Well. I have some good news and I have some bad news.
The good news is that the trouser portion of the Thurlow pattern is just as good as the shorts portion. One would think that goes without saying, but occasionally I do see patterns that focus all their attention on one component and add the second as a “bonus” without properly testing it (see McCall’s 5971 – the cap sleeves are perfect, but the long sleeves were not properly drafted & cause some funky problems when you try to, you know, move your arms & shit). Anyway, that’s not the problem here. These parts are perfect.
Which brings me to the bad news… uhhh… I hope you like looking at pictures of me wearing Thurlows, because you are about to see a LOT of them. I have fabric picked for 2 more pairs of trousers & one more pair of shorts. And I have ideas for more. Lord help us.
At any rate, I guess I found my new TNT, desert-island pattern! Woohoo!
So, without further ado… let me introduce you to my newest pair of jeans (and also a deliciously trashy part of my back yard):
Don’t you luurve them!? Omgah, so comfy & flattering.
Check out the rear view!
A few fitting notes – these are a size 0, aka the smallest size. FWIW, my waist is 26.5″ & my hips are 37″. These are a PERFECT fit on me. I did pull the back crotch out to a size 4, because I noticed my shorts didn’t have as much butt room as I prefer (and occasionally hovered near the zones of Wedgie City, eeeew). I did not shorten the front crotch of these, there are a few wrinkles but that’s mostly because of the way I’m standing. LOVE the fit of these. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Oh, they are a little long. What you see in the pictures is the natural length, with a shitty cuff job (sidenote: I have no idea how pants cuffs work, nor do I own any pants with cuffs that I can compare to. I am pretty sure I cuffed these wrong because they fall out often. Help?). I’m 5’3″ sooo take that as you will. Next time I will shorten these before cutting.
I mean, LOOK AT THEM.
LOOK AT THOSE WELTS.
I did minimal topstitching with these (just around the welt pockets, top of the slash pockets, and the zipper – all in navy) as I wanted them to be very sleek and, er, trouser-like. Also, these are one hundred thousand times better than my previous denim trousers, fyi.
The insides are the best part! I had plans on using a piece of floral cotton I had floating around my stash, but the lining for these pants actually take a fair amount of fabric. So I went to the flea market on Saturday morning in hopes of finding something suitable… and welllll, look what I found! Had exactly enough, too!
I mean, are these like the happiest jeans or what.
Another rear view. These are probably my best welt pockets yet.
On a slightly frustrating note, it would seem that I’m not capable of keeping pants hooks & eyes in my possession. I lost my first pack in the move, somehow. So when I found them at Vogue Fabrics while I was in Chicago, I rejoiced & bought the biggest pack they sold. Come Saturday evening (*ahem*, yeah, I sewed these up in a day…), they were nowhere to be found! I KNOW I bought some because they are in my gloat picture of all the goodies I brought home. I’m fairly certain I threw them away with the plastic bags. Along with the sweet marking wax stuff that I also bought… ::sob::. So these hooks & eyes come from Walmart. And they are just as terrible as you would guess, but hey at least they were cheap!
But, whatever, I have new jeans so I guess it all evens out…
In closing, a few questions for y’all:
1. Since I’m planning on making a few more of these anyway, is anyone interested in a little sew-along? Might be closer to the end of the October before I can start, but I’d be happy to take pictures of the more confusing steps & hand-hold if necessary! C’mon! It’ll be FUN! And the pattern includes both pants & shorts, so those of you in warmer climates don’t have an excuse to back out, nyah nyah nyah.
2. What is your TNT pattern? Is it a Sewaholic pattern? Is this some kind of conspiracy?
LLADYBIRD 
Hells Bells Yes! A Thurlow sewalong would be fantastic! I’m in!! And by the by….they look awesome on you. Perfect fit and construction is a dream 🙂
Holy shit check OUT that rear view!!! They fit you like a dream!
I will rock the shit out of a thurlow sew along! YES YES YES YES!
Def interested in a Thurlow sewalong. I have the pattern and the desire, but have moved no further.
