that stores have jeans gold thread that will exactly match; use jeans needle (size 18 or 20) and use a jean-a-ma-jig or hump jumper (any place that sells notions) to lift the presser foot over the thick seams. Also, when you have that old thick seam crossing pinned on either side, put it on your wooden board and flatten that part with a hammer!
How funny, we used to do that to jeans back in the day. Flare on pants starts at the knee so that is how high the inset will have to go. The width of "boot cut" seems to vary with different designers, some of them looking more like bell bottoms to me than something that fits over a cowboy boot. I'll bet websites like Gap maybe, places that sell lots of currently in-fashion jeans, will have lots of pictures to look at.
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