My gf with her total lack of insulation, decided she wanted some warmer pants for riding... But didn't want to go buy frosty-the-snow-person pants... so, ever creative, she started to imagine...
The next thing I knew we were at the fabric store examining fabrics and picking the brains of the staff. We needed a wind-stopping layer and a warmth-retention layer... Supplies in hand, we returned home...
Needed:
Jeans, dragging jeans, other riding pants you can sew into (preferably a little larger than you need);
48" of Wind-stopper nylon (very thin, kills wind);
48" of flannel (good heat retension, some lofting, but without excess thickness and is soft on the skin).
Wash flannel in ice water, then in hot water to pre-shrink it. Tumble dry and lay flat while still warm (to help remove any wrinkles that might hamper sewing).
Turn jeans inside out before starting. In her case, she says the crotch area isn't a problem, just the legs, so the pants will only get the added layers from where the legs fold at the torso downwards to the bottom cuffs.
Depending on the size and cut of the jeans, you will want to decide if you want to sew the additions in as two pieces (outside seam to inside seam across the front, repeat for the rear), or as a single piece (inside seam to inside seam)... doing it as two pieces allows for a much better fit if the leg cut isn't perfectly straight. I tried to talk her into using snaps instead, but she didn't want to go that route.
Cut both fabrics to size in every direction, plus at least one inch over. Pin into place, with the flannel rolled over the edge of the nylon at the top & bottom edges (to help stop fraying, etc). Sew into place, then trim excess and add a few stitches as needed to hold them... boy, this would be so much easier if we owned a sewwing machine!
Check first leg for actual fitment on you (the wearer) before trying on 2nd leg; this will ensure you don't have to redo any mistakes on both legs...
When done, you will have an exceptionally warm, wind-proof set of winter jeans, good for whatever (including riding, if you're willing to ride in jeans).
More pics if you guys want as the project gets further progressed (she got sidelined by cookie making -- who am I to complain?).
Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet
The next thing I knew we were at the fabric store examining fabrics and picking the brains of the staff. We needed a wind-stopping layer and a warmth-retention layer... Supplies in hand, we returned home...
Needed:
Jeans, dragging jeans, other riding pants you can sew into (preferably a little larger than you need);
48" of Wind-stopper nylon (very thin, kills wind);
48" of flannel (good heat retension, some lofting, but without excess thickness and is soft on the skin).
Wash flannel in ice water, then in hot water to pre-shrink it. Tumble dry and lay flat while still warm (to help remove any wrinkles that might hamper sewing).
Turn jeans inside out before starting. In her case, she says the crotch area isn't a problem, just the legs, so the pants will only get the added layers from where the legs fold at the torso downwards to the bottom cuffs.
Depending on the size and cut of the jeans, you will want to decide if you want to sew the additions in as two pieces (outside seam to inside seam across the front, repeat for the rear), or as a single piece (inside seam to inside seam)... doing it as two pieces allows for a much better fit if the leg cut isn't perfectly straight. I tried to talk her into using snaps instead, but she didn't want to go that route.
Cut both fabrics to size in every direction, plus at least one inch over. Pin into place, with the flannel rolled over the edge of the nylon at the top & bottom edges (to help stop fraying, etc). Sew into place, then trim excess and add a few stitches as needed to hold them... boy, this would be so much easier if we owned a sewwing machine!
Check first leg for actual fitment on you (the wearer) before trying on 2nd leg; this will ensure you don't have to redo any mistakes on both legs...
When done, you will have an exceptionally warm, wind-proof set of winter jeans, good for whatever (including riding, if you're willing to ride in jeans).
More pics if you guys want as the project gets further progressed (she got sidelined by cookie making -- who am I to complain?).
Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet
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