This is the second time I've made this pattern (first is here).
So, I used my pants block and cut pretty much a sz DD, grading in at the waist. I changed the waistband, making it double the height and curved and used a stretch denim I had in my stash.
They've already stretched out a lot from wearing them for these photos, they went from nearly too tight to falling off me! They really need to be taken in a lot now and they have a lot of bunching/excess fabric on the back of the legs. I haven't had that happen before and I'm not really sure how to fix it, or honestly if I can be bothered to. I know nearly everyone loves this pattern but for whatever reason I've not had a great run with it - I've never worn the first pair I made and I don't know that I'll wear these either unless I get excited and unpick them.....
On the positive side, I really like the construction method especially the waistband and zipper method and I like how they look like a real pair of jeans with the yoke and pocket style.
I used a polkadot stretch poplin for the facings.
The pants block doesn't seem to translate as easily into tight pants, I think if I was going to sew them a lot I'd make another seperate block but I do prefer my wider leg pants which work well with it. A lot of pants sewing seems to come down to the type of material you use and how much stretch is in it which is something I'm still learning how to allow for.
Goodness, look at you go with all this sewing! Sorry, haven't been commenting, but I've been oogling your pretty creations and absolutely jealous at the speed you're putting them out at. Lovely job on all of them!
ReplyDeleteI think these are my favourite of the last three pants though. SO BRIGHT AND FUN!
Thanks! I really like these pants until I wore them all day today and they really have stretched out, I'm gonna try putting elastic in the back waistband first before they get unpicked completely!
DeleteYou have really been churing out the pants. I love these ones and so on trend with the gelato colour - love the blue.
ReplyDeleteThe fabric bunching may just be the fabric. Looks good to me.
Thanks Beajay! The pants have been sewing up really quickly, it helps that I'm so excited/obsessed with trying out the pants block on a heap of patterns too!
DeleteLove this colour - just so 'in' at the moment! But you won't find any with this super facing fabric on the inside.
ReplyDeleteSo, looks like you have had a day at the beach - water looks lovely and clear, though a tad cold!!!
Thanks Judith! I picked up this denim ages ago on the clearance table, I just wished I'd grabbed a heap more because its so hard to find any bright denim now!
DeleteIt was cold and really windy down the beach but its been the nicest day in weeks so we thought we'd grab the chance (I'm still wishing it was summer already!)
Great job!
ReplyDeleteThankyou!
DeleteI was on the fence about getting a block done, but watching you turn out so many great pants has convinced me to take the leap. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteThanks Renae :)
DeleteYour pants match the sea - fab! I've never made a Jalie but this pattern seems to a favourite. I've completed the Jeanius online workshop and now have a block that fits and I'm a bit anxious about veering down another road of endless crotch fitting journeys. How do you get your topstitching so even? A tutorial perhaps?
ReplyDeleteThanks Ruth! Thats the thing I liek the most about the pants block, no crotch fitting! Theres still some fitting involved but its so much easier than startign from scratch with each pants pattern!
DeleteWith the top stitching the best thing I've found is using a stitch-in-the-ditch foot and adjusting the needle to stitch just a millimetre or two into the fabric. I'm nowhere perfect with it, but it has helped a lot when I started using that!
Your 3/4 pants are very on trend with the lovely colour, and the facing is a gorgeous touch.
ReplyDeleteStretch is so difficult in trousers. I have got to the point of only using wovens without a hint of lycra for my own.
Thanks! Stretch is hard isn't it - I don't want to make pants too tight but then when they stretch out so easily after all that work its so frustrating!
DeleteSuch a fabulous blue! The feature on the pockets looks great and I must say the polka dot lining is RAD! I'm far too scared to try making pants so I shall wait and see how you tackle the excess fabric (lots for me to learn!)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Gotta love polkadots! Steph at 3 hours past did a really good post on removing excess fabric from the back of pants that I'll be following if I make these pants again. (heres the link to the blog post; http://3hourspast.com/2012/06/15/pictutorial/
DeleteGah... what is it with stretch denim not being able to hold itself together? I had the same problem with a pair of Turquoise ones I made. It's so bad that they just don't get worn very often, which is sad because I really love them.
ReplyDeleteI had been wondering how the pants block would translate into a tighter fitting pattern... god to know. And thanks to the link from Steph C above - I must have missed that one, and it's exactly the kind of thing I need!
oops... I totally forgot to say that I really love the look of these, too. To busy ranting! I love your top stitching job on the back pockets - where do you get your rivets from?
DeleteThanks poppykettle! I got the buttons and rivets from http://www.mrechtonline.com.au , you have to buy in lots of 100 (!!) but they seem really decent quality so far and the shipping was really quick. I was using the prym brand from the UK but the stockist on ebay hasn't updated his shop for ages and I can't seem to find them anywhere else
DeleteAbout the stretch pants block - I might end up playing around with these pants yet, seeing as they are too big now, and making a tight pants block from them. I'm just going to copy what Steph did with the clovers, drop the rear crotch lower and unpick the legs and pin them while wearing them. I'm not really looking forward to unpicking all that topstitchig though!
DeleteUnpicking is never fun, especially when there's topstitching (and good topstitching at that) involved!
DeleteThanks for the deets - I look forward to hearing how you go with the alterations. If steph got the amazing result she did - it can be done! :)