Say hello to my Turquoise Terror jeans! I’m head over heels for them, and whilst I can see plenty of room for improvement (both in technique, skill and knowledge) in the future – I’m deeming these entirely wearable.
I went shopping last friday after work, and was sad to see all the autumn and winter stock that’s out and about – black, grey, dark brown and everything not in between. Adding salt to the wound is all the spring colour palettes popping up on the blogs of your northern hemispherers. This is yet another winter season I will blatantly disreguard the non-colours shoved down our throats by clothing retailers. I simply refuse to bow down to lack of colour in yet another upcoming Melbourne winter!!! How about a bit of fluoro yellow and brilliant turquoise to brighten the day?
You can find my review and competition entry over at Pattern Review here, and whilst you’re at it, you may as well check out the fabulous entries by others in the competition gallery here. There are some totally talented people out there – I’m flabbergasted at the shear number of self-drafted jeans entries! My personal favourites are these amazing green jeans by velosewer of Clever Thinking 99, also using Vogue 8774.
The fabric is a turquoise denim from Gorgeous Fabrics. I can’t believe I actually grimaced when I originally pulled them from their package – back then I lumped the fabric as being something for future toile’s. But over the weeks, it just grew and grew on me. It certainly fits in nicely with my 2012 promise to myself to start wearing more colour on the botton half! Although, I prewashed the blasted stuff 3 times and the dye is still coming out.
The rise of the jeans is a lot higher than any that I own – but I’m finding I really like this. I have a naturally long body, with most of the length between my waist and hips, so this additional coverage appears to be quite flattering, especially at the back.
I’m about 80% happy with the fit, even after the numerous changes made to the pattern. I think this is because whilst I made my toile up in a woven, the actual fabric I used has some stretch. The changes made to my woven toile didn’t fully translate into stretch – I would have needed to exaggerate the darts I put in to reduce excess fabric and bagginess to achieve the same look I think.
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| Pretty Liberty of London leftovers for the pocket lining :) |
As for the Vogue Pattern? Well, it has quite a few positives, but I had expected that a jeans pattern from Vogue would have the same features as a pair of RTW jeans – such as flat felled seams. Top stitching gives the look yes, but it isn’t a flat felled seam! I did the real thing (you can see my 101 on Flat Felled Seams here). Although, the jeans fly was practically identical to all the shop-bought jeans I own.
I was wanting to try putting in a shank style jeans button (I even bought two different types) – but at the last minute caved in and went with a hook and clasp – like the pattern suggests. I’ve yet to try a buttonhole (other than a bound button hole) and was a tad nervous at the idea of trying for the first time with a finished garment. I’ll target learning button holes at a later date I think!
Some of you might recall I was originally going to try and use a favourite pair of jeans that were no longer wearable as a pattern. Thankfully, I came to my senses. But then I got an email just a few days ago about a new Craftsy course…
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| Jean-ius Reverse Engineering Course by Craftsy – click here |
Thank you, Kenneth King. I’m so totally in!
poppykettle 
Lovely jeans and a very brave colour choice. I've made a couple of pairs of jeans, but like you have only been about 80% happy with the fit. I might also look into that Craftsy course.
This jeans look fabulous. Especially when paired with the yellow top. Very anti-winter! I'm going to have a go at my first pair of jeans over the next month. I've picked out a pattern and am eagerly waiting for the fabric to arrive.
Wow great butt! And great jeans. I love the pocket detail and the pretty lining. You must be super proud.
Fabulous – found you from PR – just posted my own review of these, but yours look WAY better – congrats!
These look great, love the pocket details! I've also ran into some interesting things on Vogue patterns too and it makes me wonder what they were thinking!
Are you happy with them? I think they're pretty swell myself! Great job :)
I love these! They look amazing! Love the pockets!
About 80% Lara – they're good, but they're not yet at the point where I would wear them exclusively over my RTW versions… hopefully a few more tries and I'll be a bit closer! Glad you approve :)
Thanks littlebetty! Hopefully practise will improve my fitting!
Thanks Bernice – I look forward to reading about your upcoming experiences with pants!
Oh thank you! I've just read your riveting tutorial – I'm going to have to try this!
Thanks Bri! Yeah, Vogue need to go back and do some pattern editing I think! The other reviewers on PR were most useful… Glad you like them!
I think they are fabulous — and the colour is amazing. I hope its not inappropriate to say that your butt looks great in them – you've fitted them perfectly.
Thanks! :)
oh Rachel you're making me blush! hehe, thanks :)
Love these! Well done :o) Pockets are fabulous too.
These look so amazing! The pockets are my favorite part – I love the details there!!! Also, it is so nice to see such happy colors together, and I find that I tend to make my fall/winter clothing have something bright to it as well, otherwise it just gets dark and depressing. Love them – hopefully you will make some more!
Oh my goodness your jeans are fantastic! It makes me want to give it a go, and I've always shied away from pants. Fantastic work and I LOVE the pockets!
I love your thoughts on colour in winter… I never wear brown and I wear black only with other bright colours like a coat or jacket, skirt.. anything to break the drab. Your jeans look great! I love the colour and the fit looks great.
Brightly coloured jeans are definitely on trend, and you got a very good fit, too!
Oh my – these are amazing! Great color and not to be too forward but your butt looks awesome in these. Thanks for the heads up on the new Craftsy course – I love Kenneth King. Craftsy has a great thing going, don't they?
I love them! The detail on the pockets is awesome and I think the fit is great!
Hi PK – Great jeans! Just wondering how you matched the inseams after taking 2 cm out of the back? Wouldn't the back inseam be much shorter above the knee than the right?Thanks
oops, I meant to say: 'wouldn't the back inseam be much shorter above the knee than the front inseam' …
Cheers Zo!
Thanks! I'm in love with the pockets too – which is a good thing because I spent what felt like yonks top-stitching them! And I will definitely be making some more… time is my only enemy!
You so should! But thanks :)
Thanks Karin!
Yay for colour! And thank you!
I love craftsy! After Gertie's bombshell dress, I'm in love. I've signed up for Kenneth King's jean's fitting thing and I'm also eyeing off that couture dress one too…
Wow, they look fantastic. Love the colour and the fit.
Love the jeans, and the colour! Beautiful work.
These are absolutely glorious!! The colour is marvellous the the fit is terrific. Well done!
that turquoise jeans color is very amazing…i love that color so much…thanks
great jeans! i think they are so flattering, i love the color, and the secret liberty leftover surprise is fabulous! also, i am definitely trying the kenneth king course. he's an amazing instructor.
You can just add the length taken out back at the end of the leg to get them matching again :)
Thanks Marilo :)
Hi, I was just scrolling through your blog, saw these jeans and realised they are the very ones I voted for a couple of days ago! I looked carefully at all the entries and liked yours best. Lovely job. Good luck in the contest, Megan
Holy-freakin'-moly! These are so incredibly awesome— I have no words. I am in love. This may just give me that jump start to try again…
These are awesome! Where'd you get the fabric? How much stretch does it have? Also you're in Melbourne? We should meet up!
I just saw this post and I love these jeans!!! How have they gone with wearing over time, are they still a good fit? I would be interested to know if you have made it through the craftsy course. I am still working up to finishing my pants pattern but I have the craftsy course on standby to help!