Made by J from Head to Toe

Here I am on my way to a party/BBQ this past weekend, dressed entirely, and inadvertently, in Made by J clothes.  I'm rocking my BurdaStyle Ute blouse and my Schnittvision jeans.  (The shoes are navy patent peep-toe wedges from Target--too cute!)

Hopefully, as I keep sewing, this will happen more and more!

JEANS!

My jeans are finally finished! Here are some pictures, and below is a complete overview of the project.

Pattern

For these jeans, I used the pattern for hip-fitting jeans from Schnittvision Vol. 7. (The program also includes a pattern for jeans with a higher rise.) Once I got the software working, it was easy to enter my measurements and print the pattern. Although the pattern was already fitted to me, I still made a few adjustments, using my favorite pair of Express jeans as a point of comparison:

• On both the front and back pieces, I added 2-3 inches to the width of the leg at the cuff, tapering to nothing at the knee. Despite looking really flared in the picture, the original pattern would have yielded more of a boot-fit based on the finished measurements. I also lengthened the legs a bit, so I'd have lots of room for adjustment and for shrinkage.
• I drafted my own pattern for a coin pocket, which wasn't included, again using my own jeans as a model.
  
• Based on my first test fit, I added 1/4 inch to the width of the thigh, tapering to nothing at the hip and at the knee. (I guess that's what I get for training to run a marathon--beefy thighs!) There is a "prominent thigh" option when you're creating the pattern, but it seemed complicated, and this solution was easy enough.
• I increased the width of the waistband from 2 to 2 1/2 inches, since with the original waistband they were too low rise for comfort. Adding this extra height created gapping in the back. But since the waistband was already seamed at the center back, I made an adjustment there to eliminate the gap

There's a lot to like about the Schnittvision jeans pattern--first and foremost that it is custom-fitted to one's own unique derriere. Overall, I was quite pleased with the pattern, but I do have a few quibbles. First of all, the pattern didn't have consistent seam allowances--in some places, the allowance was 5/8 inch, and in others it was closer to 3/8. Which meant sometimes I was trying to sew french seams with only 3/8 inch to work with. I'm certain these differences in the seam allowance were intentional, but I'm not at all sure what their intention was. And it meant I had to check the seamlines on my paper pattern pieces before every step.

My other problem was with the pattern for the front pocket bags, which inexplicably had neither a fold line nor a seam allowance on the edge closest to the center front. Maybe they thought the raw edges of the pocket would be captured during the zipper installation, but because the fly is asymmetrical, that only worked on one side, so I had to go back and sew it closed after the fact. These are hardly major problems, and to be fair, perhaps some of them might have been avoided if I had been able to read the instructions.

In the end, I'm also not completely convinced by the fit.  Despite my adjustment to the waistband, these jeans are very low rise in the back, and sitting or bending over can be a bit dicey.  When I make my next pair, I'm definitely selecting the "round bottom" option, rather than the "regular" option, when I create my pattern in Schnittvision.  (Silly me, assuming that my bottom was "regular"!)  I'm pretty sure that will fix the problem.

Materials

• mid-weight dark wash stretch denim, 1% lycra. From Joann Fabrics, on sale & with a coupon, for less than $5 a yard. (I don't remember exactly how much it ended up costing, but it seems like Joann has denim on sale pretty often.)
• Gutterman jeans topstitching thread, plus regular navy thread in the bobbin
  
• metal jeans zipper, which I had to shorten considerably
• Tack buttons from ebay
• rivets from Haberman's
• lightweight woven interfacing
• one pair of old boxers for the pockets
• PVA bookbinder's glue for basting--this is basically elmer's glue, only better, and in large quantities
  

Construction

Since I couldn't read the original instructions in German, I used the dowloadable instructions for Jalie's stretch jeans, and referred frequently to Johanna's tutorials.

I basted with glue a lot and I wish I could do it all the time. I found that when I used glue, I usually didn't need to iron to get a sharp corner, so that simplified the pockets a great deal.

I drafted my own pattern for the decorative stitching on the pockets, then made a template from an old file folder. To get the full pattern, I just drew the center line, then traced this template twice, once right-side-up, and once upside-down.

My sewing machine is a vintage all-metal Kenmore machine from the 60s or 70s, and it handled the denim beautifully. I used a jeans needle, which also worked great. At times, I needed to hand-crank my machine, but mostly it did fine on its own. I did try one trick for sewing the really bulky places where several seams come together: After sewing the seam, I took it out to the garage and hit the lumpy part with a hammer a couple of times before I topstitched it. I think it helped flatten the seam and made it easier for my machine to sew over it.  That said, I definitely have a jean-a-ma-jig on my wishlist for the future.

I was initially worried about sewing the fly, but it turned out to be really easy, and mostly intuitive. It was also really satisfying, because the results look so professional when you're done, especially with a metal zipper. The hardest part was removing the zipper teeth to shorten it. In the end, I gave up and handed it over to the Mr., who had much more success. He claims that the key is to grab the tooth only at the end, so you aren't pinching it closed at the same time that you're trying to pull it loose. But I couldn't make it work no matter what I did.

I used french seams throughout, and I topstitched most everything except the side seams below the hip. There, I used a decorative stitch instead of a bar tack to end my line of topstitching. If you look carefully, most RTW jeans also don't have topstitching all the way down the leg, either.

I followed the advice of the folks on pattern review and washed and dried my finished jeans several times before finally hemming them. I also washed and dried the fabric before I cut, so hopefully it won't shrink too much more at this point.

