I managed to get a light wash denim with my denim haul a year or so ago. This is a rare find, at least in New Zealand.
I've been working my way through it. These jeans have been on my radar probably for about a year, with increasing urgency. I really want some leopard print jeans, specifically the ones from Free People, but I had fabric coming from Blackbird Fabrics and wanted to make some pants before deciding to buy any in a similar shape. The Blackbird order got delayed by MONTHS because I wrote my address wrong (oops) but a time crunch brought these to the top of the list anyway -- I had to put away my sewing room to have some repairs done, and I really wanted these done before that! Builders are not reliable and I didn't know how many months I would be unable to sew for. Also jeans are just SO SATISFYING.
I bought the pattern after night shifts and was grumpy and stumped - I wanted to buy a pattern from Forest & Thread, but it sent me to etsy to buy the pattern from Izzie Co. It was the same pattern and graphics, so I forged ahead. Then I got google drive download folders (which is an annoying way to get a pattern) and they were by inseam. There is no file ahead of time to help you choose your inseam before you download the pattern pieces, so this was really frustrating. I have been trying on a lot of jeans lately with this shape, and so I checked on the measurements of one of those I've been stalking online, and went with the 27" inseam.
Got them printed and ready to go. B block, size 4
Usual adjustments: shortened rise 1" and left legs alone.
I followed the instructions, for the most part, mainly because I had to. You are forced to flat fell the front and back rise, and in theory also the yoke (but I did not do that because I think it's stupid.) The only reason I did the rise is because it's built into the zip instructions and there was no way to not do that. I did not like the instructions, they were messy and wordy. I did not like the fly instructions, but I don't recall exactly why. I survived all these things and got my jeans put together in a flurry.
I put them on and I am so very happy, they are perfect. I cemented our relationship by taking them on my Europe trip and wearing them nearly every day with my new Kila top. (The weather was freezing and these were actually the warmest pants I had.) Not only did I love these but everyone in my knit group loves them, and one other knitter who sews has made herself a pair too!
I did notice that after about the third wash they have shrunk up a bit shorter than I actually really wanted, but it's not too bad. They will definitely never drag on the ground. Also it's visible in the photos - that annoying hump at the top of the zip. I think this is about putting the waistband on straight. It is suddenly hugely annoying me, mainly because this zip does start to slide down when I'm wearing these and I want to wear them forever and have them be perfect, and that gets in the way of perfection. So I am going to focus on the top of the zip/waistband sewing on my next pair of jeans and see if I can get it better. God forbid I have to make another pair of these before the trend fades out. If I still had any of that linen denim I probably would actually. But I decided they are too much on their own to use my animal print for.
My feeling about this pattern company is that they need to decide what their name is, it's weird for one designer to have two brand names, and the nice website for Forest and Thread leading to another seller on etsy makes me feel less trusting of them. I still want to make the cool two colour jacket but I don't think I would be following this company for updates in general.
