FO: Ginger jeans
Ginger Jeans from Closet Case Files. What´s left to say? Everybody´s been raving about them, and I for one knew in the instance I saw them, that I needed them. Knowing that Heather Lou makes the bestest patterns, from making a couple of Netties, I knew I was in safe hands.
The perfect fit
Last year I finally understood how trousers are supposed to fit. You might think that I am a little daft for not understanding that until my 32nd year, but the reason is simple. I have always thought that fitted trousers and jeans are supposed to be slightly uncomfortable, and I have for that reason always preferred skirts, or  wide legged trousers. So what made me change my experience? Long Tall Sally. If you don´t know about LTS (apart from the Little Richard hit song), it is a shop specifically designed for tall women. Every time we go abroad, my very tall man always hunts down the big&tall departments and shops . Well, last time we were in London, I thought it might be a good idea to try the same. I needed some black jeans, and I didn´t really have the time to make a pair. I am sure glad I made that decision. Once I tried on a pair of jeans at LTS, I all of a sudden understood that I never had a pair of well- fitting jeans or slim trousers in my life! It was an epiphany-like moment.
Just a liiiiiittle too tight in the waistband area…
Changes and adjustments
I brought back my new black jeans, and the will to crack the crotch curve code, and during the last months, I have learned exactly what to adjust on a pattern to make them fit me. I took this new knowledge with me, and adjusted Ginger Jeans view B, and made them straight up in a delicious blue 6 % stretch denim from SAAB textile here in Oslo. I am pretty pleased. These are the changes I made:
- I added a couple of cm to the inner seam of the crotch curve
- I added ca 8 cm to the length
I have been wearing my new fantastic jeans a couple of days and will add the following adjustments for the next pair:
- Make the rise higher by 3- 4 cm
- Make the waistband wider
- Place the back pockets 1-2 cm higher
- Maybe take out the side seams a smidgen
- Mark my seams more thoroughly in the pocket/waistband area
Back view…with my very tall man sitting in the background.
Sloppy yet happy seamstress
I am very happy with the result, the only issue I had was my not so good markings in the front pocket/side seam/waistband area, which ended up making my side seams a little wonky, and my waist band a little tight. But I know what to be careful of now, so my next pair will have these adjustments incorporated nicely (if I remember to look at my own notes…)
All in all – I am one happy camper, and really, I just can´t wait to see what Heather Lou has in store for us next, her patterns are killing it at the moment!
Look at you! I am so impressed! The jeans look fantastic!
Thank you! It was a really fun make, that topstitching can be addictive…
You know, I’d never realised that you are tall! It’s so hard to tell in pictures – for example, I always through Ginger Makes was short like me, but turns out she’s 5″ taller! Your jeans look fabulous, and sounds like you’ve got plans to make the next pair even better. Have you got fabric picked out yet?
I know exactly what you mean, I generally imagine people are taller then they are, I don´t know why, really. 🙂 I have so many ideas for then next pair(s), but in my stash right now, I have a mustard-y corduroy and another blue denim, with much for stretch. But I´d love burgundy pair and maybe some white ones for summer?
LOVE THESE! They look so great! I’m thinking I might need to size down on mine because mine are looking a little baggy. Love how yours turned out!
Thanks! I always test-wear my jeans before I stitch up the waist band completely, just to see if they will bag out much (and they almost always do).
I’ll have to remove 10cm of lenght from the legs of the gingers! they are on my sewing table right this moment, i am super excited about them! you look fabulous in these! is that view B?
Thanks, yup, this is view B, I am thinking of making view A as well, though. Good luck on your gingers, can´t wait to see them! I love all the versions that are out there. 🙂
wow these look brilliant! I am
Loving all the jeans popping up on blogs right now. It would be amazing to have jeans which fitted properly!
Thanks Kathryn! It´s actually much easier than I thought. You just need some time and patience for all the topstitching, really. I really do recommend the pattern, though – great instructions!
Wow! I’ve seen a lot of gingers popping up lately but yours are the best fitting ones I’ve seen yet. If I wore skinny jeans I would definitely get this pattern now. Well done!
Thank you Shelly, that´s so nice of you to say. 🙂