Instructions

1. Using a fabric pen, draw a sprinkling of dots randomly along the bottom edge of each pant leg, making sure to go all the way around each leg. You may draw out eight or 16 dots around the center dot, or just eyeball it as you work.
2. Hoop a portion of one pant leg to begin.
3. Make a knot in the end of your thread. In this project, unlike traditional crewel on linen, you must make a new knot in the end of your thread before beginning each sparkle. The knots won’t show, since they are on the inside of the pant leg.
4. Embroider the design using Straight Stitch as it is used in the first half of the Spiderweb Stitch. When making the spokes of the Spiderweb Stitch, always go DOWN through the same center point from the front of the fabric to the back of the fabric, and come UP to the outer points.
5. Make a knot at the completion of each sparkle, cutting your thread close to the knot, and begin a new sparkle with a knotted thread. Alternate between the white and blue threads as you work from one sparkle to the next. Vary the size of each sparkle, making some smaller and some larger. And remember to begin and end each sparkle with a new knot. This will help in the event that one of the sparkles wears out over time and the thread breaks—you will only lose one sparkle instead of all of them (and if you decide you’d like to remove one for design purposes, it’s easy to do).
6. Unscrew and reposition your hoop as necessary until you have embroidered your way all the way around each pant leg.
7. There’s no need to block, but if you like, give each pant leg a quick press with a warm iron. Be sure to wash your embroidered jeans in cold water, and line-dry. The wool crewel threads will shrink in warm water or in a hot dryer.

Variation Ideas

Add the full Spiderweb Stitch or Eyelet Holes to your design. Work in beads or sequins to make your jeans really sparkle.