In case you couldn’t tell, I spent the first weekend of 2015 making pants. You already saw my Ginger Jeans – now let’s revisit an old favorite! My beloved Jamie Jeans, I knew we’d meet again! ♥
Ever since I made my first pair of Jamies in black stretch twill, I knew I wanted to make this pattern up again. I had a couple fitting changes that needed to be addressed – mostly reshaping the crotch (which I did on my original pair after they were sewn up, so it wasn’t reflected on the flat pattern) and pinching out some excess from the inseam. Knowing that the fabric I was using had considerably less stretch than the twill I used for the first pair, I decided not to remove any additional sizing/width, as that can be fairly easy to tweak during final fitting.
I love this dotty fabric! You can’t see it too well (wait for the close-ups), but it’s a dark navy denim with tiny white pindots all over. LOVE IT. Been looking for something similar to this for yeeears. I actually found this magical piece of beauty all the way in Paris – it’s one of the fabrics from my coupon haul. I can’t remember exactly how much I paid for it, but I think it was around 10€ for 3 meters, give or take. A few other fellow meet-up-ers were also lurking on this shit, but thankfully there were quite a few pieces to go around, so everyone who wanted some went home with one 🙂 Yay!
It’s kind of a peculiar fabric – a medium weight denim twill, and the dots are painted on (not printed). I can’t be 100% certain, but this may be the piece of fabric I accidentally dyed all of Landon’s undershirts with (sorry, Landon!). The back side does look like it bled a lot, but I also threw some black silk into that load – so who knows? Anyway. The fabric does have stretch, but not nearly as much as the twill – so I’m really glad I left off my additional sizing changes from the original pair (I believe I took out 1/2″ at the side seams, and even more at the center back and down the legs), because these are pretty snug as is! The denim is very stiff, but I’m hoping it relaxes a little more as I wear them. As of this posting, the only time I’ve worn them was during a really cold day, and I had on tights underneath to stay warm. Tights don’t make these pants super comfortable, but, then again – no pants are comfortable with tights underneath. So there’s that.
(Don’t look too closely, but I accidentally gave myself a weenie in one of those pictures lololol. Y’all are just lucky that I have no idea how to photoshpo that shit out haha)
I think they fit quite a bit better than the black pair I made, but there’s still definitely room for some improvement. Need to shorten the crotch length just a little more, and also remove some more width from the upper inseam. I also need to add some width to the calves – they are REALLY tight, like painted-on tight. It’s not uncomfortable, and I don’t think it looks bad – but I also can’t wear tall socks with these pants haha. Which I guess doesn’t matter for this particular pair, bc I think they look best with ballet flats, but, you know. Future Jamies. Fuck. I’ll get it eventually!
Having made these before and writing such a long post about the construction and fitting process, I don’t think there’s much else to add. I guess it bears noting that I didn’t bother with flat-felling the seams like I did on my jeans – I just serged and topstitched and called it a day.
Oh! I can talk a little about the waistband. Since the denim wasn’t as beefy as the denim for my Ginger Jeans, I did interface the waistband. I used lightweight knit fusible for the facing side. I love this interfacing because it gives a minor amount of support (enough to keep the waistband from collapsing on itself), but it doesn’t affect the stretch factor. Which means they’re still comfy, woohoo! Also, one fitting change I made for this pant – and possibly future pants, maybe – was to cut the one piece waistband into two pieces, so they can angle right at the center of my lower back (pretty much the same waistband as is on the Thurlows). This produces a much better fit than the single piece waistband does for me. There is a seam there now, but it’s covered by the back belt loop.
NOW you can see the dots! And isn’t the topstitching pretty? I used light blue denim topstitching thread (it ain’t anything fancy – just a spool of Gutterman that I picked up from Joann’s), which gives an interesting contrast to the dark blue fabric. The silver jeans button is also from some class of big box fabric/craft store (either Joann’s or Hobby Lobby, I don’t recall) – I bought a pack after the button on Landon’s Gap jeans wore a hole through the waistband and fell out. You know what, after typing that, I don’t feel bad about dyeing his tshirts now. Who do you think sewed a patch on those jeans and hammered in a new button? ME, that’s who. Just don’t tell him how much I secretly enjoyed it hahahahaha
More gut pictures for your perusal~
This is me trying to show you the cool pocket fabric haha. Leftover from one of these dress, by the way!
