Tag Archives: denim

Denim Vest


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I pattern tested Itch to Stitch’s latest release the Envigado Vest. This is an anorak style vest with lots of details and an optional hood.

It makes for a great transitional layering piece as we head into Spring. I wear mine around the house a lot when I get cold or need more pockets!

As with most ITS patterns this one is cup sized. Yay! I made a straight DD with no adjustments but it has princess seams if you need to customize fit. The pattern doesn’t use much fabric but you do need a fair amount of hardware. I had a Closet Case Patterns Kelly Anorak hardware kit in my stash and I used that for my snaps, grommets and and drawstring endcaps. I love hardware kits. 🙂

The Envigado Vest is on sale for it’s launch week for $9.60.

*Note: This post has affiliate links.

Danube Denim Skirt


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Itch to Stitch’s latest release is the Danube Jean Skirt. It’s a great basic skirt with side slits. The instructions for the zipper insertion in this pattern are top notch! I pattern tested and here is my skirt with no modifications. I used a midweight denim.

These side slits are awesome! It looks slim from the front but was so easy to sit down or climb stairs wearing this skirt. Way better than a back slit!

Morgan Boyfriend Jeans


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Closet Case Files has just launched the Morgan Boyfriend Jean pattern so now I can finally talk about them! I was a pattern tester and since this pattern went through three rounds of testing I have a lot to say! These photos are of the first pair that I made, which was the second round of testing. I was on a deadline to finish them, so instead of using a contrasting thread for the topstitching I just used the same thread as I was using for the seaming. The result is a rather fancy looking boyfriend jean, which I really like! It’s fun to have something other than skinnies to wear going out and the rolled up legs work well with heels.

morganjean-1

As in almost every pair of pants I make, the legs are huge because they are graded up with the rest of the pattern and I have skinny legs. So I slimmed down the legs quite a bit from the hip down. I think as you get into the larger sizes you need a narrower leg otherwise they look baggy.  I also added an inch to the rise which I almost always do for pants to accommodate my curvy bum.

morganjean-3I did make a quickie pair of the final version that was basted together and some day I will take them apart and sew up them up properly with top stitching! I used a plain blue denim from Joann that will require a bit of distressing so they don’t look like dad jeans instead of boyfriend jeans.

morganjean-2If you’ve made the Ginger jeans then assembly will be quite familiar to you! The only big change here is the button fly and to be honest I will probably just do a zipper in any future pairs I like. I find button flys rather annoying and I’d rather insert a zipper than have to do 3 extra button holes. 🙂

I bought this fabric on Amazon – it’s 12-Ounce Indigo Pure Denim Fabric, 2 Yards by 68-Inch Wide, by Kaltex America.  It’s made by a Mexican denim mill and it’s a nice heavy weight. It’s pretty dark. I got it when it was under $22 but now it’s nearly $30.

Denim Hollyburn Skirt


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It seems like the rest of the blog world is finally discovering the awesomeness of the Sewaholic Hollyburn skirt.  I made this one up at the end of last summer and this skirt immediately became a wardrobe staple for me. It’s the View B length.

hollyyburndenim-1

 

SIZING

Hollyburn is a Sewaholic Pattern which means it’s designed for pear shapes..which I definitely am not! However it was very easy to tweak the pattern to accommodate my lack of a waist.  When sewing pants or skirts Sewaholic patterns you definitely want to pick a size that fits your hips and then adjust the waist. Waist adjustments are generally the easiest.  In my case my hips fit a 16 but my waist was bigger.

ADJUSTMENTS

I figured out the difference and used the slash and spread technique to make the waist larger.  In order to calculate this you need to take the difference, let’s say 2″, and divide that by 4 to get 1/2″. This is how much will need to be added to the front and back skirt pieces to get a total of 4″.  This does slightly distort the half circle shape but with such a small adjustment it’s not noticeable.   You’ll also need to add to the waistband. This is cut on the fold so just add half of your waist difference (2″/2 = 1″) to the end of the waistband piece.  If anyone is interested in seeing how this was done, leave a comment and I will do a post with some photos.

hollyyburndenim-2

I’ll let you in on a secret. I was lazy when I made my adjustments and only added to the front pieces. See how my side seams and pockets are too far back? Oops. Don’t worry – I fixed this on my next version 🙂

FABRIC & FINISHES

The fabric for this skirt is a lightweight denim I picked up at Joann.  To keep with the denim look I used a jeans zipper on the back. I like seeing the slightly exposed brass zipper.  I finished all of the seams with self-made bias strips and a Hong Kong seam finishes.

hongkong

 

STYLING

This a style that requires tucked in or cropped shirts. I’ve found that leaving something untucked just looks frumpy as it squashes down all the fullness around your middle.  I’ve been thinking I need to make some Closet Case Files Nettie bodysuits to wear with this skirt! In the meantime I wear it with my silk Tucker blouses for work and with slim fitting JCrew t-shirts or tank tops for more casual settings.

I think this skirts has a slightly 70’s vibe that works great with chunky platforms or sandals.  View C is a shorter flirty version that would be very contemporary and festivalwear-like in a girly floral print.

Reasons I love this skirt:

  • Fit n Flare style makes me look like I have a waist
  • Great pockets
  • Dressed up denim works with everything from fancy silk blouse (in my photos) to a basic tee or tank
  • Easy to follow pattern

Reasons to not love this skirt:

  • Waistband can be a little constricting. I think I wear too many knits these days and expect everything to be stretchy and comfortable
  • Adjustments needed to make waist fit. (This is expected with a Sewaholic Pattern).

Save some $$$

One last note on this pattern.  It’s based on the lovely Sewaholic Lonsdale dress.  I own both patterns so I compared the skirt pieces and they are totally identical! So if you like the Lonsdale too, just buy that pattern and you can make both! All you’ll need to do is make your own rectangular waistband pattern piece, which you can base off of the one on the Lonsdale.