Easy DIY for lazy people
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Easy DIY for lazy people

You will not believe this, but I finally did a DIY project! A very easy, sorta bootleg DIY project, but still… Trust me when I say this is a major accomplishment for someone as lazy busy as me.

The project

I bought a pair of black and white striped rayon pants at Goodwill last weekend (I was actually there to donate some stuff, but you know how that goes). They’re run-of-the-mill rayon, elastic waist, straight-leg pants–exactly what I was looking for, but I wanted to make them a bit more harem-ish:

Step 1

I rummaged through my dusty craft container and found a spool of  black satin ribbon, then grouped the pants, ribbon, and a bobby pin (more on that later) on the counter.

Step 2

I cut a small, (approx. 1/2 inch) vertical slit in the hem of the pants. These happened to have a pre-made slit, so I just sliced through it. Don’t bother measuring–it’s not that serious.

Step 3

Cut a length of ribbon approx. 2 times the circumference of the hem. Again, measurements are for losers–just eyeball it and you’ll be okay.

Now, this is where it gets bootleg: wrap one end of the ribbon around the bobby pin. This is what we’ll use as a “needle.”

Step 4

Thread the ribbon through the hem, in one side of the slit and out the other .* The bobby pin makes it easy to grasp the ribbon through the fabric, so just scrunch and pull until it comes through the other side:

Step 5

Now gather the hem, tie a bow et voila! Easy, comfy, pseudo-harem pants!

Rock ’em and enjoy the breeze!

What do you think? Useful or extra-bootleg?

*That’s what she said.

17 Comments
  • theFabChick

    June 2, 2010 at 8:29 am

    Love this! Very Cute!

  • D R E W

    June 2, 2010 at 9:28 am

    i like it!

    it’s only a matter of time before we start “pegging” our trousers again, circa 1987. i see all those euro kids doing it on the streetwear/style blogs.

    • tamia

      June 2, 2010 at 3:00 pm

      I actually have a pair of jeans I’ve been pegging for a few years, mostly due to the fact that they somehow turned into high-waters. Funnily enough, I hated the style back in 8th grade when everyone was doing it!

  • Jenna Colombini

    June 2, 2010 at 11:17 am

    LOVE. THIS. SO. MUCH!

  • Alicia

    June 2, 2010 at 1:29 pm

    T, that isn’t bootleg! You made a casing without sewing and threaded ribbon through relatively the same way elastic is threaded through (safety pin is usually used).

    If it works, it works. =D

  • Jenny

    June 7, 2010 at 5:45 am

    This is an awesome DIY! Thanks so much for posting it.And vertical-striped, pegged-leg pants are beyond amazing!

  • Curlychronicles

    June 10, 2010 at 8:34 am

    I love it when others get the “that’s what she said” moments.. makes life that much better!
    Really cute idea, I’m gonna try this out with slacks I’m bored with! 🙂

  • Janell

    June 11, 2010 at 7:41 am

    love what you did with the pants. i featured your post on my blog roll this week.

    gonna try to diy it myself. love it

    • tamia

      June 11, 2010 at 8:23 am

      Thanks, Janell!

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  • pennerad

    June 27, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    cool! i wish i could even find the start product but haven’t been too successful in my thrifting of late.

    • tamia

      June 29, 2010 at 10:51 am

      There are times of plenty and times of famine when thrifting, I know. Persistence is key!

  • sosweetimwicked

    July 12, 2010 at 6:22 pm

    love this! thanks for the tutorial! i am so going to try this!

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  • Sasha-Shae

    August 16, 2010 at 9:01 pm

    I love it!!! Thanks for sharing!