So, in my quest to perfect a jeans pattern, the thought came to mind, "Just how ARE jeans supposed to fit?" I know we all have our individual preferences with jeans (or any other garment, for that matter). I remembered an article in Threads Magazine (Issue #111). I pulled that one out. The article is by Sandra Betzina, "Making Jeans That Fit." Don't get me wrong; the jeans featured in that article are perfectly fine fitting, but are not necessarily how I like my jeans to fit. I suppose I'm used to a closer fit that those featured and pictured in the article. In fact, I think I made a pair from the pattern she used here (Vogue 7608 an older Today's Fit pattern she designed). If my memory is correct, the fit I got from this pattern was just about the same as those examples featured. Keep in mind, this was some years ago when this pattern was first issued, and I think it is OOP now.
Found another article, written by Joyce Murphy (Issue #122), so I pulled out that issue, too, to refresh my memory about her recommendations on fitting in her article "Adjusting Pants from the Waist Down." Her methods are quite different from the 'mainstream' many of us have been taught over the years. I need to read this article more carefully as I don't wear pants at the true 'waist' and haven't in years. If this is the point at which she bases her fitting, it might not work for me. I may learn differently as I re-read.
And, I am keeping in mind that both the articles were written 2004 and 2006 respectively (not that fitting methods have changed, but styles certainly have).
I also found, "The Best fitting Pants---Ever" (Threads #134) by Claudette Grant. She gives instructions on how to draft your own pattern from your measurements. I don't think I'll ever be motivated to do that, but I may find some good suggestions as I read that article more closely.
A google search led me to this video and this article with lots of photos of jeans and how they fit, among many others. I currently have a pair of Lee jeans that fit much like the ones described in the video as well as one of the photos in the article. So, I may be trying to eliminate wrinkles that don't need to disappear. In other words, I may be trying to "overfit" (wouldn't be the first time) and perhaps buying Lee brand may be all I need to do to have jeans that fit as conventional wisdom says they should.
I got motivated for this project by Peggy Sagers and her fitting methods she uses that she so generously shares with the world through her free webcasts. I thought it would be fun to have some red jeans and maybe even purple jeans! (Hey, when I am old, I CAN wear purple, you know.)
As I said in my previous post, I haven't given up on this project; life has just intervened. My thinking has just had me exploring information today. And to quote a favorite college professor, "Thinking is the hardest work. That's the reason there's so little of it done." E. Tucker
Linda, you speak my mind. I think with all the fitting gurus out there and their diverse advice and methods of fitting, we become overly conscious of those damn wrinkles. I for one have decided that I'm not going to obsess anymore.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you about Peggy and I'm thinking of making burgundy jeans, but purple is temting too. i just bought a pair for my little sweet Riley.
Overfitting. Been there, done that! I spent 2 months fitting the Jalie stretch jeans last winter. I finally got the fit where I wanted in the waist and hips and ended up removing too many of the wrinkles in the back thigh. The result is a jean that looks good but I can't sit down in them! Turns out you need some of those wrinkles!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the link to Peggy Sayer's' videos. They look to be fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that in the jeans video she said that you don't want a segue from butt to thigh with no wrinkles.
ReplyDeletePerfect fit, with no wrinkles, works with looser trouser fits, but for close fitting pants, like Debbie says, you need to be able to sit! Moving around in your jeans stretches them out and makes them sag, anyway. Best not to stress.
I read that Sandra Betzina article in Threads when it came out and was shocked by how bad the jeans looked ont he models. SB even apologizes somewhere in the article saying she didn't fit the jeans on those models. The pulls or lines around the crotch are not attractive on the Threads models. When I find a brand that fits, I buy a few pair. Invariably, they will stop making the style you like and then you have no jeans! There is another blog post by a daughter on getting her mom out of mom jeans and into something stylish. Very critical and funny. I made jeans a few years back and will have to try again since I have lost weight. Keep up the good work on the jeans fitting.
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