Finished Jeans & a new scarf!

I guess this makes 5 pairs of jeans now from the Burda pattern (7863).  So this makes it a TNT (tried and true) for me.  I love how easy it is to fit.  Of course what makes it easy is the fact you are dealing with stretch fabric and its a fitted pattern.  Fitted but not tight.  Here's another grey pair; a brushed twill with a touch of Lycra from the Cloth Merchants.  Shown in one of the pictures is the top stitching thread I used.  I've picked up several colors from B-Sew Inn and I'm happy with the results.  

As you can see, I've gotten brave didn't chicken out and used a contrasting color to topstitch again.  LOL.  One other change I've made to the jeans is narrowing the waistband to one inch.  Wearing them feels better with a slightly narrower band.  

I've also had time to play with knitting again.  I was browsing around one of the local independent yarn shops, when I spied a cool shawl-shaped neck scarf.  I love the look.  So I guess I whipped this out in a week with a little help understanding the pattern from my good friend Teresa.  This is an easy pattern too, so you understand how beginner I am.  Teresa is constantly knitting/busy with something.  She never seems to take any downtime.  LOL.  My hat's off to her.  If you are interested in the pattern, it was a free download from Ravelry.com and it is called the Minnie scarf.

 I can see myself making this up several times.  If I can find the right color teal yarn, it will be next.  It's also has the same shade of grey the pants have and will look nice with the t-shirt I have up next to sew.  It's cut out and I hope to get it done today.  'Course, I said that yesterday too.  LOL.

That's all for today...

Two Things...

I've finished my fourth pair of jeans.  The third pair was black 100% polyester (of all things) and looked like black denim.  I finished them just before we left for Xmas vacation with the family.  I've already worn the heck out of them.  This current pair is out of a regular dark wash denim with the pocket bags and inside waistband fashioned out of some quilting cottons I've had for 20 years.  I keep tweaking the pattern here and there and I think I might just have it perfect now.  LOL.  The only thing I might add is a watch pocket and that's just because I like the look.  Now I've had to lighten these pictures because of course I couldn't take them when the light was at its best, now could I?  LOL. 

No the zipper isn't purple, really.  LOL.  It's navy just like the denim.  For some reason its registering as purple with the camera.  One thing I want to mention is on the first 3 pair of jeans, I played it safe and pretty much used the same color of thread to do my topstitching.  With this pair I felt confident enough to use a contrasting color.  And I'm glad I did.  If I must say the color looks really good.  

This topstitching thread is Levi gold from Atlanta Thread Co.  I'd had issues in the past using heavier threads and just since I've been making jeans the user issue has cleared up.  LOL.  I didn't have one skipped stitch this time.  

Oh did you know that BMV was having another sale?  Well somehow these patterns just fell into my shopping basket and they arrived today.  

I can see each of these made up into spring jackets, next fall/winter coats, and a spring/summer tops.  

That's all I have for today!

Burda Jeans Done!!!

The jeans are complete!  I'm pretty surprised at well they fit me right out of the box so to speak.  Remember I cut a size 20, but I think I could have gotten away with an 18 or possibly a 16.  I think I'll keep the sizing as is and adjust for each fabric type.  I would need the extra room in the hips for fabric with less stretch.   I had to nip out 1.5" at the waist.  They turned out pretty nice except for a few mistakes I made.  This is the first "real" pair of pants I've made in over 20 years.  This pattern doesn't include a fly shield; I'll put one in on the next pair.  I didn't make my waistband long enough so I had to add an extension so I could attach the button.  I didn't use the back pockets on this pair.  I was really trying for the look of a pair of "Not Your Daughters Jeans" that I really love and they've come really close.  I got a package of jeans buttons from JoAnn's and when I installed it, the screw bent and went in at an angle.  Its functional and no one is really going to see it so no big deal.  LOL.  I'll have to work on my hammering technique.  

Oh...I must mention, I used Debbie Cook's waistband tutorial.  And on the next pair of jeans, I'll use her fly installation tutorial.  If you're not familiar with Debbie's blog its Stitchesandseams.blogspot.com.  Debbie has lots of very helpful tutorials not only on garment construction but also on serger and coverstitch techniques.  Check it out if you get a chance.  Debbie's blog is one of the very first I started following when I discovered Blogland.  LOL.

And here I am in my new jeans.  I'm going to wear them all day today and see if they pass the wear test.  If they get too baggy, I'll know to take in the next pair a bit more.   The sun was in my eyes, hence the squinting, and its windy and chilly.  I was telling Alan to hurry the heck up.  LOL.

More Later!