Michelle, ma belle... tres bien ensemble
  • Home
  • Knitting Patterns
  • Contact Me
  • About Me
  • Project Archive
Michelle ma belle, sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble,

Tres bien ensemble

Blue Jeans.

2/22/2016

13 Comments

 
Picture
This project is my greatest sewing accomplishment to date! I sewed jeans! I still can't quite believe it. BLUE JEANS, you guys. I'm not sure why, but it feels like a big deal. This project made me feel like I'd leveled up in the same way sewing a dozen (+) Archers made me feel. Like, I'm not just some newb sitting at home tinkering with a sewing machine. 
Picture
I have been sewing for about five years now. My closet is predominantly filled with garments I've made. There is barely a day that I don't wear something I've sewn or knitted. But those things combined don't equal the level of achievement I felt upon finishing these jeans. And, it's silly, because they weren't actually difficult to make. Apparently, jeans were just a mental hurdle I needed to jump over. 
Picture
I finally built the courage to tackle this project  after sitting on the sidelines watching other sewing bloggers try their hand at jeans making, (Heather, I'm looking at you!)
Picture
These jeans are sewn from the Birkin Flares pattern by Lauren of Baste and Gather. They are a classic, five pocket, mid-rise, flared jean.  I have nothing to compare this pattern to, in terms of past sewing projects, but I can tell you, there is A LOT I like about this pattern. 
Picture
First off, this pattern caught my attention during its testing phases. Pairs of these jeans were popping up all over my Instagram feed. I could hardly believe the number of people involved in the testing of these jeans. At the release of the pattern, a lot of tester photos were shared on Lauren's blog in two separate posts 1 & 2. A wide variety of heights and body types are represented in that tester group, which made it easier for me to imagine these jeans on my own body. And, to make things even better, a lot of those testers were directly available to comment on the pattern and the changes they made to their versions in the Baste and Gather facebook group. The group offered near instant feedback from people who had experience with the pattern. Pretty great.
Picture
As far as the pattern is concerned, it is a layered pdf document, so you have the option to print a single size, if you choose. The instructions are clearly written and easy to follow. 

With regard to size, I decided to blend the rise of the size 26, the waist of the size 28, and the hip of the size 29. I also knew I needed to shorten the leg length, so I started by taking two inches from each of the lengthen/shorten lines. Then, I took an additional two inches from the hemline. (Six inches total). I wish I would have left one inch on the total length. The good news is that I'm wearing a four inch heel in these photos, so I can easily wear these jeans with a flatter shoe. 

The next time I make this pattern, I'm going to try removing the majority of the leg length from the lengthen/shorten line above the knee. I have some bagging at the back of my knee, and I think making that adjustment will help. 
Picture
My fabric for these jeans is an estate sale denim. It's got a nice amount of stretch to it, but I have no way to know exactly what the ratio of stretch is. I have my eyes peeled for stretch denim constantly now. I have a feeling I'm going to have to get a hold of some Cone Mills denim for future pairs. I can see another pair or two of Birkin Flares in my closet. Also, I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for the release of the add-on to this pattern, the Kendall Skinnies. I might try some other jeans patterns, but I'm pretty pleased with these and think they could be my go-to with a little bit of adjusting. 
13 Comments
Sam link
2/22/2016 05:43:52 am

These look fabulous! I remember feeling the same when I made my first (and so far only) pair of jeans a couple of years ago. I made the Named Patterns Jamie Jeans, and couldn't believe how straightforward they were.

I've been debating whether to get this pattern or the Closet Case Files Ginger jeans, but now I know that there's going to be a skinny add-on to this one, I think I'll go for these.

Reply
Jess
2/22/2016 09:03:19 am

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBdNWCHxpky/?taken-by=laurenydahl

There isn't going to be a skinny add on ... Lauren Dahl has posted on instagram a while ago ...

Reply
Zilredloh link
2/22/2016 08:18:17 am

They look wonderful Michelle. When I saw these in person, I didn't even have any clue that you had made them yourself. But I was admiring them even before you pointed out that fact. :D

And what a backdrop!! Blog photos taken in Italy... *swoon*

Reply
Jess
2/22/2016 09:02:05 am

I think Lauren Dahl posted on her instagram that she's not going to do the Kendall skinnies, link is here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBdNWCHxpky/?taken-by=laurenydahl

Reply
Michelle link
2/22/2016 10:52:04 am

OH, NO! I missed that post entirely. Well, Ginger Jeans, here I come! :-D Maybe I can combine the two patterns to keep the rise of the Ginger. I know Heather did a tutorial on how to modify the rise of her pattern, but I'm really not excited about having to do a ton of re-drafting on a pattern.

Reply
crab&bee link
2/22/2016 09:35:44 am

Just wonderful - the style looks incredible on you.

Reply
Jo link
2/22/2016 11:13:54 am

These look great! Well done. And your butt looks awesome in them :)

Reply
Andrea link
2/23/2016 12:20:41 am

well done, they look fantastic! I have made Ginger Jeans a couple of times and am keen to try flares this autumn.

Reply
Tanyamaile link
2/23/2016 07:57:21 am

Those are so fabulous, Michelle! I love the 70's vibe you've got going on. So perfectly awesome!

Reply
My Handmade Space link
2/23/2016 04:25:40 pm

Congrats on your sewing accomplishment! Those jeans look great.

Reply
Nat @ Made in Home link
2/26/2016 05:17:34 am

Oh another pair of Birkin Flares popping up! I really want to make a pair - they look amazing on you!

Reply
Heather link
3/2/2016 09:36:17 am

These are awesome Michelle!! I'm so glad you have jumped on the jeans-making wagon, and I totally get how satisfying it feels to make a pair. Especially a pair that fits as well as these fit you. They look fantastic!! Be careful of that Cone Mills denim - it's hard to go back to anything else after you've worn it - it's so nice!!
I also think that shortening the legs at the line below the knee would help. I did the same thing as you, and I wished they were tighter around the lower thigh/knee area.

Reply
EL link
3/6/2016 03:59:59 pm

Wow, these look really nice! I too, have purchased the birkin flares after seeing the amount of reviews about it. Yours is another one that turned out lovely. I'm still sorta nervous to begin with denim. I'm going to start with a muslim first.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    “The
    follow us in feedly
    “Vintage

    Archives

    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010

Thank you for respecting the intellectual property rights protected by the copyright laws of the United States and International Copyright Treaty.
  • Home
  • Knitting Patterns
  • Contact Me
  • About Me
  • Project Archive