tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post7653880786063735754..comments2023-10-20T08:27:40.314-04:00Comments on male pattern boldness: Jeans: The Dramatic ConclusionPeter Lappinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-59812280977313231102012-07-25T14:03:08.144-04:002012-07-25T14:03:08.144-04:00In reply to Peter's question ("does fabri...In reply to Peter's question ("does fabric shrink in the washing or just in the drying (in a dryer)?"), I think that the bulk of shrinking is in the dryer, but not quite all.<br /><br />I grew up without a dryer, and clothes would shrink, but not a lot. I find that I can reduce the amount of shrinkage from dryers by getting clothes out when they are JUST BARELY dry - I think getting them baking hot results in the most shrinkage. With jeans, I give them 10 minutes in the dryer to soften them up and then hang them on a drying rack to finish drying (takes 24-30 hours). I do this more for the green/energy-saving factor than for avoiding shrinkage. <br /><br />Interestingly, in college, I found that the clothes I dried in the dryers at school were much less likely to get puckers along seams if they had been washed (and line dried) at home a good number of times before first hitting a dryer. I think the modest shrinkage of a washer alone is more even than what a dryer will do to a new garment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-56881611538700108562012-04-02T22:25:57.660-04:002012-04-02T22:25:57.660-04:00Don't worry, Sigrid; just leave LOTS of hem an...Don't worry, Sigrid; just leave LOTS of hem and avoid drying them with heat. Denim should ALWAYS be prewashed (preferably in hot water)a couple of times (even as many as 3 times) BEFORE sewing with it to kickstart the inevitable shrinking process and get past "the worst" of it! This also gets rid of any excess dye in the fabric. If you want to start it fading then add bleach. If not, then just soap. <br /><br />It's also a good idea to run a line of stitch across the cut edges of denim beforehand, as it frays like h-e-l-l.Sufiyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-67985551839800545712012-04-02T19:53:43.505-04:002012-04-02T19:53:43.505-04:00They look wonderful and what a fit! I admire the ...They look wonderful and what a fit! I admire the hell out of your guts in taking on jeans, and I know you've made them before, but you are my hero!Tacomapathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12464690580618237508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-29613392796087507402012-04-02T09:37:28.341-04:002012-04-02T09:37:28.341-04:00Just a word about glue and sewing pockets last: W...Just a word about glue and sewing pockets last: White glue, in my experience, does not gum up a needle. It dries fast and there's no sticky residue (which I've sometimes experienced in those gummy glue sticks).<br /><br />The reason I do the pockets last is that it isn't until the pants are finished that I can figure out exactly where I want them to sit. I don't follow the pattern directions but rather my own eye.Peter Lappinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-31936682317642110792012-04-02T09:34:43.202-04:002012-04-02T09:34:43.202-04:00I just finished my second pair of jeans, and now y...I just finished my second pair of jeans, and now you have made me afraid to wash them. Thanks for the glue tip and the idea of doing the pockets last. I have been doing my topstitching on a vintage Viking using the low gear and find it works amazingly well. Have you engaged your Viking's low gear lately?Sigridhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08946180982433360417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-31655255958422077422012-04-02T03:40:39.763-04:002012-04-02T03:40:39.763-04:00All these comments convince me to try a dab of gl...All these comments convince me to try a dab of glue next time I set in a sleeve. I pin carefully, or even tack (that's Aussie for basting) and the sleeve seam and side seam still slide away from each other. Maybe glue will fix it. Thanks for yet another really helpful post Peter.Cleverclogsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-10980183240853625052012-04-01T21:23:44.092-04:002012-04-01T21:23:44.092-04:00Brilliant job Pete! Terrific fit and very professi...Brilliant job Pete! Terrific fit and very professional looking job :D.<br />Cheers,<br />RobynRobynLouisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08050372484207822842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-8779772511383596692012-04-01T20:18:15.979-04:002012-04-01T20:18:15.979-04:00I just don't use a satin stitch. I use my str...I just don't use a satin stitch. I use my straight stitch machine and go back and forth a few times. It's not as clean as a satin stitch but I'm not sure even my old metal Kenmore zigzaggers could handle things like thick (six layers when folded over) belt loops being stitched onto a thick waistband. So I improvise.Peter Lappinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-91084008432108001002012-04-01T15:27:56.438-04:002012-04-01T15:27:56.438-04:00Terrific top stitching and I love the squared fron...Terrific top stitching and I love the squared front pocket. I've never sewn jeans, but just bought a pattern. Going to work up the gumption soon.Erzulimojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01475371609166418042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-80875102144318422202012-04-01T11:57:12.472-04:002012-04-01T11:57:12.472-04:00Apparently the DRYER is the villain when it comes ...Apparently the DRYER is the villain when it comes to shrinkage! I let my jeans dry naturally (easy in the winter when the air is DRY)and then throw them in the dryer on "no heat" for about 15 mins. to soften them up. Of course this requires advance planning, your own machines, and assumes a place to hang them up wet! Otherwise you will have to dry them on 'very low heat" or "no heat" and NOT till they are "bone-dry"; take them out while still slightly damp and hang them to finish drying.Sufiyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-27423578174677091572012-04-01T10:38:18.038-04:002012-04-01T10:38:18.038-04:00These look fabulous Peter. Sigh, you are so much ...These look fabulous Peter. Sigh, you are so much further along than I am with mine. Of course I pin fit and baste before I sew. My curvy body is not so easy to fit! I am using a vintage Viking for the topstitching and the zig zag doesnt' make a nice sating stitch for the top of pockets, etc and my newer Viking does not like heavy topstitch thread. How do you handle those parts that rtw uses a narrow satin stitch for?Nancy Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02235347323004026695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-10191125326412590392012-04-01T10:10:58.530-04:002012-04-01T10:10:58.530-04:00Great job, Peter! Wish I could do that -- or at l...Great job, Peter! Wish I could do that -- or at least had the patience to try.