I think I’m about pants’d-out for the next couple of weeks (until I get my hands on some red twill, anyway, heh heh heh), but I feel pretty good about the two I’ve accomplished! Big ol’ snaps for ringing in 2015 with two successful projects! Hopefully that’ll be a recurring theme for the rest of this year 🙂
As a side note – WOOF, my hair color is faded. Can you believe the photos were taken maybe 2 days after I shot the Ginger photos? I didn’t do anything to my hair during that time (I only wash it once a week), other than style it – the only thing different is the lighting. Kind of crazy how much of a difference it makes!
I LOVE these!!! I think I’m finally convinced to give the Jamie Jeans a go – I really love the special little details on these – the front seam, those angled pockets… And in this dotty fabric they are especially perfect. They fit you really wonderfully too. And that light blue denim thread… oh guurrrrrllll. Be still my heart.
I can’t believe you haven’t made this pattern yet! Everything about the design just screams Sallie to me 🙂
Love the spotty denim! And love love love the pants making dedication… Wowsa! 😍
Haha thank you!
I love the dotted demin! I need to figure out jeans in 2015, because at my new job that’s about all I wear (yay!) but only have one pair I really like (boo!).
Lucky you! I’m so happy to be at a job where I can wear jeans everyday… it would be really hard to go back to non-jeans at this point! So, yes, jeans-making is gonna be in your 2015 future! Or, at least, it better be! 😀
Oh I love these: awesome fabric, awesome fit! I think I like this pattern a lot more than most of the Gingers I’ve seen…. Is that bad? It’s so trendy right now!
I don’t think it’s bad! What I like best about this pattern is that it’s quite different than anything I’ve seen – patterns or RTW!
Love the Dottie denim! While I admire your construction techniques, this girl hates skinny jeans. Don’t like them on women or men and can’t wait for that fad to fade.
Sigh… your hair. Girl, it’s probably because I’m 51, and I’m about to sound like your mom, but you’re such a pretty girl with your natural color. Hope you go back soon!
Haha no worries on either end:) I was wearing skinny jeans long before they came into fashion again (skinnying up my flares was how I learned how to use a sewing machine, actually!), and I’ll probably continue to wear them even after the fad dies out. As far as my hair – weeeell, my mom actually likes it! So you don’t sound like her 🙂 But I know what you mean haha. If it makes you feel any better, I will be going back to a more natural color at some point this year, because the upkeep is starting to wear me out (and I’m really excited to pay someone else to correct/maintain it HAHA).
So cute! I was looking at this on my phone at first and with the tiny pictures couldn’t appreciate all the nice details. I love that sweater, too- did you knit it?
I did! It’s the Aiken sweater and I love it so much 🙂
The dotted denim is amazing and what an awesome combo with the light blue topstitching! I also really like the front seams on this pattern. Thanks for the insight about making the waistband in two pieces so you can angle it at the back, I bet that will help me with fitting pants 🙂
You’re so welcome! Yay for non gape-y waistbands!!
This is such a great pattern! The seam down the front and the pockets make it look oh so refined. The fabric you used is wonderful too!
I think it’s a pretty good marriage of pattern+fabric… just tooting my own horn here, haha 🙂
What a great pattern, not to mention that fabric!
Yeah, the fabric was a good find!!
Woohoo!!!, love the dotted denim…fancy! I lsn’t the Jamie Jeans pattern just awesome? I made a pair before Christmas. I still have some twekking to do but it’s a really great pattern.
It is a really great pattern! I can sense a lot more Jamies in my future 😀
Love the dotty jeans and am looking at that pattern right now. One hint from Peggy Sagers is to wash the denim adding a bottle of Coca Cola (only that brand) to the wash to soften the denim. If the denim is not as soft as you would like, repeat.
Oooh, interesting tip! I’ll have to try that out next time I have access to a washing machine of my own (I’m thinking the people at the laundromat wouldn’t like me very much if I threw coke into one of theirs, haha!).
I like what you made out of your fabric!! I too purchased a coupon of that same stretch dotty denim fabric at the Paris meetup, but l still haven’t used my fabric yet, l was thinking of making a denim jacket of sorts, but your jeans may have swayed me, to think otherwise!! Currently looking at the jalie jeans!!
You might be able to make both! I have sooo much yardage left over, even after making full pants. But YES, make jeans! Then we can match hahah 😀
Looks great with the handknit sweater!