I would DEFINITELY do a sew-along for these pants. They’ve been on my wish list for a while now and I could use the community support for fit issues!
They look so amazing! What a great fit. The welt pockets are perfection. The colorful lining makes me smile. Love it! In response to your first question: YES! You should totally do a Thurlow sewalong. I need to make a pair of trousers, and a sewalong would probably help me actually finish them in a reasonable amount of time.
Great jeans! Super fit!
My TNT is the Pedrell from Sewaholic so yes it is a conspiracy. Tasia is taking over the world using great fitting patterns! Evil genius.
Can I sew along using the new Colette Juniper pants pattern? I think it would suit me and my closet better…
Of course! You can sew along with whatever pattern you choose… and also, those Juniper pants are just darling 🙂
I’m going to butt in on this convo and say “yes” to the sew along and I want to make the Juniper pants too because I got the pattern this weekend haha.
Ehrmehgerd, those jeans are effing great. I love the welted pockets and the sessay flowered inside fabric. If only my sewing machine wasn’t buried in our spare room. 😦 Although I think trousers are a bit above me at this stage.
I would totally be in for a sewalong! I have never made any pants, and I have both the pattern & fabric picked out & purchased for my Thurlows. I’d love to have some people walk it through with!
I looooove these! I didn’t think about using this pattern before because I’m very much not pear shaped, but my measurements are so similar to yours, I may be convinced. I’ve been muslining for a pair of denim trousers, and now I’m tempted to chuck the pattern I was using and use this one instead. But I can’t! I already made two muslins! But these are so nice… maybe I could…
I’m not a true pear either but I do have the small waist/protruding rear so it works out 🙂 Of course I’m going to tell you to go with the Sewaholic version… they include all the elements of a proper pair of trousers, and they look soo good. You can always consider it a contribution to small businesses hahah 🙂
But I get that you’d want to see the fruits of 2 muslins worth of labor. You can always join us with a different pattern, that is, if you’re still working on them when I actually get the sewalong going 😀
Lovely lovely trousers! the fit is super awesome and I love your happy lining 🙂
I would be SO down for a Thurlow sew along — I have some cranberry red cotton twill waiting for them!
yes yes a sewalong! pics of the more confusing steps would be much appreciated! that is also a good point that since the pattern includes both pants & shorts those in warmer climates can also participate.
I also agree that Tasia has some kind of conspiracy going on. I do love me a Renfrew…:)
Those look fantastic on you. I might be interested in a Thurlow sew-along. Actually, I’m VERY interested, but unsure if I would actually DO it. I haven’t done any pants or shorts in my sewing yet. They seem scary!
Oh, I know exactly what you mean but I promise they are not hard! The fitting can be kind of terrifying, since there are so many weird curves to deal with… but even that’s not so bad. And once you figure the fit out, you can knock out a zillion pairs of pants over & over and they are SO easy!
Those looks so cute on you! Yay! And the insides are SO cool.
For some reason I have a mental block with cuff instructions when I’ve read them and it takes me 8200 times to get it straight in my head (obv. only having just done my first pair of pants, this has been in hemming RTW stuff). FWIW the Smooth Sailing trousers pattern had really good cuff instructions (though I didn’t do them b/c in my fabric the cuffs look like rolled sweatpants, ick). You fold up a SA on the inside, fold up a few inches, stitch close to edge, then fold out a couple inches to the RS and tack both inner/outer seam. So much better than some of the videos I’ve tried to watch which just confuse me.
Those trousers are just too perfect! Excellent job!
I’d totally join for a Thurlow sew-along! I’ll need to get the pattern though….(I’ve been slacking on that)
As far as cuffs go, when I cut cuffs I take them up with a couple small stitches so they dn’t fall out. Also, since the pants have a flare to the bottom, where the cuff is going to be I cut that straight, so they don’t get wider at the bottom of the fabric where they’re going to be turned up (not sure that makes any sense)
WOW, these look so fantastic! I’ve got the Thurlow pattern and am hoping to make a pair mid to late October, so I would definitely be up for a sew-along. I am fairly new to sewing and am rather intimidated by the welt bockets and front fly business, not to mention the fitting, but I am VERY motivated to sew for myself some trousers and would love the opportunity to get input from others.
