Get Your Groove On

*welcome readers from One Pretty Thing!!!

Soooo happy to have you!!! :)

Today we are releasing our inner hippy chick. You know you want to. Just a few fun little crafts to embellish our jeans. Even modern day hippy chicks have to have at least one pair of these - it's in the rule book. It's easy and quick, and especially fun-loving for summer time.

You'll only need a pair of whatever jeans you decide to use - capris look cute too - and the usual sewing staples like a machine, pins, sharp fabric shears, etc. As far as the ribbon you choose, keep in mind: aim for at least an inch wide (I love 2 inch ribbon), and a woven fabric type will work best - a woven jacquard pattern for example, as opposed to a slick satin type. Remember, you will want to be washing these jeans and will want your ribbon to hold up. As far as yardage, usually one yard is near perfect, but I always get a little extra.
For my first pair of jeans, I am actually using the 2" ribbon to add 2" to the length. I get all my jeans on eBay (yup, I really do) and this seller had not mentioned that these jeans were "short" instead of "regular". I started by cutting the bottom hem off of the jeans - not something I would usually do - then reattaching it to the ribbon. So though you cut it off, you leave just enough jean material above the hem to reattach the ribbon. Don't worry - just stay with me.....
Next I am reattaching the top of the ribbon to my jeans - see how nice that looks? You would never know the bottom hem is actually separated from the jeans. Sometimes I scare myself.

Okay, here is how both legs turned out. Way cute, huh. I mean totally groovy :)

The second pair of jeans I embellished went much quicker of course, because all I did was sew the ribbon directly to the jeans, right above the hemline. In fact I hardly even had to use pins because I could use the hemline as a guide. It's kind of hard to tell, but in this picture I am folding the top edge of the ribbon under, before securing it to be sewn down.
Here the ribbon is placed down and I am about to sew over it horizontally. I also use a zig-zag stitch whenever possible (when it will not show) in order to make sure the weave of the ribbon is secure and will not unravel as it is washed, etc.
Here is the final outcome of this set of jeans. Much more subtle but still way cool :)Okay, onto the third pair of jeans and a project that is one of my favorite things to do EVER. It's the flower child in me - I just can't help it :)

The first thing you do is cut the hems off of your jeans - this time you will not be reattaching them so you can chuck 'em.
Then with your sharp fabric shears, start making thin vertical cuts into your jeans, about 1" high. It doesn't have to be perfectly precise - I just eyeball it - but it should at least be a fairly straight line.
Then taking a sharp object like a thumb tack or a large safety pin, start at the bottom of the cuts, and work your way up, snagging all the cut thread until it falls out. This isn't hard, but it's time consuming, so it's a great thing to do while watching TV or during a kids' lesson, etc. Add some hip ribbon, and the outcome is so full of fringy goodness that it's just downright groovalicious.

And now you've got your groove on :)