Practically a match made in heaven 😀
So, you “pinched” out the rise on this one instead of scooping; shortening the rise slightly? I think the fit of the crotch on these is smoother/better than the ginger jeans. Front & back 😉
It’s actually the same crotch shape as the Gingers – these just have a slightly shorter rise (which I pinched out out of the bottom after I finished them). I think the shorter rise definitely helps the fit, but also, this denim is quite a bit less stretchy than the stuff I used for the Gingers so that probably plays into as well. Ah, pants-fitting!
Well there you go… the length of the rise and possibly the fabric itself are contributing to the fit. I love knowing all these details. Thank you for sharing!!
These look wonderful and I love the fabric, you can’t go wrong with polka dots as far as I’m concerned.
I feel you with the hair dye – I gave up dying my hair bright colours because I couldn’t be bothered with redying constantly and it fading after a couple of washes. I do have major hair envy over people like you with wonderful bright coloured hair but so much effort…
Well, I can prolong the fading quite a bit since I don’t wash my hair very frequently 🙂 But I’m getting tired of the color rubbing off on anything white, and doing my roots is such a PAIN (correction: Landon does my roots. I promise he hates it too hahahahahahah). Fun hair color is fun, but, I might be reaching the end of it pretty soon… at least for now 🙂
I can’t stop staring at your sweater – it’s beautiful and the colour is perfect on you.
What jeans or pants would you recommend for someone who has never made a pair of pants before? I know you and many others have said the gingers seam to fit a lot of people with minimal alterations.
Thank you! I knit the sweater too, it’s the Aiken 🙂
As far as first pants pattern… I’d stick with something that has a good set of instructions, like the Ginger or the Sewaholic Thurlows. Both have sewalongs that you can reference if you gets stuck (the Thurlow is my sewalong; there’s a button in my sidebar). I wouldn’t get too hung up on trying to find one with the best fit, though, because there’s really NO way to tell how it’s going to fit your body until you at least make a muslin. I think the Gingers and Thurlows are both great in terms of fit, however, I’ve seen people have fitting problems with those. Just depends on your body 🙂
These are just so great- and a killer fit! Awesome work x
Thank you!
Love these, they look great! Such a good use for that denim! It was popular – a shop assistant tried to take mine out of my little pile of fabric for someone else who wanted it and I had to pounce on him and reclaim it!
Hahaha!! I’m so glad you were able to save it before it went home with someone else! Soo… what are you gonna make with it? Jeans? Say yes! We can start some kind of polka dot jeans gang haha
These are fab! I love the funky lining, too 🙂
Thanks! Funky lining is one of my favorite parts of handmade pants 😀
Wowzers! You are on a trouser / pants / jeans roll right now. These are very flattering on the ass and love the top stitching in the light blue – its so bloody neat!
Thanks for the shout out in your London post for the bicycle fabric. I forgot to mention to you at the time but it’s organic cotton and hopefully there would be enough for a quick top of your choice x Glad you had a great time in the UK!
Ahhh yes, I love that bicycle fabric SO MUCH!! Thank you so much again ♥
You still look fabulous!
Aw, thank you! 🙂
Those pants are everything. Everything.
Also, I don’t necessarily hate the faded hair — I think it’s got that violet-grey old lady thing going. (Which is an aesthetic that I’ve always liked.)
Little Dotted French Jeans. I love them ’cause I pretty much love everything you make, And i make a lot of the same things even if I am older than your mother. I’ve joined the club and am working on my first pair of jeans. A pair of Gingers.
You DID give yourself a weenie! How funny. I’d think Landon would be far more upset by this than that you accidentally dyed his tee shirts in the wash.
Those fit you great! So much better than anything you could’ve bought also I love that fabric.
DUDE! I totally just finished making these as well, only mine are a first try, and yours are much more perfect looking ^__^ LOL i had to really look for the weenie but then when i found it i busted out laughing – haha – it’s a where’s Waldo weenie!! hahaha!
every time you wear that sweater now I go ,”omg i really need to make one of those.”
Cute cute cute!!! I love polka dots! I can’t believe you made another pair of jeans so fast. I just finished my first pair of jeans, Gingers (they took me FOREVER but not b/c of the pattern) & when I saw you whipped yours up in a weekend I thought geez I’m slow! Hopefully my next pair of jeans will go much more quickly.
Those jeans are darn cute! Love them!