1. An Archer shirt with some fitting changes - just a couple, I swear!
2. The Victory Patterns Lola dress, and
3. The Named Jamie Jeans!
Like a lot of you probably did, I got inspired when I saw Winnie's jeans a week or so ago. Sewing jeans wasn't really anything I aspired to; but sewing pants is on my list of goals for this year. Winnie's jeans got me to thinking: I don't actually wear pants a whole lot. But I wear jeans All. The. Time. And jeans are a type of pants! Why not make something practical for once?
I was talking it over with my friend Shar, and it turned out she was also inspired by Winnie's jeans. So we concocted a plan to sew them together this month. A sort of virtual hand-holding and mutual cheering section, if you will. And then we decided to invite our other friends to join us. And a few of them took the bait!
So, because EVERYTHING is better with a list, this morning I typed up a 4-week schedule checklist. And I thought I'd share it with you guys in case anyone else likes that type of thing :-) Here it is.
This isn't really going to be a sew-along in the sense of tutorials and such. But I will likely be posting progress pics. Four weeks is really more time than I need to make a pair of jeans, but since I have the other two large-ish projects that I want to do, I decided to take this one in steps. Breaking big tasks down into chunks always makes things easier for me.
Any of you care to join us? While you don't have to use this particular pattern, it has been re-formatted in the last few days, which is really nice. It now has illustrated instructions and all sizes from 34 - 44 EU included.
And if you've already knocked out some jeans, do you have any tips for us?
I wish! It's been hard to find jeans that fit my body right.
ReplyDeleteHa! We'll see how this goes! I'm not 100% confident!
DeleteLove the list :D It will keep you on task.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with the jeans and I look forward to pics :D
Lists are teh awesome! Especially in spreadsheet form :-)
DeleteOoh, the checklist is super helpful! Thanks for putting that together! :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem! Let me know if you think I missed anything!
DeleteI feel like you, I'd never even considered making my own jeans until I saw Winnie's. Now I'm seriously tempted to have a go.
ReplyDeleteHave a go with us!
DeleteI cannot wait to see your jeans. You're so attention-detailed that they will be a treat for us to see, for sure!
ReplyDeleteHehehe - thanks! I'm not too concerned about the construction, and the instructions look pretty good. It's the fit I'm worried about . . . keep your fingers crossed for me!
DeleteI haven't tackled jeans yet so will be following this with interest. Also just popped over to look at the Named patterns... they have some gorgeous designs. I've fallen in love with a jumpsuit pattern:)
ReplyDeleteThey do have some really nice designs. Love their minimalist, Scandinavian aesthetic. They had a sale going when I bought this pattern and I ended up with this and two others. I've also got my eye on a couple of the new designs . . . must. be. strong!
DeleteI chronicled my mostly good (but eventually disastrous) one and only time, so far, jeans-making process. My only advice is to make sure your machine can sew through the 8000 layers when you do the buttonhole. And if you're concerned, and you can, outsource that part. Honestly, the idea of possibly being confronted with that experience again is what keeps me sewing denim leggings! Mind you, I now have a new machine that does buttonholes quite reliably, not that I do so many buttonholes that I have any experience to go by.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! It hadn't even occurred to me to worry about that part! Ruh roh! Will have to go back and look at your posts.
DeleteI don't know that they'll be any help. I do more ranting than anything. It's one of the 2 things I've actually thrown in the garbage without finishing.
DeleteI have found writing out a list of tasks like this extremely helpful. It really gets my thoughts and tasks organised. You have a big month ahead and I can't wait to see you and Shars's jeans. I'm not ready to take that plunge yet.
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same about lists. I actually consider list-making part of my sewing time!
DeleteI'm so glad you put the list together - it looks very doable broken down. I really, really hope I'm able to pull this off! (ha,ha I first wrote 'put this off' by mistake, hopefully not a Freudian slip!). Actually I can't wait to get started!
ReplyDeleteHahaha - put this off! Funny! I can't wait to get started either!
DeleteHi Gail,
ReplyDeleteI have made about a dozen pairs of jeans always tweaking the pattern so that I get a better fit.
My only advice is to make a muslin especially if its you first time using the pattern, so that you don't waste your good fabric and have about 2-3cm in you side seam allowances I cut my back to 1cm. As for the buttonhole – once you try on your jeans and the waistband fits right you can always cut back on the seam allowance so that you don't have all the layers. Good luck and I look forward to your progress.
Interesting! I was looking at Pants for Real People yesterday and it said the same thing about seam allowances, so I was planning to do that. Glad to know it's a good plan of attack! And I'm definitely considering this first pair to be a muslin - I did get denim for it though, because I didn't think actual muslin would give me the same result. Is that valid?
Deletecan't wait to see your progress on this front! jeans really are less scary than they appear! the fit is always the thing that can make or break, so i fully endorse using denim off the get go. just not expensive "i would be so devastated" fabric. that and wear them a few days before a final fit evaluation. and funny... i've never had issues with making the buttonhole. i do keep my SA's at 3/8", and if you're worried you can make the buttonhole before stitching the waistband on as long as you have that end of the waistband sewn up. i know only because i had to replace a faulty zipper once!
ReplyDeleteI agree - I'm not too concerned about making them - it's fitting them! I did get a cheapo denim, so if it's a fail, it will only mean buying more :-) I love your tip about wearing them for a few days before a final fit assessment.
DeleteYour list is so great Gail, and dividing things up in manageable chunks is such a great idea. Mr. Stitch always comes up with a step by step process list when he is building something new. Perhaps I need to take a page from your books!
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, now that I've made this list, I keep thinking of other things I want to do too, LOL!
DeleteAll of those are on my list, too! Twinsies!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see your makes!
Funny! I'll look forward to seeing yours!
DeleteFun! Those are all on my list right now too :) I have made the Jamie Jeans and the one thing I would say is add some extra width to start in the calves...I feel like I have average/small calves and they are tighter in that area than anywhere else! I managed to let the seams out a little so they are definitely wearable but I will add more on my next pair. Also, I would wear the first pair for a few days before you decide what changes need to be made- denim stretches as you wear it, and it definitely changes to way they fit. I am excited to see yours!
ReplyDeleteOoooh, thanks for that info, Kelly! I've had to start over on them because I chose the wrong size the first time, so I'll definitely check the calves on the next go-round. And wearing them a few days makes a lot of sense too. I'm heading over to see yours now!
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