Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: Making My First Pair Of Jeans

 Hey everyone! Welcome back to my second Fabric Mart Fabricista post!

When I selected my fabrics, I had a completely different idea in mind for what I wanted to make. But the more I thought about it, and the closer I got to starting my project, the more I dreaded the make! 

Then, my office job announced that we are going to start going back to the office 2x/week, so I decided to ditch my original plan and come up with a couple pieces that I could use for transitioning back to the office.

I knew I wanted something easy to throw on that I could style a couple of different ways, which is how I settled on this neutral colored Crinkle Chiffon that I got for $1.99/yard! I used McCall #8030, View A. Making buttonholes give me heartburn enough the way it is, but the thought of trying to do it on chiffon nearly sent me to the grave… so pearl snaps to the rescue! 

This pattern is meant as a dress, but with the sheer nature of the chiffon, I went for a layering top. The pattern also calls for more structured fabrics like shirting fabrics or poplin but since it’s summer and will be hot soon, a breezy chiffon sounded like the right fit! I also think Fabric Mart’s linen would be a perfect fabric for this in a dress.


Chiffon is not for the faint of heart! I would recommend you to be a confident/advanced beginner, as it can be very fussy and finicky to work with. Another small (but very important!) tip I would give for chiffon or any delicate type materials, is to make sure you have cut/filed your nails, so there are no rough edges or broken nails to snag the fabric on! It sounds silly, I know, but I had to pause early in the project to do this, since I snagged one of my already cut pieces badly with a broken nail! 

If you do fall victim to a snagged piece of chiffon, don’t pull any further on the thread! This will cause a run in the entire piece. Instead, gently pull the fabric from the ends where the snag is, lay it flat, and then continue to use your fingers to gently wiggle the fabric until it lays flat again, and as you wash and steam, it will be good as new!

As I mentioned, I wanted a top I could style a few different ways and with a belt and a layer underneath, it can be worn a couple different ways. 

The other fabric I chose was a cotton lycra blend denim and it is *so perfect* for stretch skinny jeans. I also grabbed this fabric when it was on sale and for less than $20, I have a perfect fitting pair of jeans! I didn’t have to make any adjustments to this pattern either, which was a first for me, since I almost always have to adjust the length. 

I used Closet Core Patterns, Ginger Jeans, View B for this pair.

Making jeans has always been so daunting and a zippered fly seemed impossible. But I have to tell you all – if you have even the slightest interest in making a zip fly style pair of pants, you absolutely must go purchase this pattern from Closet Core. The instructions for the fly were so incredibly detailed and well-illustrated that I didn’t feel overwhelmed once! Go slow, read and re-read each step twice before starting and you will do great.

One of my favorite fun details in my jeans are the pocket linings. I knew I wanted to use up some scrap cotton and I am a big-time cat lady, so this was the perfect little detail!

For my topstitching, I used a combination of my coverstitch machine for the twin needle and a sewing machine for the single stitches. It’s not perfect, but I love how they turned out! I left these jeans unhemmed with a raw edge, since I haven’t decided if I want to hem them, or if I want to make them ankle length with a raw edge! These jeans will be a staple in my wardrobe with the great stretch and higher waisted fit. 

Thanks for following along with my first jean make! It definitely won't be the last the next time I see some of this denim on sale at Fabric Mart again!  

CHELSEA @thatssewchelsea

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: CHIFFON & DENIM
You can also shop our selection of Closet Core Patterns HERE.

Comments

  1. Your jeans are perfection. I like your top too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks JD! They fit like a dream, I am SO happy with that pattern!

      Delete
  2. Wow! These are impressive makes and beautifully done, Chelsea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much!!!! I look at them in my closet every day wanting to wear them... but with the forecast at 98 degrees + every day, they will be waiting a bit longer :)

      Delete

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.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Did someone say FREE??? All about Free Sewing Patterns

Hi sewing friends! I am SEW excited to share this blog post with you today! This is my fifth post with Fabric Mart since I did a guest post late last year and then joined the blogging team in 2024 but I would say this is the post that 1) I worked the hardest to create, and 2) the one that has me the most excited! Today I am going to talk about FREE sewing patterns, showcase a few free patterns I’ve sewn, and then share some very exciting news at the end of this post about an upcoming! First, let’s talk about free patterns – where they come from, why they exist, and how you can find them. But first, here’s a recent free pattern I sewed. This is the Finn Crop Tee from Petite Stitchery . I used an ITY (Interlock Twist Yarn) for this one and I was able to squeeze it out a yard of a fabric. ITY is one of my favorite fabrics to dress up a t-shirt and it wears well across all seasons. And Fabric Mart gets the most AMAZING designer deadstock designs you will ever see! Petite Stitchery offers...

Made By A Fabricista: Fall is here!

Fall is here, and I have been in a coat/cape mood lately! I have a few that I plan to make, however, this pattern was not in the plans. It was in my stash, but it wasn’t on my “must make” list. I wanted to make a coordinating set but I thought it might be a little too much with this print. Now, I absolutely love animal prints, don’t get me wrong. I am a sucker for them! When I saw this jacquard double knit I had to have it. Instead, I decided to make an easy, comfortable cape that I can wear casually or dressed up. This pattern and fabric were perfect! The pattern I chose to make is McCall’s 8029. This cape has three designs that you can choose from. I chose to make view C. View C has a hood. All three views have a neck and front facing and a belt/tie. Now, if you are wanting to make a cape but would like something on the easy side, this is your cape! I didn’t realize just how easy this was prior to getting started. This cape has minimal sewing. It doesn’t even require a hem. Which, w...

Made by a Fabricista: Structure

Hi everyone!  I can’t believe the year is nearly wrapping up already and this is my last post for 2024! You may have noticed but the barrel silhouette has been very much in right now from pants to sleeves.  To be honest I was a little bit hesitant about hopping on to the trend.  One I was not sure if the proportions would work for my body also I considered would this be a long lasting trend to keep incorporated in my closet?  But after a few seasons the barrel seems to stay in many variations, I think exaggerated proportions are such a thing now.  I saw this Cult Gaia x Gap denim dress collab with the barrel sleeves and wanted to remake it.  When I saw this brown distressed denim twill I knew it was perfect.  I had been debating between making cargo pants but I wanted to try to do something different and went for the dress once I saw the inspiration.   I used McCall’s pattern 8139 as my base with the following modifications.  Instead of...