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06923819162280887272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-82789885128560524262012-04-01T10:06:45.629-04:002012-04-01T10:06:45.629-04:00Here's a fun video showing how factory jeans a...Here's a fun video showing how factory jeans are made. Don't you wish you could complete a pair in under 13 minutes?<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNERrtN3FfQDebra B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-26778375737689582682012-04-01T09:05:14.952-04:002012-04-01T09:05:14.952-04:00Your jeans are fabulous! I love how you just get ...Your jeans are fabulous! I love how you just get to DECIDE how low to make the waistline. What crazy fashion dictator decided that we should all have to get radical bikini waxes to wear JEANS?!<br /><br />I would have so much embroidering the pockets of jeans, but the chances of me even making a pair of jeans that fit my lumpy self and flattered enough for me to want to wear them afterwards is so slim. No way could I attempt jeans until I've had success on some simpler garments.<br /><br />Congratulations on another great finish!Rebecca Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14801489818836195754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-2220927211253366882012-04-01T09:04:40.968-04:002012-04-01T09:04:40.968-04:00Great looking jeans / topstitching Peter. I just ...Great looking jeans / topstitching Peter. I just converted my pants pattern into a jeans pattern and working on that right now. I will be happy if my topstitching comes out anywhere close to yours. I plan on washing/drying my denim 5 times.Rosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12878435365442893003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-74808931947149424592012-04-01T07:45:09.014-04:002012-04-01T07:45:09.014-04:00Mainelydad, look up Sandra Betzina's instructi...Mainelydad, look up Sandra Betzina's instructions for a fly zipper. Easy Peasy and it looks great.RobbieKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04682740845404441225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-26375081737136018912012-04-01T06:27:38.023-04:002012-04-01T06:27:38.023-04:00I've tried glue sticks but I find the liquid g...I've tried glue sticks but I find the liquid glue easier to control somehow.Peter Lappinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-82254653139642657662012-04-01T04:43:20.109-04:002012-04-01T04:43:20.109-04:00They look great! I hope to get up the courage to ...They look great! I hope to get up the courage to make ANY kind of pants some day. I've never put in a zipper so I'm terrified. I'll be sure to refer back to your sew-along when that day finally comes.Mainelydadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05718855427399616514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-28855606892090032292012-04-01T01:12:17.950-04:002012-04-01T01:12:17.950-04:00your jeans look great. I must try and sew for myse...your jeans look great. I must try and sew for myself....and soon!Regenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07305723527884801037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-54702802802745813322012-04-01T00:47:29.119-04:002012-04-01T00:47:29.119-04:00You make the making of jeans appear so simple...an...You make the making of jeans appear so simple...and yet i'm still frozen with fright at the prospect of making them <br />#just a chicken at heart.<br /><br />I love using glue when sewing too....i must be truthful though, apart from using spray glue for quilting, using a fabric glue stick for clothes during construction is fairly new to me. I am totally sold and go through glue sticks like nobodies business.suziwong66http://www.suziwongcreations.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-23921421701446131362012-04-01T00:35:40.095-04:002012-04-01T00:35:40.095-04:00Yes--it's called 505 Basting Spray. Quilters a...Yes--it's called 505 Basting Spray. Quilters also use it to baste all three layers of a quilt together instead of using pins--very handy for free motion work. It's re-positionable, and washes out with soap and water.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15646907363247143337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-73044078245957191002012-04-01T00:06:08.428-04:002012-04-01T00:06:08.428-04:00Great job! You're so fast, too!
Once I starte...Great job! You're so fast, too!<br /><br />Once I started living on my own, I always hung my jeans to dry. My mother STILL managed to shrink several pairs on me when I came to visit. I eventually had to insist on doing my own laundry while "home" :P There's nothing more annoying than having your jeans go from skintight to "OH CRAP!"Alexus1325https://www.blogger.com/profile/17929629041165443313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-43126935069759206462012-03-31T23:47:27.059-04:002012-03-31T23:47:27.059-04:00I've often wondered: does fabric shrink in the...I've often wondered: does fabric shrink in the washing or just in the drying (in a dryer)?Peter Lappinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-75498299003732094772012-03-31T23:41:14.319-04:002012-03-31T23:41:14.319-04:00Yes, great jeans! Apparently jean fabric shrinks m...Yes, great jeans! Apparently jean fabric shrinks mostly in length, so just be sure to leave a generous hem, and after you have washed them 5 to 7 times they should be done shrinking and you can reduce the size of the hem. <br /><br />Oh, and if you go to craft stores look for "temporary basting glue"; Aleene's, I think. They got glues for EVERYTHING now! There is also a spray glue that you use for positioning fabric, and then it DISAPPEARS. I think it's called "505" or something like that. I used it to make a "surcote" for a friend; he wanted a "gyronny" applique pattern which was difficult because there was an angled edge that too much fiddling with would have caused to stretch and ripple. I used that 505 repositionable spray glue to "tack" the one fabric to the other and keep it from shifting as I sewed it and that applique, angled edge and all, came out PERFECT.<br /><br /> I tell you: glue makes a LOT of sewing tasks much easier, and having all these specialized glues that spray on, wash out, disappear, flex, hold embellishments securely, etc. are a BOON!Sufiyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-44324010718766830272012-03-31T22:38:54.814-04:002012-03-31T22:38:54.814-04:00I think I could actually sell that one . . . "...I think I could actually sell that one . . . "Hey honey, I'm just keeping this 5th of Vodka handy for my jeans." ;)pcolaspikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367706141518152121noreply@blogger.com