Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: Cargo Style Jeans!

Image
By

Happy Friday All!

I am excited to be back blogging and sharing my makes! It has been a while since I photographed a make. In 2024, I  plan to be more consistent in sharing tips and photos of my makes via social media and my personal blog.  The later part of 2023 took me for a rough roller coaster ride.  Due to some health challenges in November and several visits to the doctor, I decided to focus more on my physical and mental health and sewing fell by the wayside.  I am better, stronger and mentally ready to tackle 2024 in full force.

I have had this KNOW ME (ME2054) pattern in my stash since it was released and wanted to make it for my last blogpost of 2023.  I had the pants cut and ready to sew back in November but didn’t get started until the 2nd day of January.  I was determine to get it done as my first project of 2024 and would not move from the machine until progress was made. 

I actually wanted to make it with all the pockets exactly like the pattern envelope but after doing a fit test by basting the seams, I fell in love with just the 2 top ones. I plan to make them again with all the bells and whistles before the end of the year either for myself or my daughter.  She absolutely love the fit and how they turned out.


Here are some tips when making this pattern:

1. I highly suggest that you use a cotton sateen or fabric with a little bit of stretch if you are on the curvy side.  I do feel that the fit is so much better.

2. If you decide to use a stretch fabric, grade if necessary and size down at least 1 size based on the hip measurement.  I decided to cut the 18 based on my hip measurement but could have sized down to the 16 for the exact hip measurement due to the negative ease.  I also noticed that the waist for the 18 was about 3- 4 inches more than my natural waist so the cross over distorted one of the pockets as I have to pull it more for a better fit at the waist.

3. Make a muslin if you need to check the crotch and waist fit.  I lucked out this time with the crotch fit as this pattern is curvy girl friendly but I would highly recommend that you make a muslin first.

For the next version,  I would grade the 14 to the 16 at the side waist.  I would definitely cut the 16 in the back and the 14 in the front and make the necessary adjustments to the waistband. 

In closing, I also made this cute VickiSews Rory tank pattern that I have been wanting to make.  This fabric is from my ponte knit stash that I purchased a while pack from Fabric Mart.  I have about 2 bins full of ponte knit that I have accumulated over the years.  I  definitely plan to sew down my pattern and ponte knit stash in 2024 using 2 new patterns each month. I have another 3 patterns in queue and can’t wait to share.

Be sure to subscribe to my blog as I am officially approved to start the sewing classes this year with my local City Parks and Recreation department and will be finalizing the dates really soon. Thank you for hanging with me throughout the years!! I claim 2024 will find you all in great spirit and health!


One Love,

MARICA  | @heymaricamitchell

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories DENIM.

Comments

  1. PattybunchJanuary 19, 2024 at 7:16 AM

    You did a fantastic job on the jeans you are wearing! I was particularly impressed with the topstitching. I’ve sewn jeans before and wished I had two smooth sewing machines to use but I only have one so I was switching threads between seams and topstitching. Looking forward to your next make and stay healthy!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marica MitchellJanuary 27, 2024 at 12:05 PM

      I actually on change the top thread and leave the bobbin thread the same color when I top stitch. It is way much easier too. I also use regular polyester thread that is the same color as top stitching thread

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2024 at 7:28 AM

    Wow that is amazing work! Im a new sewer and really struggle with pants! I spend more time seam ripping than sewing 🤣. To see such beautiful hand made pants just blows my mind. Hope you share more in the future and I wish you excellent health this year

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2024 at 10:31 AM

    Wow! These pants look amazing! I love the detail and the fit that you achieved.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2024 at 12:32 PM

    I have this pattern and after seeing your pants it has definitely given me the sewjo to make them. Very flattering.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Slingback1January 19, 2024 at 1:42 PM

    You did a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 20, 2024 at 9:29 AM

    So perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  7. VickiPJanuary 20, 2024 at 1:09 PM

    I am in love with this look! Those pants are incredible and versatile. I'm thrilled to have found you blog! Any chance you know where/how to purchase the pant pattern? It is definitely a must have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marica MitchellJanuary 27, 2024 at 12:03 PM

