“Actually Pants” and hemming jeans

I have four blog posts to write – I’m writing this one first because I know a lot of you were waiting for it. I just got back from two back-to-back four-day weekend trips, so here we go!

My “Almost Pants” are now actually pants. I finished the class several weeks ago but I had to add a button and button hole. They don’t fit perfectly, but for a first try they are pretty good! It was a techniques class, not a fitting class, so I think with the right pattern or right adjustments to this pattern I could really do this.

The waist band is loose. I think I know how to make it more cinched in, like on curvy jeans, for next time. Or I’ll just find a curvier pattern. Suggestions? This one is Kwik Sew 3315.

Fun pockets and a zip fly that was not all that difficult to sew, but we’ll see if I remember how next time!

I pressed that hem and then used my Bernina #10 edge stitch foot. Perfectly straight. Love that foot!

I’m posting picture of my butt on the internet, that’s how proud I am of these pockets!

They have a REALLY high waist. I would lower that if I use this pattern again. They are also too big in the waist. I’m half-tempted to rip the waistband off and re-sew a curvy one, but there really is no way to lower the waist because of the pockets so I really should just start over.

Not a super flattering picture but that’s not the point. I’m not a model. I made pants. These are the pants I made. :)

OK next up, hems. I LOVE these jeans. I bought 12′s, 10′s and 8′s. The 12′s are already too big, the 10′s fit perfectly and the 8′s are hanging on my wall for when they do fit! They have the perfect amount of stretch so that they stay up and don’t get that saggy butt and they are soft and the perfect color and oh, I just love them. But for whatever reason, they were 3″ too long. I wear Loft jeans all the time, those and the Demi Curve Levi’s are what fit the best, and normally their bootcut jeans fit me perfectly. These must have been meant to be worn with heels and i’m lucky if my feet will let me out of my running shoes most days so, hems.

After searching 5 different fabric stores for matching thread, I used this tutorial from Sew Much Ado that saves the original hem. They were pretty stretchy so I pinned them in like 8 places to make sure those side seams lined up and I tugged on them a little bit, but they didn’t turn out wavy at all, which is impressive considering the flared bottom. :)

Hemmed!

Overlocked seams. I don’t have a serger so I just used my #2A overlock foot. I could have just used my zig-zag foot, no one will see it and it’s just so it doesn’t come apart in the wash. The tutorial says cutting the excess off is optional but it was really bulky so I did. Let me tell you, cutting into perfectly good $60 jeans is terrifying. But I did it! Twice!

What do you think? They are dark, so when I’m wearing them you can hardly see the hem. This is after washing and not ironing, so i’m pretty happy with them. Much better than not being able to match that orange thread.

Of course, you can CLEARLY see that I need to do more sit-ups. (Hey, i’m down 17 pounds, i’m getting there!) :)

Side note - the lighting is perfect in Door County. Something about how the light filters through the trees. Taking photos outside at home is so harsh in the direct sunlight. I want to make a bunch of stuff to take up there to take pictures of next time we go! Look out for a ton of bags hanging in trees! :)

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