Category: vogue jeans

Me Made May 2016

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May is super busy so I decided to focus on wearing clothes I’ve made but planning my week ahead rather than just throwing on ‘the same old thing’.

This year’s pledge was to wear something I’ve made everyday. ‘Keeping it simple’.
Day 1: Burda Jacket, Vogue jeans and Butterick top 
Day 2: Simplicity 1425 top with my block skirt added to make this dress.
Day 3: Burda Style dress
Day 4: Vogue 1407 
Day 5: Burda style 7828 wrap dress
Day 6: Simple skinny jeans and New Look top

Week 1 was warm so dresses were my go-to work wear. I keep a jacket at my desk to overcome the aircon.

Morning workout set: Steeple chase leggings, New Look top, McCalls jacket

I did 4 morning training sessions and above is my loudest workout set (no makeup).

Day 7: Lace dress using block pattern.

The weekend was social and I still squeezed in a park run on Saturday morning.

Day 7:Steeplechase leggings and New Look top
Day 8: Vicki’s fabric choice using Simplicity 7156 (to be blogged)

This week is a juggle so this is what I’ve worn so far. 

Day 9: Kwik sew dress
Day 10: Burda wrap dress

I have two ‘business casual’ work days this week so this is what I’ve put these aside.

Day 11: Vogue jeans and block pattern top
Day 12: Simplicity skirt and wrap cardi
Day 13: Vogue jeans and New Look wrap top

Training wise, this week is a quite one because Sunday is the half marathon so I’ve done 2 training sessions early this week. My legs need a break because I know I’ll be running for at least 2 hours on the day so that’s it for training hard.


And that gets me through the first two weeks of MMMay 2016.

Jeans bits and pieces

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Finding your jeans hardware is fun but can be a an exhausting search if you can’t find what you want locally. Online and chatting to sewers through social media helps you uncover what’s available when you’re starting to make jeans. That’s why I started my shorts journey – to lead me to making jeans for my next Minerva Crafts project.

Grommets or rivets are usually placed on the front zipper pockets, coin pocket and on the back pockets but be creative and put them anywhere you want. After all, these are your jeans and you get to make them look unique.

If you can’t get your hardware locally here are some online places to get jeans bits and pieces include:
Grommet mart
Cast Bullet
Stans sewing supplies
Minerva Crafts
Ebay suppliers using jeans rivets in crafts gets you this

DK Fabrics in Adelaide had some good quality jeans hardware when I visited them last year.

A tailors awl to help insert rivets.


A good jeans button has a nail with ridges. This button nail is hammered through the fabric. 

I’ve used a jean button that had a smooth nail and the button popped off the first time I sneezed. It was a lady sneeze too.
Modified centre back seam to adjust for sway back.
Finished centre back ready to add the back belt loop.

Top-stitching thread
If you can’t find a local supplier or have an unusual denim, try combining thread colours to achieve the top-stitching colour you want to achieve.


Preparing the belt loops for top stitching.
These Maritime shorts were top stitched.
This mustard version were my first attempt with jeans top stitching.

The black shorts are my second attempt using a jeans button and rivets. 

They’re a bit better.


The coverstitch machine made topstitching easy but using a twin needle on your sewing machine will help you achieve the same effect.

You’ll see the finished jeans next week. 

Green jeans v8774

~ velosews ~ 14 Comments

While I was working in Adelaide there were quiet times when i just sewed with my travel machine. I took the basics with me and when DH visited, he had more supplies from my sewing room to keep me busy. He’s such a good man.
Jeans are part of my pants journey I am enjoying. I’m now enjoying the detailing and getting the fit right. When I’m out and about, I check out the back pocket stitching on everyone’s rear. It’s just for stitching ideas – truly. I spied one ladies brand new jeans with beautiful stitching but the RTW jeans were clearly splitting at the CB seam. 

Fit adjustments:
1. Sway back adjustment of the centre back seam on the yolk, the waistbank and back pants pattern.
2. Deeper crotch curve
3. Wider back leg length for both legs. My right thigh is wider than my left thigh.

Alterations:
1. Front pocket was extended to the zipper so it also acts as a stay.
2. Belt carriers were sewn at the waist band instead of on the width of the back yolk.

Rivets:
These came from DK Fabrics in Adelaide. They have a slight design on them but they are definitely silver and shiny. So the jeans button is also silver and shiny.
Back pocket stitching:
I’ve used the Vogue template and a close but wide zigzag stitch.

Topstitching:
This was something I improvised. I’ve combined two green threads through one needle for topstitching. I wasn’t able to find topstitching thread while I was away. By the time I came home, I had to continue to use this method of topstitching.
Bling – nil:
I’m sticking with colour rather than bling. I can sing, but I don’t bling.

I love how these fit and hug me. I do expect these jeans will soften and begin to bag over time so I now need to find a couple of tops from my wardrobe that I can team with these. I’ve been on a green binge for a while.