Basic Jeans =========== .. figure:: trousers_front.jpg :align: center Classic 4 pockets [#four]_ jeans with a zippered front. This pattern is suitable to make regular jeans, but also technical pants, when using appropriate fabric, and of course the legs can be shortened to above the knee for the summer. .. [#four] Adding the fifth pocket should be trivial, and may be added to a future version of the pattern, but, I, er… forgot it. Materials --------- Fabric ^^^^^^ * between 1 and 1.5 m of sturdy trouser fabric: denim, corduroy, heavyweight linen etc. or technical breathing and abrasion resistant 2nd layer fabric; * 50 cm pocket fabric. Notions ^^^^^^^ * sewing thread to match the fabric; * zipper, as long as the fly piece from the pattern; * a suitable button; * 16 cm of 2 cm wide elastic; * optional: 2.5 m bias binding to finish some raw edges (any colour, as it won't show). Pattern ------- Measurements ^^^^^^^^^^^^ You need to take the following measurements: ``waist_natural_circ`` (O03) circumference of the trousers waist, about 5 cm below the waist; ``hip_circ`` (G09) circumference of the seat; ``rise_length_side_sitting`` (N04) body rise, sitting on a stool; ``leg_crotch_to_floor`` (M01) from crotch level to the floor, between the legs; the file :download:`measurements.vit` is used by default by the pattern file and has the list of needed measurements. Pattern ^^^^^^^ Get the valentina file for the pattern, :download:`basic_jeans.val`. You also need to decide the following measurements and set them in the table of variables in Valentina; most defaults in the file are sensible and you probably only need to set ``easy_fitting``, ``waist_ease`` and ``jeans_bottom_width``. ``seam_allowance`` this is the total sewing allowance, and should be big enough for flat felled seams; e.g. 2 cm; ``easy_fitting`` set this to 1 to make the pattern easy fitting, to 0 for a tigher fit; ``waist_ease`` e.g. 2 cm; with prominent (and squishy) bellies it's better to add no waist ease; ``jeans_bottom_width`` width of the legs at the hems (half the circumference), 20 cm gives a straight cut on average sizes; ``floor_to_hem`` distance from the floor to the desired hem of the trousers, e.g. 6 cm; ``pocket_opening_width`` how wide the pocket should be, e.g. 12 cm; ``pocket_opening_depth`` how long the pocket opening should be, e.g. 7.5 cm; ``pocket_facing_width`` how much the pocket facing should overlap away from the opening, in width, e.g. 3 cm; ``pocket_facing_depth`` how much the pocket facing should overlap away from the opening, in depth, e.g. 5 cm; ``pocket_depth`` how deep the pocket should be, from the top, e.g. 26 cm; ``pocket_depth_side`` where the pocket should stop following the side seam, e.g. 19 cm; ``pocket_depth_front`` where the pocket should stop following the front seam, e.g. 9.5 cm; ``fly_piece_length`` how long the fly piece should be; take care that it isn't as long as to end on the heavily curved portion of the front seam, e.g. 14 cm; ``fly_piece_width`` the width of the fly piece, e.g. 4 cm; ``back_pocket_width`` the width of the back pocket at the top, e.g. 18 cm; ``back_pocket_depth`` the depth of the back pocket, e.g. 18 cm; ``back_pocket_point_depth`` the vertical distance from the tip of the pocket to where the bottom lines start at the sides, e.g. 3 cm; ``back_pocket_raster`` how much the sides of the pockets should taper in before the bottom lines, e.g. 0.5 cm; ``waistband_height`` e.g. 4 cm. Instructions ------------ Cutting ^^^^^^^ Cut the two sets of pocket bags from pocketing fabric. Cut all remaining pieces of the trousers except for the fly piece from the folded fabric. Cut either the straight or the shaped fly piece from the scraps, once with all seam allowances and once with the shorter vertical edge on the fold of fabric. Fronts ^^^^^^ .. note:: Sewing the fronts first and then the backs will get rid of most tricky bits sooner rather than later. If you prefer to start with an easier part, you can follow the instructions in the :ref:`basic_jeans_back` section, and then return here to prepare the fronts. .. figure:: 0101-side_pieces_bound_edges.jpg :align: center