Double denim

Well, my slow fashion coat-making fun has stalled because Republique du Chiffon are getting into the spirit with suitably slow shipping and my Bernadette paper pattern hasn’t shown up yet. While I wait to get started, I’ve been bashing out a much-needed couple of pairs of jeans. It would’ve been inconceivable a while ago that making jeans could be a mind-switch-off type of project, but I’ve made so many now and have my TNT patterns all set so it really is quite relaxing. Plus they’re just great for doing a little bit here and there as there are clear processes and break points during the making.

Ginger jeans

These are another pair of Gingers; the high waist View B variation. My first pair of blue Gingers were sort of a wearable toile and not quite right – a few fitting quirks and the denim was not stretchy enough, so they’ve been donated. My lovely black pair however are a wardrobe staple and I knew I wanted a replacement blue pair soonish.

Ginger jeans

I got this super stretchy solid blue denim from B&J Fabrics in New York which did the trick nicely. I also made a small fitting tweak, tracing the crotch curve from View A onto View B, which seems to have helpd with the whiskering I got in my first pair.

Ginger jeans
Jeans

Otherwise a dead simple sew. I made life easier by using regular navy thread to topstitch and just serging the raw seams. The pockets and fly shield binding are made from leftover rayon from the top I’m wearing (a beautiful new-release pattern that I’ll write more about soon!): ah, that warm sewist feeling when your shirt matches your jeans guts, amirite.

Burda jeans

Burda jeans

This second pair is another repeat pattern, a second pair of Burda 6978s. I wear my first pair to death – they have held up really well, haven’t bagged or lost colour and are just so comfortable – so I really wanted a slight variation to get more wardrobe mileage. However it turned out that the loose fit looked a bit weird in a stretch denim as opposed to the rigid one of my first pair, so I just kept taking them in until they ended up a bit more skinny than boyfriend fit in the end. I actually love how they look though, so it’s all good. I cut the hems just on the ankle bone as I find this length works better both with all my shoes and I’m constantly cuffing all my other jeans.

Burda jeans

I bought this cotton-spandex denim online from Guthrie Ghani (it’s now sold out) – I was pretty excited when I found it because the subtle ‘feather bubble’ print is exactly the same as a pair of my favourite old RTW Gap jeans which are now completely worn out and too small. It feels nice quality with plenty of stretch recovery, however despite prewashing, it bled indigo all over my hands as I worked with it so I need to chuck the finished jeans into a wash with salt to try and fix the dye.

Jeans

Old and new! :D And oh god, just realised I placed one the belt loops wrong from looking at this photo. Where’s my unpicker…

21 thoughts on “Double denim

  1. Charlotte

    Haha I love that jeans are a switch-off in-between project! They both look great, I especially love the patterned denim & gorgeous pockets on the second pair

    1. Katie Post author

      Thanks! I tried a flat-felled seam on my swatches as planned, with the quilting trimmed out, and it actually worked rather well.

  2. Ina

    One day, I hope I’ll be able to talk about making jeans in the same relaxed way as you do. And have them turn out great as well :)
    In the meantine, chapeau! Great sewing, Katie!

  3. Nelba

    Love both pairs of jeans and the new top. I’ve got a pair of jeans on my to-do list, but since I’m not really happy with the pattern I’ve got, I keep on putting them off…

  4. Heather

    Both of these look great! I love the back pockets on the burda ones! I love that jeans are a soothing sew – I find the same. I like that there are lots of steps and you feel accomplished after each one.

  5. Linda Maki

    Cute jeans! You’ve got some nice denim fabrics there! I’m still on the look out for the perfect black denim and one with a print of some sort – maybe flowers, maybe not!

  6. Alessa

    Those look great! That’s a cute pocket variation on the Burda jeans. :) Hehe, nothing can go wrong when your jeans insides match your top. :D

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