My love for my latest make for me is pretty much this: Cosmic! I’ve been after a pair of tapered, slightly cropped jeans or trousers for a while, but never quite got around to making any because of all the pretty stuff I keep doing for the girls. So I got a deadline – husband was attending the Mercedes Benz Club’s annual SL day at the Wedgwood Visitor Centre at the beginning of August. I was determined to have something ready for that day, come hell or high water!
The pattern is a self-drafted one, one I’ve had for ages & made loads of trousers with. I tapered the leg from hip to knee & then again from knee to ankle because the original pattern was more of a straight leg style. But they fit so well at the body I saw no reason in re-drafting from scratch! I also shortened the original pattern, maybe could have taken it up a little more, but at least now I can turn up my hems & show off the pretty binding!
It was a pretty wet, overcast, miserable day to be posing, so these photos were taken in a brief dry spell! I really like wearing these trousers, but when I look at the photos, I realise I probably suit a straight or wide-leg style better than this tapered look. Ah well, at least I got to finally use up this stretch denim! I got it from one of those mail-order swatch companies about 4 years ago! It was fabulous to work with, has the most amazing deep blue colour & feels like £1 000 000!
So, the inside….
As you can see, I bound the hem & the lower edge of the inner waistband with a bias strip of dark navy gingham for a bit of fun. The remainder of the seams were overlocked & I used a chartruse green cotton thread for the topstitching.
We had a great time, despite the weather. I highly recommend popping into the Wedgwood Visitor Centre, they have fabulous workshops on where you can throw a pot, paint clay flowers & indulge in creativity while enjoying great food in their onsite restaurant. There is also a brilliant shop, outlet store & amazing museum filled with superb examples of the factory’s work over the years.
And here are some pics of some of the beautiful cars on show that day, despite the rain.
So that’s about it for my new jeans. I must confess I’ve worn them loads over the last few weeks. They go straight from the ironing back on, so that’s a great testament to the fit & the fabric.
I don’t seem to have a single photo of them with the hem turned down! So it’s back to the sewing machine for me now, no rest for the wicked with a massive stash to use up!
THE COMPULSIVE SEAMSTRESS 
Utterly gorgeous! I love the cropped look but it’s not something I’m confident in, but you look fabulous!
Thanks Vicki! As you can see, I didn’t crop them too much! I didn’t want to suffer from “short leg” syndrome. 🙂
Very nice! I love the gingham bindings – the sort of extra that denotes ‘hand made’ rather than ‘home made’. Enjoy them 🙂
For sure! I love binding hems & always do the inner waistband like that. There is usually enough of a pretty fabric left lying around somewhere just waiting for that task!
Just the most gorgeous jeans. That dark denim is so flattering. Cute gingham bindings. As for the cars…almost makes you wish you knew how to hot-wire! 😉 (Kidding!)
No, seriously, there were some you wouldn’t mind finding in your garage in the morning! The gullwings & 1950s roadsters are worth a fabulous amount of money!
I know…but I’d seriously consider selling The Husband to get one. I adore vintage cars…they are so pretty!
I can’t imagine why you think the tapered leg doesn’t suit you–you look spectacular in those jeans!
Naaw, thank you! I guess I am just used to seeing myself from a different angle! I may have to try a few more then, before I make my mind up completely! 😀
I love these! And the gingham binding is just delicious. Such a brilliant finish. I bet you enjoy it every time you put them on.
definitely! At least when I decide to turn them up at the hem, there is a pretty bit on show, rather than just an overlocked edge.
I think you suit this cropped tapered shape very well indeed actually. And I too love the gingham binding – really really cute all around. I’d leave the hems turned up too 🙂
I wonder what you did to the fabric to stop back crotch growth …. please tell?!
lol, I like your terminology there! 🙂 I was just lucky with the fabric. The stretch denim I used was quite stiff, has quite a bit of lycra content & is fabulous for resisting all baggyness. I must admit I wore these 2 days running while in Cornwall – you couldn’t tell! No baggy knees or bum.. 🙂
Sounds perfect to me! Cornwall and fabric both 🙂
Love the jeans, they are made so well and it’s great that you drafted them yourself 🙂
thanks. the trick is to get a good fitting “body” part to the trouser. After that it’s just playing with leg length & shape.
Hi! I have just been through the pants block journey and am looking at making some jeans. Yours look great.