Shortalls totally rock.
Overalls aren't just for farmers, country bumpkins or toddlers. They are part of mainstream fashion, not just in denim, but in bright colors and floral prints. The bib top is not only seen with pants like traditional overalls, but also on shorts, mini skirts and maxi skirts. The overall look is classic and comfortable. It's easy to transform a pair of jeans into a cute pair of bib overall shorts.
Instructions
Getting Started
1. Lay your jeans flat on a table and cut off the waistband. Be sure to cut very close to but not through the seam line. Set aside. You can use this waistband on another project.
2. Cut off the legs of your jeans a couple of inches below the crotch. Use your ruler so you have an even length. Draw a line with your chalk. The length is up to you. If you want "Daisy Duke" cutoff-style bib overalls, then cut off the legs at the crotch. If you like a longer short length with a finished look, cut the legs to the length you'd like. Add a ½ inch to turn the hem under and stitch for a clean look. Keep in mind you will need the lower part of the legs for the bib top and straps.
3. Stitch your hems with two rows of stitches like on traditional jeans.
Finish the hem on the shorts. Fold the leg hems up ¼ inch then fold over again and stitch down.
4. Measure with your measuring tape across your chest for the width of your bib. Measure from where you want the top of your bib to be to where you want it to join your shorts. This will be the size block you will cut for your bib.
5. Measure from where the back waistband of your shorts will sit to the middle of your shoulder blades. This will be the center back strap of your overalls. Measure over your shoulder from where you want the top edge of your bib to be to the middle of your shoulder blades. This is the measurement you will use to make your shoulder straps. Be sure to add a ½ inch to all measurements for turning the edges for a finished hem.
Making the Bib Front, Center Back Strip and Bib Pocket
6. Lay the right pant leg flat in front of you. You will be marking and cutting out the bib, center back band and bib pocket from this leg. Use the inside seam and the lower hem as a guide to measure your bib. Measure and mark the full length of the bib but only half the width since the jeans are folded in half, the inseam will be in the middle of your bib.
7. Use the top line of the bib piece as a guide and measure up from that line the length of your center back strap.
8. Decide how big you'd like the pocket on the front of your bib to be. Use the hem of your jeans and the line of the side of your bib as the top and sides of the pocket. Draw a square for a square pocket. If you'd like it to look more like a jean pocket, slightly angle the bottom edge. Keep in the mind the top edge is the finished hem of your jeans.
9. Cut out the bib, pocket and back strap pieces. Unfold the bib and pocket pieces and lay flat on the table. Cut the back strap piece in half on the inside leg seam.
10. Fold the edges of the bib, pocket and back strap in ¼ inch, then over again and stitch the finished hems down. Center the pocket on the front of your bib and stitch down leaving the top open.
Making the Waistband and Shoulder Straps
11. Lay the left pant leg flat in front of you. Measure from the inside seam to the middle of the jean leg and draw a line from the lower hem to the top edge. Be sure the line is straight with the inside seam. Cut the jeans apart on this center line through, the jean leg will be in two pieces. The piece with the inside seam is your waistband, set aside.
12. Remove the outside seam from the other half. You now have two strips that are your shoulder straps. Fold over all edges ¼ inch, fold over again and stitch down. Make the button holes on the end of each strap by drawing a line a little smaller than your button 1 inch from the end of each strap. Zigzag stitch around each hole.
13. Lay the back strap flat on the table. Align the shoulder straps with the top edge of the back strap so you create a Y shape. The shoulder straps need to be sewn on at an angle to be able to go over your shoulders and join the bib. Once you're happy with your positioning pin the two shoulder straps together where they and sew together You'll be sewing on an angle and your stitching should make a triangle between the two straps.
With right sides together pin the shoulder straps to the top edge of the back strap and sew together.
14. Unfold the waistband piece, and re-fold in half the long way, right sides facing and sew the ends together. Poke on hole on each side of the center seam. You will be feeding the waistband tie through these holes. Fold the waistband in half on what was the jean leg inside seam.
15. Sew the open end of this fabric waistband together using the presser foot as a guide. Pin the side of the waistband you just stitched to the top of the shorts, right sides facing and sew together. Double stitch for durability.
Joining the Top to the Bottom
16. Lay your shorts face up and align the middle of your bib to the middle of the front of your shorts. Pin the bottom edge of the bib to the top edge of the shorts and stitch together.
17.Flip the shorts over and align bottom edge of the back strap to the center of the top edge of the shorts. Pin together and sew.
18. Hand sew a button in the top corners of the bib.
19. Attach a safety pin to one end of the string, poke it through one of the waist band holes, feed it through the waist band and out the other hole. Knot the ends of the string.
20. Step into your overalls shorts, button the straps to the bib, tighten and tie the string in your waistband and head out to play.
Tags: back strap, inside seam, shoulder straps, your shoulder, middle your, your jeans, your shorts