About 18 months ago I enrolled in an online course to make jeans with a Lutterloh trainer. I paid good money because the course promised to resolve issues of fit, and I got quite excited because I always have issues of fit.
First we had to send our measurements to the teacher and I was sent a different pattern. I duly traced it out using the Lutterloh “way” and then got ahead of myself and cut out my fabric and began stitching it together, sending photographs of the fit. I was told that I needed to tape the pattern together and send photographs of me wearing it. These were quite hysterical and I’m not going to subject you to them. Anyway, I may have traumatised the teacher because to this day I have not heard back from her.
I threw the jeans in a drawer and forgot about them until I bought the Ginger Jeans and I suddenly thought about them again. I dragged them out and found that all I needed to do was sew on a waistband, turn up the hem, and apply the back pockets. Easy peasy.
They are really comfortable jeans, but I still have fitting issues. I didn’t make the legs skinny, and don’t mind the width of them too much, but I still have a baggy bit under my backside
I did put a fish eye dart in the pattern, but it made absolutely no difference. I also put a dart in the top of the hips; I have no recollection why, but they do sit nicely at the back, with no gaping when I am standing or sitting.
You can see my dodgy topstitching. My machine hates topstitching. Although I did minimise the amount I did, I did manage to get the front done, and I also put rivets in the coin pocket. Excuse the creasing – I had been wearing them all day by the time I took this photo, and should have given them a good pressing.
I also made another bag. This time from a recycled t-shirt of Tom’s for the outside, and one of Bridgette’s for the inside. I didn’t know how the bag would work in a knit, and it is ok, but it’s a very casual look. I think I have now mastered Japanese bags, and my next one will be leather.
Details: Jeans are from a Lutterloh pattern, made from stretch denim from Knitwit. My top is a refashioned scarf, and the shoes are Rieker.