This week on the Love to Sew Podcast we both tackled a ‘thrift flip’! Taking an item from the thrift store and transforming it. We talked at length about our projects over on the podcast so definitely go and give that a listen. Also be sure to check out Caroline’s table cloth to blouse transformation! I took a pair of mens jeans that were way too small and added a second pair of jeans to the sides, but UPSIDE DOWN! Let’s take a look.
I got the inspiration for this flip from Pinterest. I saw a couple of variations on this and I was immediately so intrigued. The pants seem to work together so well and the back pocket overlaps onto the back which is so cool. I loved everything about it! I got myself a cool pair of mens skater jeans from the brand ALAB and I used a pair of Sam’s old Levis for the sides.
In addition to the upside down side panels I also covered the patch on the back of the jeans with a custom denim quilt star. I made this quilt star from the leftovers from the Levis and the different colours are simply different areas on the jeans that were more/less worn out. I am really proud of this detail! I pieced it, turned the outer edges under, wonder taped it on to the pocket, and hand sewed it down so that the pocket is still usable.
As for adding the side panel to the jeans, I first had to open the sides on the main pair. I even cut right through the waistband because the jeans were too small for me anyways. I unpicked the sides so I could keep the nice aged edge of the jeans when I stitched it back together. I also separated the Levis into two separate legs, both open at the inseam.
I was then able to experiment with pinning the levis into the opening upside down. They fit really well height-wise, which was nice. I wasn't too worried about what was happening at the very top as long as it was longer than the Alab jeans because I was going to add a new waistband piece anyways. Lining everything up at the hem was more important.
I partially unpicked the pocket on the Levis so I could overlap it onto the Alab jeans. I also partially unpicked the waistband of the Levis so that I could sew it back on at more of an angle to get it to line up with my Alab jeans hem. It is hard to explain, but I essentially pinned and un-pinned and re-pinned and un-picked and re-sewed until everything was lining up how I wanted.
I tried the pants on several times with the pins in and I stabbed myself so many times. In hindsight, safety pins would have been better. I wanted to make sure they fit how I wanted before sewing!
Once the sides were pinned in place, I topstitched them twice, using the already folded edge of the side seam on the original pair of jeans. I just did two lines of topstitching. I then folded the back pocket over top and sewed that in place, too. I sewed the front pocket on the Levis closed so it wouldn't hang open at the hem. I trimmed off any excess Levis on the inside of the pants and serged the edges to finish them.
Once the sides were done I just added a new section of waistband to fit my waist. I used the old Levis scraps for this too. I measured and pinned and tried it on and then I sewed it once I was sure of the fit. I had to unpick the Alab waist quite a bit to be able to sew this new little piece on. It was finicky but once it was on, I could tuck the top of the Levis in there and neatly re-finish the waistband. I also re-sewed the Levis belt loops on to this area to make it feel more finished.
I did struggle at the front pockets where there was hardware on the Alab jeans, In hindsight, I should have tried to take that hardware off so it wouldn't be in the way, but I left it on and did my best to sew around it and make it look cool with some bartacks. It’s pretty good but it could be better.
I used gold topstitching thread throughout and it doesn't perfectly match either of the original jeans topstitching, but I like the combination of all of the different stitching. It makes it feel like a mash-up, which is exactly what it is! I had to blend the topstitching together in several areas and it looks cool how it changes from one colour to the next.
I LOVE THIS MAKE! It’s creative, it’s cool, and it was an interesting learning experience to sew. It felt harder in some ways than sewing jeans from scratch and I think it exercised my creative brain a lot. Thrift flipping is fun for that reason! There is a lot of problem solving involved. I am really glad I went for it and I feel very cool in my new baggy jeans!
