I Made Jeans!!!!

Click on the image above for a link to my You Tube’s video

I finally made jeans! It’s been more than ten years plus that I haven’t worn a pair of jeans because in all honesty nothing fit. I mean it fit, but it didn’t fit right. So wearing jeans was always uncomfortable. It wasn’t an easy road to get to, and I can see now having made one pair of jeans and fitting them that it is easier as I try to make more of them.

I started out with the Morgan Jeans from Closet Core Patterns. They are described as a looser fit boyfriend jeans. But after trying to fit them for a good solid two days I realized that perhaps I needed to look at another pattern. Enter this older McCalls Palmer Pletsch Pattern M5894 (that has not been re-issued under Butterick B6840) Same pattern, Different cover. I’ve had my copy of this pattern for QUITE some time. I’m glad I didn’t toss it.

After making around two muslins for the Closet Core Morgan Jeans I decided to go ahead and try the Palmer Pletsch by doing a tissue fitting and using their book that recently came out in 2021 called Fit and Sew Custom Jeans by Helen Bartley . I cannot recommend this book enough. It really takes you thru all the fitting issues that you may have with jeans in addition to what to look for, as you are sewing jeans. In addition to different types of jean patterns along with showing you normal folks and how they have fitted jeans. Again, cannot recommend this book enough.

I had to add to my waist width (I always do), I also had to elongate my crotch curve and scoop the crotch curve to give my bum some room. I also had to make a curved waist band. The pattern I used uses a straight waistband.

I know I have been mentioning I’m going to be making jeans for quite some time and I have to say they are not 100% perfect (things like the top stitching is not 100% straight in a few spots or the waist band stretched on me as I was putting it on) but I’m rather happy with them. They are perfect for the fall.

I used a 10 ounce dark indigo blue fabric that I had purchased at Vogue Fabrics. It was they very last roll I found of this fabric in their stock and I was only able to get 2 yards but surprisingly enough it was a really wide roll of fabric, I still may have enough to make a jean skirt out it and I will at some point. Just want to give my machine a little breather because she was a little champ thru out all of this.

I will finish by saying, that after wearing the jeans for a day. I can take the side seams in a little more, but for now I’m happy.