DIY Network

Blue Jean Gauchos Flatter your figure with these great gauchos. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-606

Put some sassy swing into those old jeans!

Old jeans never die, they just turn into something new.

Like most of us, Michele Beschen hates to get rid of a beloved pair of old jeans. She'd rather B. Original and turn them into a new piece of fashion.

In this project, she grabs some charming vintage fabric and transforms old blue jeans into a new pair of gauchos. Bolder than bell-bottoms, these swingy, swirly pants flatter the figure and show off your creativity. Scroll down to see how to make your own.

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Blue Jean Gauchos

Materials:

old pair of jeans
cloth measuring tape
vintage fabric
seam ripper
straight pins
sewing machine

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Note: For this project, choose a pair of jeans that fit well through the hips. Baggy jeans don't work as well.

• Measure the jeans from the top of the waistband to the bottom of the crotch. Use a seam ripper to open up the inseam and outside seam on both legs to the same distance from the waistband (figure A).

• Decide whether to make gauchos that end just below the knee or go all the way to ankle length. If the gauchos will be shorter than the original jeans, mark the length on the jean leg.

• Measure from the bottom of the crotch to the bottom of the pant leg or the mark for the bottom of the gauchos.

• Create a paper template in the shape of a long, narrow triangle (figure B). The triangle should be at least as long as the length from the crotch to the bottom of the gauchos. The wider the triangle, the wider the flare on the pants.

• Use the template to cut four fabric inserts. Michele Beschen likes to use vintage fabric for this project because it looks great with denim.

• Keeping right sides together, place one fabric insert on the jeans with the tip of the triangle toward the crotch (figure C). Pin the triangle into place and sew with a straight stitch on a sewing machine about 1/2" from the edge (figure D).

• Repeat to sew the other side of the triangle.

  Note: The crucial part of this project is getting the tops of the triangles sewn so they don’t pucker. Leave about an inch open at the crotch, the come back and hand-stitch those areas after the long seams are complete (figure E).

• Turn the gauchos right side out, smooth them out and press the seams open with a hot iron.

• Instead of hemming, Michele Beschen prefers to trim the excess fabric evenly along the bottom and let the edges fray.

• For a different look, try centering the fabric inserts on the front and back of the legs instead of placing them at the sides.