Almost pants! Pattern is Kwik Sew 3315
I’ve been taking a class at the local quilt shop to learn how to make jeans. I haven’t made any clothes before (well, not without balling up the fabric with the tissue paper commercial pattern and tossing it in the garbage) so I thought this would be fun. The class is four sessions, and last week we got the pockets attached and fly finished to the point where they are almost pants.
The fabric is nearly black, lightweight stretch denim. It’s really hard to take pictures of but I did my best. The first photo is probably the most accurate – color wise. I will post again when they are finished. They still need a waistband, belt loops, side seams and the bottom hem.
Front pockets and fly
We used fun fabric for the pocket linings, since it’s better quality than muslin and you can’t see it anyway. The fly was a challenge but certainly not impossible. It was nice to have someone to walk us through it the first time.
Front fly, crazy pocket linings
I opted not to stitch a decoration onto the back pockets because the fabric is so dark to begin with and I wasn’t using contrasting thread. You could really have some fun with the pockets, though.
Back pockets
The yoke back was interesting – the grain is the opposite from the rest of the pants. The waist is kind of high, so I’m not sure how they will fit, but this is a technique class not a fitting class. We still have to attach the waist band so I have no idea how that will factor in. Has anyone made this pattern before? How did it turn out?
Inside
The fly really confused me for a minute, but we figured it out. It’s so nice to have someone to check your work the first time, so you can rip it out before going too far :)
Inside - pocket linings
We are not using the serger for this project. I’m just using the basic, built in overlock stitch on my machine with a Bernina 2A overlock foot. Then we pressed the seams to the side and topstitched.
Overlocked seams
So, we’ll see how they turn out! I will let you all know in a few weeks!
Good for you for tackling jeans! With your sewing skills, I’m sure you’ll be successful. They’re looking great so far! I used to make my own… well… 30-40 years ago. :) The hardest part is the fit. Nice that you have help with those first ones!
Thanks! We sewed the side seams yesterday and they fit great! They have a higher waist than my trendy jeans, but now that I know how I can make them with a lower waist next time. :)
O , I think you are so very brave.This is a project I have toyed with the idea -but still do not have enough skill. Yours are looking beautiful -and you are so right – it is wonderful to have someone help! :)
It’s not that hard! Reading the goofy commercial pattern is the hardest part, but if you can take a class I think you could make these even with limited sewing experience. It also helps to be willing to buy the special feet – I think I used four or five different feet to make these, but I already had most of them. We used a regular foot, zipper foot, overlock foot, edgestitch/stitch-in-the-ditch foot, and I think one more. Since I’m taking the class at the Bernina shop and I have a Bernina, they always let us try the feet before we buy (Probably because I always buy…) :D
Wow! they look great!
I’ve been looking for pants that don’t have that stretchy stuff in them ~ not to be found anywhere. Guess I’ll have to make some. Love the pockets!
These definitely have stretch, but the Kwik Sew patterns seem to have a lot of ease in them and you could make them with regular denim.
Wow, thanks for sharing how they are coming along, I really think making jeans is a great idea – especially for my tweens that I am always altering for anyway.
[...] “Almost Pants” are now actually pants. I finished the class several weeks ago but I had to add a button and [...]