MY MORGAN BOYFRIEND JEANS : : CLOSET CASE FILES : : IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Hi you. This is…quite possibly…the one and only time I can lay claim to being at the front of the pattern pack. How did this happen? Well…I had the opportunity to sew Heather’s {Closet Case Files} Morgan Boyfriend Jeans before the actual release date. When she asked if I might want to pattern test, I debated for all of a nano second. It’s no secret; I love her Ginger Jeans…I’ve made several pairs, having gone as far as tweaking the pattern for both distressed denim and yoga pants. Yep…I was all in for sewing a jeans pattern specifically engineered for non stretch denim.
With pattern testing, comes responsibility! I had paper and pen at hand for notes of any fit, construction and/or instruction issues. Early in, I realized that although I loosely follow pattern directions, I am more inclined to look at the images that accompany the written words, rather than the text itself. As with previous Closet Case Files makes, the line drawings on the Morgan Boyfriend Jeans are clear and easy to understand. That being said, I did read carefully through all instructions. I altered the fit as per my usual adjustments…..must shorten everything. I’d describe my height distribution has being fairly proportionate… so I routinely shorten pants both in the rise and the leg length. With the Morgan Jeans, I shortened the rise 1/2″ and the legs 2″. Again, carefully following the size guide, I cut a size 8 waist, tapering down to a size 6 beginning at the hips.
The fabric…denim…and the real deal, 100% cotton with a white weft. It feels like the perfect choice for a boyfriend jean. It’s the heaviest weight denim I’ve sewn to date and I was a little worried about how my old Bernina would cope. She tends to balk at top-stitching thread. She does, however, handle regular polyester thread {I used colour #21}, doubled up with two spools, just fine. I didn’t dare try to add a single belt loop at the center back…waaaay too many layers of fabric there…and I top-stitched my belt loops on the bottom ends only. One of my favourite design features, although not actually photographed, is the button fly. The pattern also calls for those cool jean buttons…you know, the metal ones that get hammered on…I bought them, but at the last minute decided to go with regular 1/2″ buttons. All righty…I think I’ve covered everything. A big thank you for indulging me in my moment of coolness. If you have any questions, please ask in the comments or by email.
These pics were snapped about a month ago when our Pacific coast weather was swinging wildly…rain, wind, as well as some pretty decent sunny days. It was one of those windy days that we ventured onto the Stanley Park Seawall, LOL. The Lion’s Gate Bridge and West Vancouver are my costars in this early evening light.
And that’s all she wrote. As always, I love that you’ve stopped by and said hello.
Jeans : : Morgan Boyfriend Jeans
61 Comments
As soon as this post popped up in my feed, I thought “YES! That is the perfect match of pattern and blogger!” No surprise, they look great and totally suit your style!
Gillian! Thank YOU! You've totally made my day! xo
Those look fabulous
Those are some sweet, sweet jeans, Sue! And you did a button fly? Colour me impressed.
You sure did a fantaboulos job. Enjoy your Life!
They look great on you. Tres chic.
I can't believe you made those JEANS. Jeans!! Oh sweet Santa God. Button fly. You might as well ask me to stitch a replica of the Sistine Chapel! Well done. And well done again. That lighting is amazing!
Utterly fabulous!! I love the light wash on you 🙂
These are wonderful-I love the light wash and how you have styled them. Well done!!
Ditto!
I must admit I am floored that you can sew jeans. To me that is like asking me to perform brain surgery with a butter knife and a flashlight.
The fit is wonderful! Go Sue!
bisous
Suzanne
You did a great work, Sue! Perfect fit and you look so beautiful in the whole outfit xx
These look fantastic Sue! I love the colour of your denim! You've also styled them perfectly!
I jumped on this pattern immediately after seeing it! I'm so excited to sew bf jeans! I have a small mountain of rigid denim at home that needs to be sewn into numerous pairs of distressed Morgan jeans. 😀
Your version looks fabulous, Sue! I think you got a really perfect fit right out of the gate.
I was just looking at this pattern yesterday, what caught my eye was Boyfriend, and I have been dying for a good pattern and thought this would work. However, I quickly decided against because like you I'm short (5') , and this pattern looked like it was better fit for someone tall. But after reading your review, and seeing you fantastic Morgan jeans…I'm in! Also love your pink puffer vest…did you make that too? If so what pattern…if you don't mind me asking.
Go you,ahead of the trend! These look so good, great fit and colour!
Great fit! and cute too.
The Mister took some great pics of you. Jeans are good and I love dat polka dot hot pink puffy vest!
Shirl
I'm always in awe of your talent – and patience! Sewing your own jeans, not to mention coats and all the other things you make! You are as awesome as that amazing view!
What can I say? They are perfect. And they suit you perfectly. I love it that the turned up hem looks so good. With the ones from the shop they are always skew. Usually because the legs are as bent as if they are meant for somebody with bowlegs. And I hate that. I agree with Suzanne and Melanie (and the others) you are a marvel at sewing. You look ever so good in them. (Clever to wear nude pumps with them.)
Greetje
Jeans turned out beautifully – these are my favorite cut – and you wear them so well! xox
Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Thanks Carolyn. I'm loving your Morgans as much or more! And lucky you…heading into the cool weather season. Although, come to think of it, I do wear jeans pretty much year-round.
Thanks so much Lori!
Thanks Sheila. LOL…the button fly is indeed pretty awesome! I think I like it more than a zipper.
Aw..thank you Mz Neti! I wish you a joyful life too!
Thanks Manju…or should I perhaps say Merci beaucoup!
Thank you. Thank you. 😉
The lighting was, as usual, a fluke. Basically, we nearly ran out of any light at all due to my indecision about which part of the seawall to cavort about on, LOL.
