Khaki Long Capris To Bermuda Shorts Plus Small Back Booty Gap Fix

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• 

  Step 1

  So first put on your capris and decide how short you want your shorts to be. Make a note (somehow, whichever method you prefer. I just used pencil marks.)of where you want to cut. Leave extra fabric so you can sew a nice, neat hem.

  For example, my hem is half an inch, so I left an inch extra so I would have enough material to fold over later to sew the hem.
  If you want a wide hem, add about 2 1/2 inches: the first 2 inches will be so when you fold, the hem will be sewn 2 inches higher up from the edge you are forming; the last 1/2 inch is for folding underneath that top edge to sew the fraying edges into the inside of the hem.

  I had forgot to take a before picture so I took this one afterwards.

• Step 2

  Take them off and put them flat on the floor and make sure the marks are all even, at least roughly.

  NOTE: the marks will not line up as a straight line! It will make a slight V from the inner leg-line to the outer leg-line when laid flat out on the floor. Just make sure it's not all off or that one leg is marked higher than the other.

  Also, since you will be using the very edge of the material (where you cut) on the inside of the hem, and you will not see it, you don't have to really make this cut very straight. However, I DO recommend that you do because this will make it easier when it comes to folding and making the hem even.

  Cut along the line you have created making sure to leave the extra material.

• 

  Step 3

  Turn your shorts inside out (if you haven't already).
  Actually, if you like the look of the hem on the outside then you can leave your shorts like they are. This will only work on khakis though because if the inside of the pants aren't the same color as the outside, then the hemline will come out as the inside color. But again if you like that look, go right ahead, it's your creation!

  Take the new edge and fold it up about 1/2 inch to 1 inch (you don't an entire inch to sew over, but it just might be easier for you to fold over more material) and making a crease (I just swiped the ruler across it with some pressure, but you can use an iron if you prefer).
  Do this for both sides.

  The next amount you fold over will determine how high up your seam will be. This may or may not matter to you, but if it does, then measure or estimate how high or low you want the visible sewn line to be.

  Since mine was only half an inch I folded the edge up again only half an inch.
  If you wanted an 2 inch hem width(?), then fold the new creased edge up 2 inches.

  Crease it again to make it run soother under the sewing machine foot and to help you see if everything is even.

• 

  Step 4

  Pin about where you want the sewn line to be and do it all the way around on each leg.

• 

  Step 5

  Sew with your sewing machine using a straight stitch. Make sure to pick a thread you are comfortable being visible on the outside because it WILL show up!

  If you are doing it by hand, thread your needle and sew in a small knot to start off with, then sew up, across, and under... up, across, and under... And leave about half a pencil width between each new hole you poke.

  When you've gone all the way across, you will see that you are only halfway done. Sew another knot into the shorts and cut the extra thread.

  Do this again, going over the "bald" spots.

• Step 6

  Once you have done both sides of your shorts, you can turn them right side out again and try them on!

  Make any needed adjustments.

• 

  Step 7

  If you need to fix the back gap, you will now address that.

  With your shorts on inside out again, pinch the extra material and pin down along where it would make it fit (?? o_O).
  It doesn't have to look pretty right now.

  Measure the how long the extra fabric comes out to be and make note of it.

  I recommend dividing that measurement in two and separating the extra material among two separate flaps. (See the finished pic at the top)
  That way, when you sew down/off the extra material, it will leave a new line in your pants on both sides instead of just one awkward line on one side.

  ex.: If the extra material came out to about an inch, pinch each of the two new inside flaps half an inch long each.
  If you can do this with your shorts on go ahead and try to mark your shorts somehow (I used pencil again) along the triangle line that the extra fabric makes. Or if you can't, just try to pin off down the crease of the extra material and mark the triangle of the extra material after you take it off.

• Step 8

  I don't think you will have enough room to keep any pins in to sew this with the sewing machine (because I didn't), so just try to keep the triangle aligned and keep the stitches over the correct/inside triangle/V mark.

  Of course you can also do this by hand.

• 

  Step 9

  Sew both sides making sure that the new lines you will be making are somewhere you are okay with having them.

  Try them on and make any adjustments necessary.

  Obviously, I did not sew my two sides completely all the way down the V/triangle, simply because I didn't know how it would turn out. I may go back finish it up, but I don't care so much to do it right now.

  I hope this helps! :-D

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Andrea H. · Okinawa, Okinawa Prefecture, JP 15th September 2010

i get the booty gap in allll of my pants (except for when i buy misses/womens instead of juniors... but then those are too high up :/ )
thanks for the tip

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