I have tried several jeans patterns and always felt slightly frustrated, as none fit me the way I want them to fit. Then I did the jeans class at Workspace-FADS and it was a revelation.
We all brought in our favourite jeans (I don’t have a favourite pair, but pulled out my “Not Your Daughter’s Jeans”), and laid them on the table. We then used a product called “Press ‘n’ Seal”, which is used to seal food containers and which is slightly sticky on one side. (Australian viewers: You can only buy it here at the moment)
We smoothed it over a front and then a back and drew round the outside – pretty roughly by the looks of things!
and finished up with an outline of our jeans, which we were then able to trace out as a pattern. We then did a toile or two to finesse the fit.
A warning now: there are going to be some close up shots of my derriere!
This is my toile, using the same fabric as my final jeans. I always get this massive fold of fabric that Sarah pinched out for me. The fold runs all the way to the front, so there were some quite big adjustments to be made.
We were all measured, and some rather hysterical discussions ensued on the subject of crotch oddities!
Here is the final product for comparison with the first version. There is no way to ever completely eliminate the wrinkles as there has to be enough room to sit down, but the fit is as near to perfect as one can get.
I have to say that these are the most comfortable jeans I have ever worn, and I have worn them repeatedly since I finished them.
The fabric is a very stretchy cut corduroy which I bought as a remnant from Knitwit. I have had it for quite a while, so I’m glad to have made it up as it is lovely fabric. I still have some left, so may see if I can wrangle a jacket from it for next autumn.