When I was growing up not only were Levi's the only jeans available, they were MEN'S Levi's. Women's jeans were yet to be a glimmer in Gloria Vanderbilt's eye.
Levi's were sized by hip (actually men's waist size) and length. There was a little leather tag at the waist that had your size on it for everyone to see. My size was 30-30. Why do I remember these things?
I recently told my sister I want to be buried in my favorite jeans. Morbid? I don't think so...I just want to be comfortable on the ride home!
I made Jalie 2908 and I finally understand what all the hype is about. Making your own awesome fitting jeans is pretty darn cool. This pattern has been reviewed to death so I won't bore everyone with that and will simply brag on my accomplishment and post some pics. Making your own jeans really does make you feel smart! And accomplished. I was intimidated by the whole process but took Jennifer Stern's Blueprint to Blue Jeans class on Pattern Review and taking it bit by bit it was actually very simple.
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| Side view and fit |
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| Pocket stitching copied from favorite Jag jeans. Of course, I HAD to add something orange on the outside so this will be my signature "Levi's" tag! |
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| Oak leaf brass button and inside waistband. Rivets will arrive tomorrow! |
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| Inside pockets and fly shield...Swiss cotton (yum!) |
I only have one potentially valuable tip I posted on my PR regarding fly zipper construction that might be helpful if you plan to make a pair. I'll be making MANY more!
Welcome to the Jalie jeans club. After showing my nephew the jeans I made recently he started to see a business idea forming. I was stoked that he was impressed.
ReplyDeleteYour jeans are very impressive with the detailing.
Thank you! I am happy to be a member of the club. I believe I will remain in good standing from now on!
DeleteWow they are great and the fit perfect - I have both the jalie and the PP McCalls pattern for jeans and is getting higher on my "to-do" list. I am so impressed.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pauline! Move this project up in your queue. They will be a breeze after the shirts you made for Mike. Congrats again for that contest win!
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Great fit and I know what you mean by 'feeling accomplished" having made a few pairs myself. Love your pockets - now you have a use for all those colourful leftovers.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruth. You are right...all those leftever quilting bits will be pockets and waistbands...who knew?
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Great fit! I love making them too and feel a need for another new pair!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Myra...get that new pair going. Like an LBD a girl can't have too many pairs of jeans!
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Congratulations - these look great! I for one am intimidated by the thought of making blue jeans! Your fit is perfect. Maybe I'll take this class since I love wearing jeans. Thank, Dorcas!
ReplyDeleteps....love that label too!
Sarah,
DeleteI highly recommend Jen's class. You will end up with a great fitting pair of jeans, I guarantee it! So does she! Please, after that couture dress you whipped out? Jeans will be a breeze! I ordered those labels a zillion years ago from someone out of Vogue Pattern Mag. Still have a zillion of them!
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Nothing comes between you and your custom made jeans :)!!
ReplyDeleteGirl, you look marvelous!!!!
Nice jeans! How did you get your topstitching so straight? Did you use topstitching thread? If so, in both needle and bobbin? I recently tried to sew with topstitching thread on a collar of a jean dress that I am making and could not get the tension right. I tried adjusting both the needle and the bobbin tension. The top stitching looked straight, but the stitching on the bottom of the fabric was zigzaggy. I couldn't get the bottom thread to go straight. Do you have any suggestions on the best way to get the bottom thread straight?
ReplyDeleteHi Marla,
DeleteThanks for the compliments on my topstitching! You will have better success if you use regular thread in your bobbin and TS thread on the spool. I never adjust my tension so I can't speak to your machine on that. I use my blind hemstitch foot (it has the little "fin" in the middle) and it makes a good guide that is easily seen. I'm sure Bernina makes an 'official' topstitching foot but this works fine for me. Then I just move my needled either right or left to adjust the width between the 2 rows. Most of the time I feel like I am just "eyeballing" it, and it is far from perfect in a few places, but like Grandma Selph always said "it will never be noticed on a galloping horse!" Let me know if this helps and thanks again!
Thanks. I will try regular thread in the bobbin and TS in the needle. I think I also need a very sharp needle and maybe the straight stitch foot(I don't have a hemstitch foot).
DeleteMarla, oooh, this is what I forgot to mention. It's very important to use topstitching needles. If you're not already, that could be part of your problem. I use Schmetz TS needles size 100/16...18 would even be better but could not find them. Keep me posted on how it goes!
DeleteI will look for the TS or jeans needles. Hopefully with the right thread setup and the right needles I can get it to come out better. I'll let you know how it works. Thanks for your help.
ReplyDeleteI also couldn't find any TS needles, but did find a jean needle. So I used the jean needle, TS thread in the top and regular thread in the bobbin, my straight stitch foot, and both top and bottom stitching came out beautifully straight! Your suggestions were very helpful.
DeleteMarla,
DeleteI'm so glad you had success! Thanks for letting me know...I have found that jeans are addictive! Did you see the orange pair I made on Pattern Review? I didn't post to my blog but they are dynamite! More colors in mind now! Take care and happy sewing!
Just took a look at your PR orange jeans review. Very nice. I can see why you want them in a variety of colors!
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