Thanks Mary! I forgot to mention in my post that I found this denim at my local Value Village. I had JUST enough fabric for these jeans…so I felt lucky times two!
Hahaha…truthfully, Closet Case File patterns take you through step by step on how to achieve a RTW finished pair of jeans. I think the major hurdle is doing a good job sewing through thick fabric. I'm happy I found a way to compromise with my machine.
Thanks so much Hana! There were a few redrafts during the testing phase. I was lucky…even my first pair look fine and are very wearable.
Thanks Heather! I was so stoked when I found this colour. Fabric stores tend to have the dark wash denims and not a lot else…at least locally. NOW…when do we get to see yours?
YES! I've been enjoying your jeans journey Michelle! There's no question you're going to make an awesome pair(s) of Morgan jeans. And funny you mention distressed. My jeans would be perfect for distressing…they have the white cross threads…but I couldn't do it. This time.
Oooh….so happy you're going to give them a go! I don't have much height on you (nor does Michelle above). I think the more fitted silhouette works well for us. Now, granted I am wearing heels in my photographs, but 90% of the time I've been wearing these with flats and/or low heeled booties.
And oh my goodness…my pink puffer vest…I found it in the girls section at Value Village and could. not. resist.
Whoop, whoop! Thanks Barbara!!
The fit really is great. And so, SO nice to get that fit based on the pattern size guide! Thanks Coco!
He did indeed! Thanks Shirl. I kinda cried when I put my pink puffy vest away for the season.
Thank you Val! You know…I have NO CLUE where this patience came from, because I sure didn't have it thirty years ago. But never mind…it's here and I enjoy the top stitching and all the detail work!
Thanks Greetje! And you know what? They feel perfect on me!
One of the tricky bits about jeans is laying out the pattern on the fabric so the pieces are absolutely on grain. That means laying out each pattern piece individually, not the typical two layers of fabric. If they aren't cut out with the grainline lined up perfectly, there is a risk of skewed legs and side seams.
And I admit, more often than not, I wear casual shoes with these jeans…but oh, I love them with my nude pumps!
Thanks Patti! You wear the boyfriend jean like a boss! I always love seeing how you've styled them! xoxo
Those turned out fantastic! Back in high school a classmate of mine made jeans in home-ec (we were the two “advanced” sewers in the class) and I was in awe. I'm in awe all over again! Glad to hear your machine made it through the denim okay, I'm not sure mine would be up to the task.
I want to see Suzanne work on a brain with a flashlight and a butter knife. Hahaha!! Step by step, yeah, that's like learning how to do the tango from those how-to-dance books with the feet drawings. IMPOSSIBLE!
Well done sewing machine, hope you got a good oiling after all that hard work! Well done Sue, is there anything you can't see? So impressed these look fab. I really like your belt too, did you make that as well? Louise x
Thank you Flo!! Your comment has got me thinking about the garments I had to sew in high school. I also remember sewing a pair of overalls in junior high. I didn't use denim, it was a lighter weight cotton fabric. They were HUGE, LOL!
Thanks Louise! LOL, I am so lax when it comes to oiling my machine. Thanks for the reminder!! 🙂
I didn't make my belt, bought it at a thrift store. I love it too…it's like a boho cotton weaving on top of leather.
I'm still in awe that you can make cute jeans. These ones are perfect!
They're awesome, Sue! I can't believe what you do, you're so clever!! Love the shots too. I can feel that cold wind, brave girl. Lol! sending hugs across the ocean. xo
Hello Sue,
I want to thank you so much for your support. You mentioned my blog at Rhonda Buss and she featured Sea of Teal last Wednesday on her blog. This was such an honor for me and it just happened because of you! Thank you so much!
Your Morgan jeans turned out really great. I was also eyeing with this pattern and want to sew it now, that I saw it here!
Sincerely,
Stef
Thanks Cheryl. I totally get what you're saying. I felt the same way before learning how to sew them. There are just certain garments that seem to be 'un-home-sewable'. And then you learn the techniques, not all of which can be replicated on a home sewing machine, and away you go.
Thanks Jen! I hope you got to see my Art Girl Jacket when popped over from down under for a visit!!
Thank you so much Stef! I was thrilled to see you featured. You really are a brilliant sewer and many people will be inspired by your makes as well as your styling and photography! I was surprised to learn that you have only been sewing for six years. So, SO TALENTED, you are!
They look fab!
You made jeans? Unbelievable. You can make anything. Now tell me, what's the difference between boyfriend jeans and mom jeans. Really, I thought they were the same, although one obviously sounds cooler than the other.
Thanks Sassy!
You are the creative genius making beautiful dresses out of tablecloths. Yah…Mom's jeans or boyfriend's jeans…what's the diff? I think Mom jeans are designed to fit at the narrrowest part of the waist and fit snugly around the bum and the thighs. Boyfriend jeans sit lower and looser.
I think that jeans are among the most difficult things to sew! And jet you prove your very high competence!! I think that doesn't exist a single item that you are not able to sew !! Useless to say that the jeans suit you perdectly…
A pair of nude colour pumps are fantastic with everything…
These look so good on you Sue! Great job! I haven't made jeans yet…can you believe that!? I have Gingers cut out and ready to go but I find them so intimidating!
Hey Dan! You're right…jeans can be a bit of a learning curve. Lucky for us sewers that Closet Case Files is giving us some really, really helpful instructions. Top stitching can also be tricky to get just right and until that skill is perfected, using a thread that that's a close colour match is the way to go!
Ciao!
Thanks Margo! And….yep…I am a little surprised that you haven't made jeans yet! You will have NO PROBLEM…{sorry for the shouting, LOL}. I can't wait to see your Gingers made and no doubt styled to perfection!
Stunning jeans!
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