Fashion News
Designer Jeans You Make Yourself
By
May 7, 2006, 12:42

(ARA) – Designers jeans are all the rage with everyone from celebrities and stylish soccer moms to teens. You’ll see them paired with t-shirts on the weekend or with a sexy shirt for a night on the town. But the price tag can be a shock – the hottest jeans can cost hundreds of dollars. Instead of figuring out how you can squeeze a pair of these expensive pants into your budget, why not take matters into your own hands and create a pair of truly custom jeans that you make yourself?

“There are so many ways to embellish jeans and other clothing,” says Gayle Hillert, vice president, education and training for Bernina of America. One option is distressing your jeans. The frayed look is everywhere, and it is easy to create on your own. “You can also embellish with embroidery or with crystals,” she says.

And the best part is that you can start with a pair of jeans you already own or even a thrift store find. It’s the finishing touches that you’ll be adding that will give the jeans their personality, not the brand name.

A trip to your local craft or fabric store will get you started. Look at the various trims available and get creative – you can add interest around the hem and around the pockets. You can also find interesting appliqués, or buy some pretty lace and cut out motifs to stitch onto your jeans. Add some flash with Glitz crystals; they are easy to use and add that special touch.

Embroidery is another great way to add a special touch to jeans, whether it’s adding a monogram, stitching on an image (flower, kitten, heart), or simply going free form and “thread painting.” “There is a huge selection of embroidery thread on the market, including metallics that can really bring your designs to life,” says Hillert.

Bernina’s aurora 440E makes thread painting easy. It features the Bernina Stitch Regulator, (BSR) with a sensor that “reads” the fabric. When the fabric moves, the foot sensor is activated and the stitches are regular and consistent. This allows the sewer to draw, “thread paint,” or just write their name across a piece of fabric with ease. This embroidery machine comes with Editor Lite software, which allows you to create and edit designs on your own PC screen; the software includes five alphabets and 65 designs. Bernina’s line of artista machines also offer a wide range of embroidery options.

Once you get going, you won’t want to limit yourself to embellishing jeans. Just about any item of clothing can be personalized with a few special touches. The backs of jackets, for example, give you a nice large area to work with. Or how about embellishing a simple purse and turning it into a fashion statement? The only limits are your imagination.

For more information on sewing machines or for project ideas, visit www.berninausa.com. Courtesy of ARA Content

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