...and it was quite a process! I know by now you are tired of hearing about my Gingers, because I am tired of talking about them.
But, I must do this final blog post about them in order to move on with #Faye'sSewingLife. I finished them yesterday during the storm (thank you Jesus we were spared); figuring that since I had electricity and a surprise day off I might as well sew. No pictures of me wearing them yet, but I will as soon as I do.
My quick review of my jean making process:
- I removed 1 7/8" from the front crouch length. I know that's quite a bit, but it worked and eliminated excessive wrinkling in that area
- I darted the yoke at center back to eliminate gaping
- Although I went down a size from my first muslin I still had to take the jeans in quite a bit at the side seams. I'll need to go down another size when I make the next pair
- I added 1 1/2" to the length
Oh, I will make the jeans again in traditional blue denim next time because:
- I actually enjoyed the process; it was fun - even with all the topstitching work
- I learned a lot during the fitting process that I think will actually help me in fitting regular pants
- I understand jean construction much better. and next time I won't be such a scaredy cat when it comes to making another pair.
I do have slight bagginess in the knee area and I am not absolutely sure of the pattern adjustment I'll need to incorporate next time to eliminate it.
If one of you sewist knows how to solve knee bagginess, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!
Congratulations!!!!! Your jeans look amazing! I can't wait to see what they look like on you. Now worries about talking about them lots, I enjoyed your process. Glad you were ok from the storm. We had our closet, helmets, and blankets ready in case any tornadoes hit, but thankfully we just got a lot of thunder, lightning, and rain.
ReplyDeleteThank you Vanessa! I'll post pictures when I wear them for sure. I thought I saw that you also live in Georgia. I'm in Warner Robins, where are you?
DeleteI am in North GA in Lawrenceville. I'm not sure how far that is from Warner Robbins, but it has got to be close.
DeleteCongratulations Faye! I knew you would finish them soon. I am glad you are safe. I look forward to seeing you model them. I think I too need to take in some more along the side seams next time I make them.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tomasa! Your jeans looked fabulous!
DeleteI really admire your determination to get these finished; they look great!!! You mentioned you shortened the front crotch quite a bit. Can you tell me where there were to big (too much height at waist level or a fold at the lower crotch level) and where on the pattern you removed the length/fabric. I need to get cracking on making a pair of jeans, and I'm hoping you might save me a little work since my front crotch length is *always* too long with a both a lower crotch "fold" and a waist that's too high.
ReplyDeleteHi Nadine thanks for the nice compliment on my jeans and yes it took sheer determination to get to the finish line. Now about my method of shortening the front crouch please know that I am no fit or pattern alterations expert, but after determining my front crouch measurement and comparing it to the front pattern measurement there was a 1 7/8" difference. To remove it I folded out a horizontal dart 1 7/8" starting at center front and tapered to nothing at the side seam. Folding out this amount also shortened the fly extension that amount - which did not create a problem at all for me. My wrinkles were across the zipper area creating folds in the lower crotch area. Hope this helped, it was the only way I could figure to do it. When making my "regular" pants I have also encountered too high at the waist, if I'm not dealing with side pockets I remove the excess from the the top of the pants at the waist area. Hope this made sense.
DeleteThank you!!! This was so helpful. My wrinkles seem to mostly be at the bottom of the fly area, and I wasn't sure whether to fold the fabric out at the bottom of the crotch or a little higher in the bottom of the fly extension. If I take it out lower it will change the crotch shape which may or may not be good thing for my shape as I also have full front thighs. I tend to tissue fit tops, but tissue fitting just doesn't work as well with pants. I just need to dig out some fabric I'm willing to sacrifice and get busy on a muslin. I also need to muster up some "sheer determination" because I suspect this is going to require more than just a little patience. Thank you so much for inspiring me to just get on with it.
DeleteI love the finished result in your fun fabric. I wonder if tight-fitting jeans require a little knee bagginess, so you can bend your knees and move? Otherwise it could be a fabric recovery issue, I have some ponte pants I made from ponte with poor recovery and those knees bagged the minute I wore them.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Siobhan! I think you are right because I wore some purchased skinny jeans today and THERE WAS WRINKLING AT THE KNEE. Now I'm thinking that some wrinkling in skinny jeans is inherent.
DeleteI'm so glad you pressed through and finished them! I can't wait to see you wear them! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad too Alethia. I learned sooooo much through this process. Thank you for the challenge!
DeleteYEAH!!!! I knew you could do it Faye! You completed yet another goal! They look beautiful and I have no doubt you secured a great fit despite your concern. I tend to agree with Siobhan, the bagginess in the knee could be due to needed excess or recovery issue of the fabric. I was say just go down another size (since you had to take in more of the side seams) when you make your next pair. That may help with the excess at the knee too! BTW...I am really happy you were OK during the storm! Sometimes I love storms just so I can stay in and sew, but that one was a doozy! Congratulations lady, I knew you could do it!
ReplyDeleteMYRA I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU! I wore RTW skinny jeans today and never noticed that they are baggy in the knee as well. My jeans are not perfect, but I am really loving them. Thank you so much for your help Myra! Yes, that storm was a doozy!
DeleteMy shero. Yay you made jeans and they look fabulous. Jeans are still on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteTanya thank you! If I did it, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO!
DeleteThese look fabulous, Faye, and I love that you are planning a traditional pair in denim. It will surely feature your awesome skill set.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bunny! Yes there will be other jeans, but next time I will work on them as a "go along project", meaning that I will work slowly on them while I'm making other projects. I learned a lot about fitting on this project.
DeleteCongratulations, Faye. That was quite the accomplishment and they look fabulous. Can't wait to see them on.
ReplyDeleteI'll wear them soon Catherine. I love these jeans.
DeleteCongratulations on conquering the making of jeans.. You did a great job. Happy sewing.
ReplyDeleteThank you ever so much Judy!
DeleteYeah you finished them! Jeans are a lot of work. The next pair will go much quicker.
ReplyDeleteThank you Audrey. I think the next ones will go quicker too.
DeleteFantastic!!! Good job on persevering and seeing these jeans through. Can't wait to see them on you, Faye!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Kay! I will wear them soon.
DeleteI'm always celebrating your victories! Those jeans look great; I'll bet your students will love them, too! I hope you're having a nice, warm, dry weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you for celebrating with me Marjie! Yes we are dry now Thank God. That storm was a rough one!
DeleteCongratulations! They are so cute!
ReplyDeleteJeans are super fun to make. Can't wait to see these on and the next pair (and the next pair. Lol!)
Thank you KS. Making these certainly was an adventure.
DeleteDid you ever see my FB message?
Yay you finished them! You're one step ahead of me! Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog Faye, as you know I have the knee bagginess issue. I think on Ginger i'm also going to go down a size but I scooped a little excess fabric out near the knee this time taking it from the outer seam, but reading some pants fitting guides, it seems as though a "knock knee" adjustment may help as well as the sizing down. My old machine is struggling with the waistband topstitching. I'm going to rip it out and start again there. Just that, then hem and buttonhole and mine are done!
ReplyDeleteWhenever I am around anyone wearing jeans I find my eyes focusing in on the their knees. EVERYBODY has knee wrinkling in their purchased jeans, everybody. I think wrinkling in that area is an inherent part of wearing skinny jeans. I really like your blog!
DeleteGreat work Faye. I love your jeans and look forward to seeing the photo of you wearing them.
ReplyDelete