The super impressive pinterest posts of DIY high waisted shorts are so daunting to me so I decided to go out and make my own, without directions! The hardest part, to say the least, was finding a pair of high waisted jeans at the thrift store that actually fit, but after 2 hours of hunting and 2 different thrift stores, I found a pair.
1. Go to your local thrift store, and find a pair of high waisted jeans. (these will probably look very ugly when you try them on and may even be too short like mine, but you are going to cut them anyways, so it does not matter)
2. Get over that fact that they look terrible, because your new shorts will be stylin'
Here I laid out the pair of jeans I bought to figure out exactly what I was doing. Make sure you try them on to make sure they are the right fit for you. If they are too tight, they may look odd.
This not so stylish crocheted sweater I found and thought the edges could be cut for the hem of the shorts.
3) Try on your jeans and mark using a piece of chalk preferably (I only had sharpie and was confident) and mark a good shorts length adding about 2 inches to make sure they work. (You can always cut them shorter, but can't make them longer)
4.) Then using fabric scissors, cut straight across where you made the mark all the way around each leg.
5.) They may not look even when you have cut them, but that's why we try them on :)
6.) Here I tried them on and cuffed them to the length I wanted.
7.) Next, take off the shorts and cut them to the new length and use the scissors to fray the ends or a more laid back distressed look.
8.) Take the lace you are using and cut about a foot and a half of 2 inch thick lace or however thick you'd like. 2 inches gives room to cut more if you'd like.
9.) Lay the lace around the shorts and cut off the extra length leaving about an extra inch.
10.) Next turn the shorts inside out. This step is optional. I just used fabric glue to secure the lace temporarily until I sewed it on. This made it easier on the sewing machine.
11.) This is how it should look on one leg and then continue to the other.
12.) Again, an optional step, but here I cut about and inch thick and 4 inches long wide piece and glued it right above the pocket. I though it added a unique touch.
13.) Next, if you don't think your shorts will be secure with the glue (the shorts probably won't make it through the wash with just glue) sew around each leg about 1/4th of an inch from the end of the shorts. Try and use a thread that will blend in with jeans.
14.) Make sure to close the part where the lace meets and overlaps slightly.
Super comfortable and easy to pair with a comfortable top.
Love the back
Thanks and check back for more DIY's soon!
