I sewed this vintage pair of jeans from a pre-cut donation given to my Local Fabric Store LFS. This Calvin Klein jeans pattern (Vogue 2851) is from the late 1980s. This was already cut out of light denim in both jeans and shorts, so I had to add a wedge at the sideseam and extend the waistband because my size wasn’t the size cut (the rest of the jeans fit great though.)
This denim is a medium weight, (probably 10oz) but rigid denim in a light wash, and I had seen several videos from a shoe company with this style of jeans and was (moderately) obsessed with them, so I’m fortunate in that these made their way to me. I’d always wanted to sew jeans, but it seems like an intimidating project. I will say, having sewn these, that they are not that intimidating and are actually a satisfying sew!
Let’s break it down. First, I constructed them mostly according to the pattern directions. I customized the back pockets with my own design (this is how I sign the first letter of my name) which is my favorite part of these jeans. Second, the front pockets are DEEP. None of those wimpy today-jeans pockets, these are deep and ready to stick your whole hand in there (see the pattern model).
Third, they’re slouchy and I love this fit! It’s not barrel, but 1980s fit and it’s sooo good. They deserved to be worn with an oversized blazer, and that’s exactly what I have on. This isn’t a mom fit jean, they fit well at the back waist, but they fit in front at or below the belly button, so they are not a high rise.
The sewist who cut these out, cut the shorts too so I had two to sew and both came out well. I also used the supplies she had, including zippers, and press denim snaps (it doesn’t require a snapsetter.) The packages are so old the snaps say “dungaree snaps”!
I omitted the hems on the jeans, and just turned a deep raw edge cuff which will fray and I’ll just trim the fray periodically. The shorts are the same but rolled twice.
I love these jeans! They are comfy, and I love the 80s vibe. I’m very glad I sewed them and now I know how to sew jeans so I am going to sew more. The same sewist also cut out two other pair – white and black – in a slimmer pair of jeans so I will have to see if I have to add a panel down the leg on both for those to fit me.
Last year, Aerosoles, the shoe company, featured several video vignettes for their “camera” heeled sandal and jeans *just* like these were featured in them. I was obsessed with them last year, so I decided to sew these jeans, and it did not disappoint. I used a denim needle, topstitching thread, bobbin thread matching the jeans color (light blue) and a hump jumper because my sewing machine is complaining loudly about anything not a quilting cotton lately. I’m not sure why, it’s a Viking, and I get it serviced regularly. But I was able to sew these with no problem. I did edge serge all the pieces before stitching them together so they wouldn’t ravel in the wash.
The denim does have some fold/sun fading on them but it’s jeans, so it adds to the character of them. I’m super happy with how they turned out, and I will be making more jeans for sure.
I feel great that this pre-cut pattern didn’t end up in the trash after being donated, and that I finished someone else’s UFO, and love them. They’ll get a lot of wear, they are so comfortable, and you know I’m the queen of comfy pants.
