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Although jeans styles in stores vary widely, giving a girl lots of options, the creatively chic among us might still want to leave our mark on a favorite pair or two. Craft-conscious stylistas often choose to decorate their jeans with beads, drawn designs and patches, but they can also add ruffles for a cute, colorful look. Sweeten up your style by adding a few ruffles to the bottoms of your jeans or capris.
The Game Plan
Measure the circumference of the hem of your jeans with a cloth measuring tape. Add 1/2 inch to this measurement so that you have enough room for seam allowances, then double the whole measurement. Decide how long you want your jeans ruffle to be, then add 1-1/2 inches to this measurement for hem allowances and seam allowances. Cut two rectangles from your ruffle fabric that are as wide as your circumference measurement and as long as your length measurement.
Ruffle Assembly
Match the long edges of a fabric rectangle together, with the patterned sides of the fabric facing each other. Pin the edges, then sew them together 1/2 inch away from the edges. This uses up your seam allowance measurement and turns your fabric into a loop. Do the same thing to the other fabric rectangle, then iron both seam allowances open. Sew a long line of gather stitches around one end of each fabric loop.
Finishing the Ruffle
Fold the opposite edge of each fabric loop 1/2 inch to the inside, then another 1/2 inch to the inside to make hems. Pin the folds down. Sew these folded edges on your sewing machine, 1/4 inch away from the edges, then iron them flat. Turn your attention to the other edge of each loop. Pull on the gather stitches and adjust the fabric to make ruffles that are the same circumference as the hem of your jeans legs.
Jeans Attachment
Match the ruffle edges with the jeans hems, with the patterned side of the ruffles touching the outside of the jeans legs. You can do this by turning each ruffle inside out and sliding them over the bottom of the jeans. If your jeans have a really thick hem, trim the hem off the legs so that the thick fabric won't get in the way. Pin the bottom edges of the jeans and ruffles together. Sew 1/2 inch away from the edges to attach the ruffles, then turn the ruffles right side out and iron the seam flat.