Bind the edges of the side pieces with bias tape. .. tip:: .. figure:: 0101a-side_piece_folded.jpg If the fabric isn't very thick, you can also cut the side pieces with 1 cm of allowance on the curved edge and press it towards the back once instead of binding it. .. figure:: 0102-side_piece_on_pocketing.jpg :align: center Put it on the second pocket bag pieces, wrong side over the right side, and sew down the curved edge 2 mm from the edge and then again in the ditch of the bias tape. Baste the top and side of the side piece to the pocket at 1–1.5 cm from the edge. Treat them as one piece. .. figure:: 0103-front_pocketing.jpg :align: center Put the first pocket bag pieces on the fronts, right sides together, sew the opening. .. figure:: 0104-front_pocketing_topstitched.jpg :align: center Press open, notch the allowances and press the pocket towards the wrong side of the front, making the fabric overlab a tiny bit so that the pocketing won't show on the front. Topstitch at 2 mm and 8 mm from the edge. .. figure:: 0105-pocket_bottom.jpg :align: center Sew the lower, curved edge of the pocket with a french seam: put the pocket bag pieces with the *outer* sides facing and sew 8 mm from the edge. .. figure:: 0106-pocket_bottom_french.jpg :align: center Press, notch the curves, turn the pocket bags so that the inner sides are facing, sew 1 cm from the edge. .. figure:: 0107-basted_fronts.jpg :align: center Align the end of the front opening to the marks on the pocket facings and baste the pockets to the fronts at the top and side; from now on treat them as one piece. Placket ^^^^^^^ .. figure:: 0201-placket_facing.jpg :align: center Wrong sides together, sew the placket facing (the one cut in the fabric once) to the *left* front stopping at the notch, press towards the wrong side. .. figure:: 0202-placket_extension.jpg :align: center Wrong sides together, sew the placket extension (the one cut on the fold) to the *right* front stopping at the notch, press so that it extends from the front. Press in half, and press the remaining allowance so that it will remain enclosed in the placket. .. figure:: 0203-center_front_seam.jpg :align: center Right sides together, sew the rest of the front seam, starting from the notch and keeping the placket away from the seam, press open. .. figure:: 0204-clipped_allowance_center_front.jpg :align: center Clip the allowances of the legs at the notch, check that all placket pieces can move to the inside. .. figure:: 0205-flat_felled_center_front.jpg :align: center Trim the allowance of the left leg of the front seam, press and flat fell towards the left leg. .. note:: This seam is done with the allowances on the inside rather than outside like the other flat felled seams; doing otherwise would result in a bit of unfinished allowance at the front. .. figure:: 0206-placket_bottom.jpg :align: center Right sides together, sew the bottom of the placket extension at half the sewing allowance. .. figure:: 0206-placket_extension_folded.jpg :align: center Turn inside out and topstitch the placket extension close to the vertical seam. .. figure:: 0207-placket_facing_topstitched.jpg :align: center .. figure:: 0208-placket_inside.jpg :align: center Fold down by 1 cm the raw edges of the placket facing (or bind them with tape), topstitch it down close to all 3 edges of the facing. If adding buttons, you can now sew the bottom of the placket close by topstitching from the front, but if adding a zipper wait until later. .. _basic_jeans_back: Back ^^^^ .. figure:: 0301-back_pockets.jpg :align: center Fold down the edges of the back pocket once, and the top edge twice, press. Sew the top edge 2 mm from the edge and again 1 cm from the edge. .. figure:: 0302-sewn_pockets.jpg :align: center Topstitch the back pockets to the backs where marked on the pattern, using two lines of stitching at 2 mm and 1 cm from the edge, and sewing little triangles near the top for reinforcement. .. figure:: 0303-sewn_yoke.jpg :align: center Wrong sides together, sew the back yokes to the backs, press open. .. figure:: 0304-flat-felled_yoke.jpg :align: center Trim the yoke allowances and