A couple of Jamies

Oh dear! It's been over a month since I last blogged and I certainly didn't intend on leaving it so long between posts. But I haven't been idle...I've been sewing quite a few things and here are two pairs of Named Jame jeans to show you. It's certainly a pattern that I love and with all the alterations I've made to it, it's definitely a tried and tested pattern for me.

Here are some blue Jamies I made using stretch denim I bought from John Lewis in Edinburgh. I decided to topstitch in a matching thread and didn't use any rivets on these. I did get to hammer on the jeans button at the waistband though and there's some secret Paisley fabric in the pocket linings of both pairs.

These are the second pair of Jamies, this time made in stretch denim that I bought from Mandors in Glasgow when I was there in April. This is a lovely, good quality fabric and makes a great pair of jeans. This time I decided to add some mustard coloured topstitching, just like classic jeans and I like it. The topstitching isn't perfect but, you know what? I'm leaving it as it is.

I'm just back from an overnight stay in Glasgow and yes, I went to Mandors again and also Remnant Kings. I've bought lots of fabric, of course, so there's lots of pre-washing to do before cutting out etc. I bought a particularly lovely stretch black denim from Mandors so I guess that'll become a pair of black jeans! Maybe Jamies but then again, there are other jeans patterns out there, it's just the amount of adjustments that I'll need to make that puts me off trying another pattern. We'll see!

It's another pair of jeans!

Here's one thing ticked off my Me Made May To Sew list already! I identified jeans as being a gap in my wardrobe! Yes, they are another pair of Named Jamie jeans, how I love that pattern now I've got the alterations to my liking. I also think I'm turning into quite a Named patterns fan-girl. Their patterns are real slow-burners for me. I see the pattern release and think they're ok and a few weeks or months later I suddenly love it and buy the pattern. And of course, they design for tall women (5'8") and I'm 5'9" so adding length isn't such a radical operation as it can be and this could go some way to explaining their attraction.

The fabric is a stretch denim from Mandors in Glasgow, bought during a weekend there in April. I liked the fabric so much I bought 5 metres of it as it's really difficult finding just the right weight of stretch denim in a nice colour. My hands do take on a blue tinge with the dye when working with this fabric even though I pre-washed it. I didn't do contrast top stitching, just used a dark navy thread. I got my hammer out and added a jeans button but no rivets as I wanted these to be 'low key' jeans. 

Good back pocket placement

I didn't add belt loops as I can't stand belts tied around my middle. I'm realising that I have a mega-short waist. My usual alterations are adding 1" to the rise and 4" to the length of the legs. I also take a huge chunk out of the centre back seam, tapering it in till the yoke. I love the curved waistband on this pattern. I'm usually absolutely useless at straight waistbands but curved ones are the way forward for me. It uses up more fabric but the fit is so much better. 

Secret Paisley pattern pockets

I love my new jeans! Just need another pair now as these are in the wash...

A refashion, a pair of Ultimate trousers and a pair of Jamie jeans

Well, I've been shamed into writing this post by my weekly Me Made may postings. Having to write 'unblogged' too many times! So lets get down to reporting on the backlog. I don't often sew refashions but here's something I have had in my wardrobe for years and haven't worn. The price tag is still attached to it, for heaven's sake! But I liked the fabric so I wanted to make a new top with it, something that would actually get worn...

The fabric is 100% polyester but it behaved itself very well. Here's the 'before' top accessorised with its price tag:

Perfectly nice top. So I used the legendary New Look 6217 . How I love that pattern! Pattern placement is the thing with this fabric. After unpicking the side seams and chopping off the shoulders, v-neck and sleeves there was enough to get the pattern pieces cut out. But there was not enough for the sleeves so I traced a front sleeve and back sleeve pattern piece. Here's a challenge for you, let's play 'spot the sleeve seam' in this photo (I did absolutely no pattern matching for these sleeves):

Nope? I'll point it out for you:

I liked the border print along the hem so I didn't cut the curved pattern hem. I also added side seam slits:

And here's the back, showing the centred pattern placement:

I had a think about how to finish the neck as the pattern uses bias binding. That would be too bulky for this fine fabric so I drafted back and front neck facings to give good support to the neck area. I used soft dark grey iron-on interfacing and the facings have worked a treat. I used the overlocker throughout, except where I couldn't avoid it - topstitching the side seam slits.

So, all in all, I'm really pleased with my new top and happy I've done something with an unworn top that's been hanging in my wardrobe for literally years! Now onto the trousers and here's my play on words for you! I've actually sewn a pair of Ultimate trousers in stretch black suiting and another pair in stretch grey suiting:

I used fabric bought from John lewis and used the overlocker to run them up. Honestly they didn't take much time and they've been washed and worn a lot! Don't you just need some good solid basics? There's not much more to say about these, pretty unremarkable but I really like them.

Now onto the Named Jamie jeans. Again, I've made two pairs, one in stretch black denim and another from stretch black fine needlecord, both fabrics bought from John Lewis. These are also pretty unremarkable too as I've got my adjustments fairly well sorted out. I do have to confess though, that the black needlecord ones will be heading to the charity shop as I mucked up the waistband and made it too small. They've also shrunk slightly in the wash and are now (in my mind) just slightly too short in the legs. I pre-washed my fabrics before cutting out so this was more shrinking going on. Some you win, some you lose!