Reconstructive “Sergery”

Have you recently lost weight or gained a few pounds? Are your pants too baggy or too tight? Perhaps it’s time for reconstructive “sergery”—not on you, but on the pair of pants that no longer fit.

If the pant material is still in excellent shape, you can use it to make a new pair of pants for a child. The steps are fairly simple. Wash and dry the slacks, then undo the seams. This should give you four large pieces of fabric. Press the pieces well so that they will lie flat. Place the pieces of the child’s pant pattern on the fabric, with the right sides of the fabric together. Make sure you place each pattern piece on the straight grain. Pin securely, then proceed to cut out and sew the garment as the pattern directs.—Mariam J. Grisham, West Jordan, Utah

Illustrated by Julie Young