press up and fold the back allowances to fell them, topstitch at about 8 mm from the seam. .. figure:: 0305-sewn_center_back.jpg :align: center Wrong sides together, sew the center back seam; .. figure:: 0306-felled_center_back.jpg :align: center fell and topstitch it towards the right side. Legs ^^^^ .. figure:: 0401-sewn_inseam.jpg :align: center .. figure:: 0402-flat_felled_inseam.jpg :align: center Wrong sides together, sew the inseam. Press open, press towards the back to flat fell and topstitch. .. figure:: 0403-side_seam.jpg :align: center Right seams together, sew the side seams. Bind the edges together with tape, press towards the back. .. figure:: 0404-side_seam_topstitched.jpg :align: center If desired, top stitch the allowance of the side seam at 1 cm from the seam. .. tip:: If using lighter fabric or making shorts you can also flat fell the side seams; topstitching throught the tube of the legs can however turn out to be either annoying or outright difficult, and I wouldn't even attempt it with denim or similar heavyweight fabric. If you're not sure, binding the edges with tape and *then* topstitching is safer than flat felling, as this way you can easily unpick the (partial) topstitching seam if it gets too hard to sew, and the edges will be already finished and on the right side. Waistband ^^^^^^^^^ .. figure:: 0501-waistband_sewn.jpg :align: center Right sides together, sew the waistband to the trousers, leaving 2 cm at each end. .. figure:: 0502-waistband_sides.jpg :align: center Fold the waistband right sides together, sew the sides, clip the corners, turn inside out and press. Press the remaining edge of the waistband down 2 cm, press the waistband in half so that it encloses all raw edges. .. figure:: 0504-waistband_elastic.jpg :align: center With a 3-step zig-zag, sew 8 cm of elastic centered on each side seam and pulled over 10 cm of the raw edges. Topstitch the waistband closed at 2 mm and then at 1 cm from all four edges, pulling while sewing over the elastic. Front closure ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ .. note:: This isn't the traditional way to put a zipper in the front of jeans, and it's a bit less neat; however it works just as well, the non-neat parts are hidden from view when the trousers are worn, and it makes it way more easy to change the zipper when it breaks, as it only requires unpicking the zipper seams and a bit of whipstitching. .. figure:: 0601-left_zipper.jpg :align: center Center the closed zipper on the placket extension, taking care that it doesn't extend to the visible part of the front. Machine sew the left part of the zipper close to its border and then again closer to the teeth, using a zipper foot and moving the cursor out of the way with the needle in the fabric while close to it.. .. figure:: 0602-pinned_placket.jpg :align: center .. figure:: 0603-right_zipper.jpg :align: center Close the zipper again, pin the trousers closed and sew the right side of the zipper to the placket facing by hand with two lines of backstitch, taking care to only catch the facing and not the fabric on the front. .. figure:: 0604-placket_bottom.jpg :align: center Whipstitch the bottom of the placket closed. Attach a button centered above the placket on the waistband and sew the corresponding buttonhole on the other end of the waistband, above the part with the facing. Hems ^^^^ .. figure:: 0701-hem.jpg :align: center Fold down the hem of each leg twice 1 cm, topstitch at 2 mm and again at 8 mm from the folded edge. Belt Loops ^^^^^^^^^^ .. figure:: 0801-loops.jpg :align: center From the scraps, cut 6 rectangles 8 cm long and 3 cm wide; fold them approximately in thirds, press and sew a wide zig zag through the whole length. .. figure:: 0802-loops_front.jpg :align: center .. figure:: 0803-loops_back.jpg :align: center Fold down the top and bottom edges a bit less than 1 cm and topstitch the loops to the trousers, backstitching back and forth, around the waistband e.g. at 4 cm from the center back, 6 cm from the side seams (towards the back) and 8 cm from the center front. Gallery ------- .. figure:: trousers_back.jpg :align: center