These jeans have been on a whole journey with me: I added Sashiko patches a few years ago, wore them a ton, and then they slowly turned into “why are you suddenly tight?” jeans. Instead of giving up on them, I re-upcycled them again by adding Sashiko side panels to make them bigger—while also leaning into that bold, personal, handmade look I love. If you’ve got denim that almost fits, this is such a satisfying way to save it. In this video I walk you through how I open up the side seams, plan the width I need, and build new side panels that blend traditional Sashiko-style stitching with simple running-stitch embroidery. I also share the tools and supplies I ordered for the project—needles, thread, templates, and stick-on patterns—and I’m honest about what I loved, what worked well, and what I wouldn’t buy again. The big takeaway: you don’t have to choose between “making it fit” and “making it cool.” You can do both, and your clothes end up feeling even more like you.