Fashion Fix: Turn ups

Isn't it just wonderful that the playsuit is once again a wardrobe staple. It makes cycling in this hot weather a whole lot less treacherous.  I do remember back to the days when I was little and Mum used to happily sport what was more of a boiler suit: a full length, long sleeved jumpsuit with little to show for tailoring.

I found such a suit in a charity shop and set about Fashion Fixing it right up to show you all on the blog.  

It was simply a case of cutting off the legs, upturning them a few times and tacking in place, rolling up the sleeves and making a belt and belt loops from the remaining trouser fabric. Pretty simple and quick.

But it did remind me of a technique I got really obsessed with back in the days of Cloth.  Patterned turn ups!

Photo by Amanda Thomas

Photo by Amanda Thomas

This was an Autumn shoot I styled for Cloth off a very busy roundabout just outside Bath...you'd never know!

Turn ups galore, shirts, shorts and trousers can all get the turn up treatment. Here's how to do it:

You will need:

• Fabric for your turn-ups
• Pins
• Scissors
• Tape measure
• Hand needle
• Cotton thread
• Sewing machine
• Tailors chalk

How to do it:

1. Measure around the opening of the trouser leg and the length of the turn up.
2. Cut out the fabric 5cm longer and 5cm wider than your previous measurements for seam allowance.
3. fold the fabric length inside out and length ways.  Pin and sew 2.5cm in from the edge.
4. Turning your trousers inside out, pull the tube of fabric onto the trouser leg so the bottom edge is inline with where your turn-up will end. Sew in place
5. Pull the tube of fabric down the trouser leg.  Your turn-up fabric will now be the right way out and there will be a seam at the top of the fabric and down the side of the fabric
6. Pin and hand sew the bottom of the fabric tube to the bottom of the trouser leg.  
7. Finally, turn your trousers the right way round and roll up the trousers to create the turn-up.

These turn-ups are a subtle way to show a bit of individuality. Why stop at trousers? Update a plain shirt with lined cuffs: Find a loud, patterned shirt in a charity shop, cut off the cuffs and add to the plain shirt.