Progress on my Jeans

The jeans went together well, apart from the top-stitching issues. With the zip and pockets completed, it just left the waistband to do and the hem.

I used the contrast fabric which I used on the pockets to complete the inside of the waistband, here I'm just stitching in the ditch to hold it firm, then more top stitching.  I will not put on belt carriers, because I don't intend wearing a belt! 

To personalise my jeans I embroidered my initials by hand, inside the front pocket. The more work I do on these jeans, the more I like them.  I just love the bold colours I've used to top-stitch and embellish them.

This is a front view of the finished jeans, I have not yet worked out how to take my own photo wearing the finished clothes I make.

My final picture shows inside the waistband with the same contrast fabric I used for the pockets. If I'd had enough fabric I could have used it for the inside of the fly too.  But it was just a piece of patchwork fabric I had left over and thought it would be a good idea to experiment on the effect and I think it worked well.

I have worn the jeans and had loads of compliments, so I am really pleased. They are so comfortable to wear, I think I have made a perfect fit. Now I am very happy. What shall I do next?

The jeans challenge

I thought it was going to be easy doing my jeans, but my machine had other ideas.
I struggled to stitch them, I tried using different jeans needles, then different threads, and  also different feet. But the thread continued to split and the stitches jumped.  So I stopped working on them and decided to take them to my course on Tuesday and see if I could use a machine there to sew them.  It was the top stitching that was causing all the problems.

 Look how easy they were to sew on a mechanical and not an electronic machine which I use at home.  I think it's time to dust off my old treadle machine and use that.  My top stitching worked a treat. I had seen an article in the November issue of Threads - 'Why bother sewing Jeans?' and thought the idea of using two-toned top stitching was great. Little did I know this lovely idea would give me so much grief.

I have got on quite well now, the back pockets are in place and stitched, I sewed them together and I have tried them on to check the fit.  They are OK in most places, but they do need a slight adjustments on the side seam.  Hopefully I can finish them now and very soon be wearing them. 

I need more hours in my day!

There just aren't enough hours in the day to do everything.  I started another City and Guilds course in June a Level 3 in Fashion Wear.  I had hoped to have time to chart my progress, but here we are 14 weeks into the course and I've written about nothing.

So far I have been doing a lot of pattern drafting. Making pattern blocks which is the first stage, once they are OK  I have developed my own patterns.  I bought this wonderful Helen Joseph Armstrong book on Pattern Making for Fashion Design and it's brilliant.  The first block I drafted fitted me so well.  I am now totally hooked on her method of pattern making.

I drew out the pattern and with a couple of alterations did a toile and it was great a good fit.   The trousers I then made from the pattern I did were good too, I just need to add another picture of the completed trousers now. But you can see the toile is a nice fit.

I have done a blouse block and pattern and a jacket block and pattern.   I want to make a cardigan jacket and will be starting that very soon.  Because now I have done the blocks and patterns its time to start to sew my garments and I will soon have something to show you, because paper patterns are not much fun to write or read about!!

I was so pleased with the way the trousers turned out, I did the slacks block and a pattern from the book too, there is work in progress toiling it at the moment.  As things have gone so well, now I have decided to have a go at doing some jeans.

I am now going to trial the pattern for the jeans straight on to denim, the toile was a good fit, just a few adjustments on the block as the notes on the photo below show. With them done, I drew out the pattern and won't toile it again, but make myself a pair of jeans straight away. Who knows I could be wearing them this time next week!!

I have decided to use a cotton fabric for the pocket linings, the inside fly and the inside of the waistband  With the pattern on the fabrics all pinned on ready to go.

Next job is to cut out and I can start to stitch tomorrow.  I can't wait to get sewing.