It’s so easy to not get dressed. To throw on trackies or gym gear and call it done. I know because I used to do it a lot. Then I got into sewing and I had so many nice things to wear, yet still those comfy trackies called to me. So in a brave move, I threw them all out except a pair of thin black ones for wearing while getting all DIY dirty. It really helped me get out of the habit of dressing like I was on the couch when I was actually out in public. But you know, sometimes I am on the couch and it’s nice to be warm and comfy there. I love to get dressed dressed these days, so there’s no danger in owning some comfy lounge wear. I pinkie swear I’ll never wear them out of the house unless it’s a one item supermarket number. Okay? As usual, finding what I want in a shop, in my size proved painful. Time for some quick refashioning!
Armed with a pair of standard, fleecy trackies some sewing supplies I hit the sewing machine! Here are the sad looking original tracks in their original state. You may remember them from this op shop haul. Trust me, I didn’t even try to make them look bad. You must know that I love you very much because I put up such hilariously awful pictures of myself for your viewing pleasure. I know that almost no one looks great in sweat pants (well maybe the young and thin) but I thought I could improve these.
I wanted to tailor them into the currently trendy jogger style. Since I don’t own any joggers to trace for shape, I used my jeans. I made sure the track pants were very flat and aligned at the seams (same for my jeans) and laid out the jeans on top, making sure to align the outer leg seams. I traced a chalk line where the new seam would be.
I used a lightening bolt stitch and stitched up one leg and down the other. I tried the sweats on inside out, to check the fit before trimming away the excess. Since they are made of knit there is no need to finish the seam. While I had them on I decided how much I wanted to shorten them (keeping in mind I was adding a leg band) and trimmed that away too.
I cut some knit ribbing to make the cuff. Long enough to go around both ankles with seam allowance and for the width I decided how long the cuff should be, doubled it and added 2.5cm or 1″ seam allowance. Again, using a ligntening bolt stitch, I sewed the short ends together in a tube. I folded that in half (seam to the inside) to form the cuff. I used pins to divide both the cuff and the pant leg into fourths and slipped the cuff over the pant leg, all three raw edges aligned. I pinned the seam of the cuff to the inside seam of the leg and continued around, matching up the pins. I stitched the cuff to the pants, stretching the cuff to meet the pants.
Then all I had to do was flip them right side out, slide them on and hit the couch! Well, unless there is a dog (or cat) in your spot. I am actually really pleased with how they turned out, even if I am no supermodel in them. They are pretty cute, definitely comfortable and the more enclosed leg does keep you toasty. This is total beginner easy and I love the difference it makes. Being able to tailor my wardrobe is awesome, even for the humble sweat pant! Let me know if you have a go at yours…..
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