Carhatts... got to love 'em

Ok, how many pairs of beat-up Carhartts do you really need?... One? Two? maybe three, if you are lucky enough to have a job that allows you to wear them without getting a serious hairy eyeball from your boss?

In cleaning out my closet yet again, I set aside two honorary pair to keep, and two of the more beat up ones to donate. (does anybody really buy these from the thrift store?) It's painful, you know, to give up something that's been with you for so many years. Through the thick and thin. On all those crazy camping trips, on million degree desert hikes, up mountains full of fluffy snow, and even to class and hung out with you at the hip coffee shops. An old pair of Carhartts are like a right of passage. They say, "the gal wearing these is tough, fun, and not afraid of anything".

Here's the thing... you don't have to get rid of them! With a little time, some scissors and thread, you can turn your old pants into your new favorite Carhatt skirt. This is a skirt your husband will be proud to take you out dancin' in. Just throw it on with a tank top, some cowboy boots and a hat and you'r ready to go.

Here's how to do it:

cut the legs off above the knee.

cut the front to just below the zipper. Be sure to cut as close to the folded seem* as you can.

Cut up the back to just between the pockets.

Lay your skirt as flat as you can. The old seem will curve.

Pin the two sides together flat.

Zig-zag the two sides together up from the bottom, and when you get the the folded seem*, sew right on top of it with a straight stitch til you get to the zipper.

(There, unfortunatley, always be a small pucker just below the zipper, but you'll be the only one who notices.)

Do the same thing on the back.

When this is done try on the skirt and decide how short you want it. Trim is a tiny bit longer than you want because it'll fray.

Finally sew a straight all the way around the bottom. This will keep your new skirt from fraying away to nothing.

* when I talk about the folded seem, I'm talking about that super fatty industrial strength one that was there holding your pants together.

Just in time for spring!

ps. notice the tall hotpink uggs. I fould them at the Aspen Thrift Store... and in my size!