Shout-Outs

When I was getting ready to do this project, I read everything I could about jeans. I'm certain I haven't attributed every tip or technique I used, but here are some of the many awesome reviews, tutorials, and other resources out there for sewing jeans.

• Pattern Review Winter 2010 Jalie Jeans sew-along
• Johanna Liu's jeans tutorials
• Kathleen F.'s "jeans fit so lousy" series--great for learning what makes jeans fit, or not
• The Selfish seamstress on her Jalie jeans
  
• Juebejue's tips on making jeans
  

Projects in a holding pattern

It's April (almost!), which means that the end of the semester is coming soon, and school is getting ready to kick me in the [part of the body that would hurt when kicked]. But I've still been making uneven progress on several projects. Here's an overview:

Jeans

The jeans look great. I've done everything but finishing the waistband, and I've got my rivets, tack buttons, and belt loops ready to go. But I'm waiting for my new "made by J" sewing labels to arrive so I can sew one onto the waistband facing before topstitching it down. These jeans are an accomplishment for me, and I can't resist tooting my own horn a bit, even if no one else ever sees it. Currently, the post office is holding my labels hostage (don't get me started on the post office!), but I hope to have them in hand by the end of the day today. In the meantime, I've been reading all the posts about rivets on the Pattern Review jeans sew-along to educate myself about what lies ahead.

I plan to do a full write-up with better pictures once I get my jeans done, but here are some quick snapshots to tide you over. Sorry for the poor quality--my "resident photographer" had to study for an exam this morning!







Wedding-Guest Dress

Many months ago, I had this idea for a dress to wear to a family wedding in May. Since then, I've changed my mind several times, but I've finally decided on this design, which will be more versatile:

The original dress is sold out on Modcloth, and the pictures are no longer on the site. I'm planning to make my version very similar to this one, with a few minor adjustments: I've made the curve of the raised waistline more gradual at the center front, and I've increased the overlap of the surplice top so it will be less cleavage-tastical. (Several of the reviews mentioned needing double-sided tape--not the look I'm after for a family wedding!). I'm making it out of navy polyester charmeuse, same as the original. Why mess with a good thing?

I started drafting this dress over the weekend, and I got the front mostly done when I ran out of pattern paper. Look at this skirt pattern! This is me trying desperately to use my last scraps of paper to stabilize my pattern, which was held together only by delicate paper hinges. It looks like Frankenstein's monster!


I scored a little more paper on Monday, hopefully enough to finish the project. But I definitely need to find a more reliable paper supply.

Cotton Print Blouse

Stymied in my attempts to work on my jeans and my dress, I started in on another project in my queue--a cute cotton print blouse. I bought this cotton voile months ago, but now it's finally warm enough to think seriously about spring blouses.


I debated, and finally decided on BurdaStyle Ute:


I opted for version A, with the peter pan collar, omitting the crazy cuffs. But I also like B, with the tie collar, and I've got my eyes on it for a subsequent project.

Simple enough, right? Wrong! First of all, my computer pitched a giant fit when I tried to print the pdf file--I've never had this much trouble with a print-at-home pattern before! I had to download Acrobat to make it work.

Now, I know, a sensible person would've done a muslin of a new pattern, even if the measurements for a given size matched her body perfectly. Failing that, a sensible person would have at least basted it together to test fit before sewing time-consuming french seams. Did I do any of these sensible things? Of course not! I forged right ahead. And look at the results:


It's huge! It looks like a house dress! I know the pattern is supposed to be a slightly relaxed fit, but this is not what I was after. I think I need to take out all my beautiful french seams, press the pieces, and re-cut them 2 sizes smaller. Some pieces, like the center front and the collar, I'll have to cut again, but I'm planning on fudging the others. I bought another yard of fabric, but I still have to wash it and dry it before I can do anything else.

I'm convinced I can salvage the project, and I still love the concept, but I admit I'm a bit discouraged. I'm planning to set this project aside for a bit and wait for a second wind. It's not like I won't have enough to work on in the meantime!

The Schnittvision Saga

Like many of us, I was tempted when the Selfish Seamstress posted about Schnittvision, a German software program that yields a series of chic, versatile, contemporary patterns based on your particular measurements. And it was even on sale!

In the end, I succumbed. I had to have it. But getting it was not easy. First, I had to navigate the order form in German. To avoid the hefty surcharge for international shipping, I recruited my mother-in-law, who works for a large multi-national corporation. She contacted a German colleague, who agreed to carry the software over from Germany on his next business trip. Once I got the disk, installing it on my computer was a little tricky, since important locations like "Program Files" have different names in other languages. Fortunately, the Mister is a genius, and he figured out a solution that worked like a charm. (NB: if you have Schnittvision, and get error messages about libraries that cannot be found, let me know, and I'll share his fabulous workaround with you!)

Today, I write to tell you that it was all worth it: I'm almost done sewing my first Schnittvision pattern, and I'm thrilled with the results. I decided to buy Volume 7, "Neo-Chic," in large part because it included a pattern for flared jeans. Well, here's a sneak preview of my jeans:

With the exception of adding a little room (like a quarter of an inch) through the thigh, and increasing the width of the waistband a bit, I've made no adjustments to the fit of the jeans, and they're perfect! (I've put the jeans together since these pictures were taken, so I have in fact tried them on.) I also increased the flare below the knee, purely for aesthetic reasons.

I'm totally gobsmacked by the fact that I'm sewing my own jeans, and even more so by how good a fit I got from the Schnittvision pattern. They're almost done and ready to be worn, although I won't be able to pick up any rivets until next week, and I'll be doing a full write-up of the project soon.