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On this episode of In The Know: Upcycled, style master and DIY magician, Wandy the Maker (@wandythemaker), shows you how to transform socks into super comfy, one-of-a-kind shorts with this easy upcycling tutorial.
What you’ll need:
30 Pairs of Socks
Step 1: Make your pattern out of a pair of shorts you already own
Wandy lays out a pair of well-fitting shorts on some pattern paper and traces around them, leaving half an inch of seam allowance on the sides. Do this for both the front and back of the shorts. Once you’ve traced your pattern, cut it out using scissors or a rotary set.
Step 2: Cut your socks
Lay your socks out flat and cut the cuff and leg off of them, separating the base from the top of the sock. Set the bottom of your sock to the side and cut open the leg pieces. You should do this for about 30 socks.
Step 3: Sew your socks together
Sew your socks together into one big sheet. Sew them one at a time, with the socks’ right sides facing together as you add to the sock strip. A single strip should be about 6 socks in length, and you should make about 5 of these strips, before sewing them all together to make one large square sheet. Repeat this process to make 2 sheets. Wandy uses a straight stitch with a quarter-inch seam allowance.
Step 4: Cut out your pattern
Lay your shorts pattern onto your socks sheet and cut them out. Do this for both the front and back patterns of your shorts. You should have 4 panels total by the end of this step.
Step 5: Sew your short panels
Pin your front and back panels together, with right sides facing each other. Then, sew them together using a straight stitch. Do this for both legs of the shorts.
Step 6: Sew the inseams
Turn one leg of your shorts right side out, and feed it through the other leg that’s still inside out so that the inseams line up. Then, pin them together at the seams and sew them together using a straight stitch with a quarter-inch seam allowance. Once the inseams are sewn, turn your shorts right side out.
Step 7: Create the elastic waistband
Using the leftover bases of the socks, cut off the toe and heel. Then cut the sock tube open to create a rectangle shape. Wandy uses about 14 rectangle pieces for this step. Once he’s cut enough sock pieces, he sews them together into a long strip.
Step 8: Make the pattern for your waistband
Using pattern paper, cut out a rectangle whose length is as wide as the top of your shorts, with a height that’s double the height of your elastic.
Step 9: Cut out your waistband pattern
Fold your sock strip in half and lay your waistband pattern on top of it, placing its end right up to the fold. Then, cut it out. Finally, sew the open ends of your sock strip together.
Step 10: Sew your waistband to the shorts
Pin your waistband (right side facing) to the top of your shorts and sew a straight stitch all the way around to attach it. Then, fold the top part of the waistband down towards the shorts and sew it to create a tube, leaving a 2-inch opening to insert the elastic. Once you’ve fed the elastic through, sew the open ends together to close up the hole and complete your shorts!
The post This easy DIY upcycling tutorial transforms socks into shorts appeared first on In The Know.
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