I love them! You’re seriously tempting me out of my 7 year trouser drought!
Perfect timing for a Thurlow sewalong – so count me in!! 🙂 Funnily enough that was – well still is going to be my next project after I have finished the craftsy.com Susan Khaljie couture dress, as I was thinking I needed a pair of warm trousers for autumn, so I’m halfway through copying the Thurlow pattern!!
You – as always seems to come up trumps every time you take on a new project – those jeans look fabulous on you!!
I find trousers to be rather tricky to fit and many times I’ve turned the air blue with expletives due to the frustration, which brings me to this question: if any of the readers/followers have any fitting issues – and sometimes photos do help to show what the problem is – do you think Tasia from sewaholic allow people to post any pictures of this on her flickr page and other readers can make helpful comments?? To my knowledge she doesn’t have a forum site like Colette patterns were you can show photos!!!
I’m sure she wouldn’t mind that, but I’m happy to make a special Flickr page just for the Thurlows. Everyone can use it to post muslins, progress shots & eventually the finished ones. And you can get a Flickr account for freeeee 🙂
Yay!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Many thanks for that Lladybird!! I’m happy either way on whether you decide to make your Flickr page or use Tasia’s!!
If you did a Thurlow sew along I would love you forever!
Oooo they look fab! double thumbs up with the funky insides too!
I’m itching to do a sew-along but I’m more of skinny jeans type person then again I could do it and adapt the pattern?
I actually want to convert one of my pairs to straight leg… I’m not sure how skinny you can get without actually using a stretch fabric, but I feel confident that you can at least un-flare the legs. Maybe a mash-up with the Clover, a little wider to account for no stretch in the fabric?
Measure around your heel to the front of your ankle, and that’s how wide your pant legs need to be in order to pull ’em on with no stretch! Plus maybe 1/2″ to 1″ ease for makin’ it easy to get them on and off.
Good point, thank you!
Awesome awesome pair of Thurlows! I’m taking a trouser sewing class at my community college and am attempting to make these. I hope that mine turn out even half as nice as yours! We’ve only just begun the fitting process. It’s a little daunting, but doable, I think. I’m in for the sew-along, although I might be on a slightly slower paced schedule, since my class only meets once a week.
Your Thurlow jeans look awesome! I just cut out my first Thurlows yesterday! I’m a 10 in the waist (30″) and a 6 in the hip (39″)…so we’ll see if I narrowed them in the correct areas…LOL. Looks like you cut yours about 2 sizes smaller in the waist and one size smaller in the hips than the pattern envelope recommends…based on that, it’ll be interesting to see how mine end up!
Yeah, I’ve learned from experience that I prefer to wear my clothes much closer-fitting than the envelope recommendations… so I cut based on the finished measurements of the garment in question 🙂
Oh dur, I do remember reading that. 🙂 And cutting based on the finished measurement is usually what I do with Big 4 patterns, but I trust independent pattern companies more for some reason. I just looked at the finished measurements, though, and these pants seem like they are going to be BIG on me. Lots o basting and trying on in my near future!
Well, the indie pattern companies usually are more likely to give accurate sizing… I’m just one of those people who prefers 1/2″ (or less!) ease in my clothing haha 🙂
Yes! A sewalong…im in!!
I’m in need of some fancy pants like that so I’m all in for a sew along. Right now I’m making the Juniper pants, my first pair of pants yet so we’ll see how that turns out.
YEAH SEW ALONG!!! These are so wicked cute on you. I’ve yet to find my TNT pattern 😦
Dayum, girl, these look great! And you look fab in hot pink! I’m too ADHD for a favorite pattern, but if I HAD to pick one, it would probably be the Grainline Tiny Pocket Tank.
If you host a sew-along I will definitely participate. My hips-to-waist ratio is not awesome enough for the Sewaholic trousers to fit without much tweaking, so I’ll be making a pattern I’ve already done all the fitting for. However, I may buy that pattern just to see her construction and details since they look wonderful.
I don’t have a TNT pattern yet.
