Finally I’ve finished the jeans and I wore them out today with a new top. Both of these garments still need some tweaking.
Let’s start with the jeans. I wore these all day today and they are just so comfortable its ridiculous. I’m not used to comfortable jeans so this was a revelation.
I’ve also never had a pair of jeans before that I could wear without a belt. I didn’t wear a belt with these. They stayed put. This is also pretty flipping amazing.
Most amazingly is that I made these jeans. They are not perfect but they are wearable and I know what I need to do for the next time:
- I need to add some length to the legs. These are wearable but I’d like a bit more length for sure.
- I need to bring the pockets in more towards the middle. They aren’t necessarily placed in the most flattering position at the moment, but some of that is down to the fact that I needed to size them down after I’d top-stitched the pockets so I couldn’t move them.
- I also need to take a bit more out under the butt. This is because I’ve lost weight from the original alterations. I’m not complaining!
- The next pair will be slightly less skinny. This is just a matter of evolving taste. I’ve always worn skinny jeans but I think I’d like them a bit less so. More like classic Gap jeans.
- I need to redraft the pattern because the grain line sure ain’t straight on these. I have twisty side seams. But then Levi do that and call it a design feature. So that’s what I’m calling it!
- I need to use heavier denim. These are too lightweight for my taste and have too much stretch.
But… I. Made. Jeans.
And even with all these flaws they are still more comfortable and better fitting than any pair of jeans I’ve ever bought. I was freaking about the creasing in the legs until I realised that every pair of skinny jeans I saw had the same creases. Nature of the beast, I suppose.
Now to the top. This is made from Vogue 9771
V9771
Again, there are flaws.
I know there are drag lines across the bust…I did do an FBA on this pattern, I just need to make it a larger one. And, when I tried the toile there weren’t these lines, but the toile fabric was heavier.
And I know the bust darts are waaaaaaaaay too high…goodness knows how this happened because they surely weren’t doing that on the toile.
And the neckline is higher in real life than on the illustration…but in every version of this I’ve seen made up by someone else, this has been commented on. And for me it works. It keeps the top modest when I’m picking up children or bending down to them. Which is essential for me and something I struggle with in RTW.
But, despite these flaws…this top is really comfortable and I have had several compliments on it today. Which just goes to show that us seamstresses are overly critical of our work.
This doesn’t mean that I won’t be making the necessary alterations to both these patterns before I make them again, but is just a little reminder to us all to be a little kinder to ourselves and our abilities.
Your outfit looks great! It really does, and how nice is it to have to take in something rather than let it out? 🙂 Well done.
Thank you…I do value your opinion.
I’m hoping that now the children are back at school/nursery I will be eating better and walking more and taking more stuff in!
OMG! Your outfit is fantastic. I love the jeans. They are absolutely AMAZING!!!! I love them! ANd the top is great too. I just finished a day of sheath dress making at the local community college and the instructor said something in passing that I found really fascinating and that I plan to use in the next blouse I make: She said no make what the shape cut it so that it has a slight hourglass shape. She said this is always very flattering! I thought I would pass that tip along to you – my designer-of-patterns and maker-of-clothes friend!
Thank you for your kind comment. I think that’s a great tip from your tutor. I have no waist and really need to create the illusion so do find that the tops/dresses that I have shaped are far more successful than those that don’t. I really must make that one of my golden rules.
I think you’re amazing. I’d love to be able to wear clothes I’ve made. School put me off trying that again, lol.
What a lovely comment. Thank you. With your skills you’d be able to do this. Your work is phenomenal.
Your jeans look great. It’s awesome that after a few tweaks they can be the perfect pair. Nothing beats a perfect pair of *comfortable* jeans.
Well, Very few things can beat a pair of comfy jeans. 🙂
Indeed!
I am awfully close to the Holy Grail of perfect jeans. I’ve a few projects to do to complete the clear down of stash and then that will be my first “post stash” project! I cannot wait.
You look so audrey Hepburn in the second photo;) love the top. Jeans are fab… I second your idea of going for reg. cut jeans. Can’t wait for the next pair
Thank you very much indeed for such a lovely compliment.
Hey skinny are great on you so no wonder they are your first made jeans. Wonderful fit too …. They look fab fab fab. I’m moving away from skinnies too btw …. seems to be a trend or something?
Perfect colour for the top and I think it looks lovely. You’re so very right about us being overly aware of the ‘flaws’ in the garments we make, and I haven’t graduated to difficult (technically that is) ones yet …..
Thank you for all these lovely comments. I’ll be very thankful for the skinnies for tucking in my boots over the coming months, but definitely want to add some different shapes. It’s odd because not that long ago you would only have found me wearing skinny bootcut. Fashion is a fickle thing!
Um, I still have my skinny boot-cut ….. oh that I was more fickle? Hmmm
I do think I’ll be making a skinny bootcut too. They are a very lovely shape.