      The pattern is available online at Simplicity here https://simplicity.com/know-me/me2054

      Delete
  8. AnonymousJanuary 20, 2024 at 1:15 PM

    Love this!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Recent Posts You Might Like

Meeting Endless Summer Energy with a Maxi Dress

By
How are the temps still so hot?! I’m trying to make the best out of a blazing situation with a gorgeous swishy dress made in a splendid graphic print in an attempt to keep my cool when I am very much not. The heat persists, but so do I (while wearing sundresses)!  I really wanted a full length, all-fancy-design-details-included version of the new Chalk & Notch Noe Tank Dress since testing the pattern. This is View C. This version features a beautiful open back with a tie closure and the long gathered hem for maximum impact.  I chose the higher of two necklines. The pattern features full lining and I used the same fabric for both. I prefer to avoid any peeking-issues the easy way.  As I was scrolling through the challis options on the Fabric Mart site, this one stood out immediately, a beautiful kelly green with big abstract swipes of aqua. Simple, bold, (non-directional!), all of my favorite characteristics necessary for a showstopping dress. I wanted something very ...
2 comments
Continue Reading »

Fall + Flannel = Shacket

By
If there is one piece that transitions easily between crisp fall mornings, mid-day warmth, and chilly autumn nights, it’s a shacket. Today, I’m excited to share my latest Fabric Mart make: the Ellie and Mac Patterns Connie Casual Shacket, sewn in a dreamy plaid flannel coating fabric . Here’s a glimpse at how it came together, along with a few construction tips for planning your own version! The Ellie and Mac Patterns Connie Casual Shacket pattern offers plenty of options needed to make the perfect transitional top layer for fall. With a relaxed body, oversized sleeves, three lengths, and a curved or straight hem option, you can make your dream shacket a reality.  For this sew, I selected a plaid flannel coating fabric with a soft blend of sage green and cream tones from the Fabric Mart website. Heavyweight flannel is ideal for a shacket because it provides structure and added warmth. As a bonus, this particular fabric is extra soft and snuggly, which I love. In addition to the fa...
2 comments
Continue Reading »

Sewing With Intention: New Look 6106 and a More Coordinated Wardrobe

By
Sometimes a sewing project begins with a beautiful piece of fabric or a pattern you just have to make. This one began with my closet. Recently, I did a major closet purge. I took a good look at what I actually wear, what I kept reaching for, and—maybe more importantly—what was missing. Once the pieces I no longer loved or wore were gone, something became very clear: I want to be more intentional about what I sew next. Instead of sewing individual pieces that I love but don't necessarily wear together, I want to build a wardrobe where my handmade garments coordinate with the clothes I already own—and with the pieces I'm planning to sew next. For this month's Fabricista project, this beautiful lightweight shirting from Fabric Mart turned out to be a wonderful place to start. The Fabric That Started It All Fabric Mart provided this beautiful oatmeal and black heathered shirting , along with the matching thread for my project. One of the things I love most about this fabric is ...
9 comments
Continue Reading »

The Perfect Plan for this Linen Blend! Until I Changed My Mind.

By
Hello Sewing Friends!  It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews with another Fabricista make.  When I saw this linen blend designer fabric on the Fabric Mart Fabrics website, I was intrigued.  After all, I, like many of you, love to find designer fabrics at an affordable price. It is a linen/nylon/rayon/Lycra blend, and I wondered what the designer had created with the fabric as I wasn’t familiar with that combination of fibers.  Surprisingly, I discovered a sleeveless, lined, mid-length vest in the same color with an almost identical fabric composition. Perfect! I’ve been wanting to sew a longer vest with matching pants, and that discovery confirmed this fabric would work beautifully for the look I had in mind.  The vest I’m wearing, from the June 2026 Burda Style magazine, it is not what I was originally going to make.  You see when I found the designer’s vest, I remembered seeing a Butterick pattern that was almost identical.  I ordered the pattern excited to...
4 comments
Continue Reading »