These look great!
Your Thurlows look really, really great! I’d join in the sew along but I can’t wait that long to make another pair. heh Well… perhaps by then I’ll make some more and could join in anyhow. 🙂
Being an obsessed by that wool tweed you and Tasha bought, I went back to Vogue and it is no more. 😦 I’m going to have to mourn and find some other fabric for my thurlows now. Ahh well….
NOOOOO!!!!! Those were supposed to be our BFF outfits 😦
Heh. I have to hunt down some cute lining for my Gertie coat and perhaps I’ll just have to go check out the other Vogue fabrics up in Evantson. 🙂
SWEET! They fit you beautifully, and the lining is fantastic. I’m sure that lining alone puts an extra pep in your step! I’d love to do a sew-a-long, though I’ll probly use a vintage pants pattern. I’ve got so many, and I think a pair of hip-huggers might be close to a normal current pair, yet with a cool flare. I dunno.
Looks great!
These are so fabulous! I might almost have to overcome my terror of making pants. Maybe after the wedding dress …
Rocking it! You are the Thurlow master 🙂 I’d be keen for a sewalong. I have this pattern in my stash which makes it even better 🙂 Are you going to be making your winter shorts from this pattern?
Oh yes! Really excited about those 🙂
I don’t blame you. Once I don’t have to deal with wedding dresses anymore and I have time to sew frivolous things like basic pants (:P)….and, you know, work out the fitting…I’m seriously going to make at least five pairs of these. Because I can pretty much guarantee that these will most likely work better on my figure than any other pants pattern I’ve ever attempted. I already have fabric for multiple pairs of pants that were sitting around waiting for me to find the perfect pattern.
No sewalong for me, obviously, but I’ll gladly refer to whatever goes on in it once I have time to make mine. (And incidentally, I’m using a Sewaholic pattern for the top half of my dress. So yes, Tasia must be trying to take over the world with awesome patterns.)
My TNT is definitely not Sewaholic – though I love Tasia and her designs and what she’s done with her terrific brand. I have a totally different body type that that which she designs for. My TNT is Vogue 1166. Very dull and simple pair of flat front pants. I need to branch out, but I did a lot of crotch curve and depth work on this pattern to get to a general shape that works (and is transferable to other patterns).
These turned out SO cute. The fit looks great!
Those welts are absolute, absolute perfection and the fit is dead-on.
I’m not sure I have a TNT pattern. I’ve made Simplicity 2444 quite a few times, but it takes a bit of tweaking before I can’t fit a small animal in the back. I do wish I had the Sewaholic hip-to-waist ratio, though!
I’d love a sew-along. I have a hard time finding pants that fit, and would love to give the Thurlow pattern a try – especially seeing how fantastic your pants turned out!
I’ve never joined a sew along before, but I bought the Thurlow pattern recently and can’t seem to dare to jump in…This may be the push I need! Is there a sign up sheet? 🙂
For real. These look terrific. The welts are amaze balls.
Everything u make is just amazing and fits you perfectly.
Count me in for a sew along!!! I’ve only made the shorts so far and I’m in love but have procrastinated on the pants because I was afraid they wouldn’t fit as awesome as the shorts do.
Awesome jeans are awesome. And the happytastic insides are fun and I want them. I want a pair of happy pants too. And those welts are fantasmabobsical. The sew-along would be splendid as I need some jeans that actually fit properly and have happy lining and awesome welts. I don’t really have a TNT pattern, though. The Thurlow pattern looks like would probably be a good fit however I like my things to be super fitted and I’m rather small so I’ll probably have to grade down; a process in which I am somewhat familiar. Also your blog is awesome, your sewing is awesome and you are awesome!
Doggnabbit!! You keep tempting me just as I am about to settle on a sewing plan up pops something too gorgeous to ignore, these are awesometastic, the perfect pair of non jeans I’ve seen. I have thurlow, shorts are on my plan….but now I’ve seen your trews want some in denim too. I’d be interested in joining a sewalong later this season, but you know that means I prob don’t manage to keep up with the deadlines!
I want my arse to look like your arse so I shall purchase the pattern and get crackin. Nice job Lauren
This pattern looks great in denim too! I love this pattern aswell and was planning on making myself another pair: so I’m definitely in for the sew along!
They are just bloody brilliant – am uber jealous of your trouser skillz (and the fact that you can fit into trousers which is not possible for me right now grrr). Do the sewalong – I shall watch greedily from afar and come back in the new year to do mine when my belly/arse has reduced 🙂
these are definitely the happiest jeans out! You did an amazing job and all your add-ons and leave-offs were perfect. Not too much topstitching, beautiful insides, etc.
Yes please to a sew-along! My butt too could use some happy jeans!
…you know, that sounded better in my head. Anyway, AWESOME pants : )
Beautiful, Lauren!! I LOVE them! They look amazingly flattering!
Those are so freakin cute! I read your post last night and dreaming I was making welter pockets all night long!
Autocorrect, you are dead to me. *dreamed* and *welt*
Thank you!!
These look great Lauren – I really love the turn-ups actually. They look fine to me (but then i don’t know how to do turn-ups either). I’d love to do a sew-along for this project, but it’s kinda dependent on how crazy my uni course is at the time. But seriously – I need me some of these trousers!
Dood! I was just thinking about how I want to make these out of denim… and BAM… you made a totally badass version. Now I know they’ll be rad. Thanks for the inspiration girl!
I would so be in for a sewalong! Thank you in advance, and your trousers are fab!!
These look so amazing, but then so does everything you make! My TNT patterns for the bottom half are Simplicity 3688 (40s Repro) and Colette Iris, with a dramatically adjusted crotch curve for the Iris. I’d love to sew Thurlows with you, and the timing is good since I don’t have the pattern or fabric yet. Bring it on.
These denim trousers are so awesome! I would love to sewalong for the Thurlow – I made a pair of Thurlow shorts, which turned out fine except for the waistband – so wonky and so huge I had to take a couple inches out of it! Man I didn’t even realize she had listed the Finished garment measurements until I read the comments here! Thurlow is a great pattern, especially the fly front and welt pocket instructions, but I would appreciate so much if you discussed how you made a perfect waistband (and how your belt loops are sewn on!) during your sewalong 😀
I love the Thurlows too! I am making them in grey corduroy right now and will prob make a billion more. Never again will I waste time w a damn Vogue pants pattern!
These look amazing! I have trouble with cuffs too, for my thurlow shorts I blind hemmed the cuffs about 1-2 cm below the top of the cuff to hold the cuff where I wanted it. Don’t know how strong/practical that would be with trousers though.
Aw hell. The Thurlow jeans have made me need this pattern. Like really need. I will totally be joining in the sew along – my first. The timing is great and right in time for my challenge to myself to get up and sew more damn often.
I would love to be in on the sew along. The great fit on you is encouraging me. I have a 26.5 waist, but only a 35 hip, so I would have to take in the hip area. The waist and rise is perfect on you!
These look great on you, the welts are divine, and they go beautifully with that incredibly coloured top. Hmm, maybe I should try the Thurlow, but I’m pretty sure I need pants that sit on my natural wasitline and I’m not sure I want to amend the pattern that significantly. Then again, it’s worth a crack! I’ll have to wait for the next Sewaholic sale though, the exchange rate and international shipping add up!
Totally fantastic job! WIN!!! They look amazing on you!! I don’t have a TNT yet… but I’m so looking forward to finding my first one! LOL
So….I totally found a denim remnant that was ginormous at Textile Discount Outlet and I’m going to make some Thurlows with it because you are my idol and I desperately need a new pair of jeans before the weather gets any colder! Are you still wearing yours on a regular basis?
Sure am! I love my denim Thurlows, all my other jeans are officially retired until further notice 🙂
Oh I love these! Love love love! I want to make a pair now!
I love the fancy lining, that’s my kryptonite. I love having crazy pocket linings ^_^
Have just found your site and completely amazed by the wonderful things you have made. I’m certaintly going to have to work on my sewing skills – the Thurlow jeans and lace valentine dress are fabulous – what a great seamstress you are – well done