Okay, so, today I wanted to tackle something that’s been on my to-do list for ages – fitting a pair of ladies’ jeans. You know, the kind that’s supposed to be “one size fits all” but never really does? Yeah, those.
First, I grabbed the jeans I’d bought a while back. They were a nice dark wash, straight leg, nothing too fancy. I slipped them on and, as expected, they were way too big around the waist and a bit too long.
So, I changed into my oldest pair of jeans that fit me perfectly. Laid them flat on the table, I took my “patient”, that is the new jeans, and placed them on top of my old ones. This was to get a rough idea of how much I needed to take in. I grabbed some tailor’s chalk and started marking. I drew a line along the waist, about an inch in from the original seam. Then, I marked the inseam, planning to shorten them by about two inches.
- Pinning: With the chalk lines as a guide, I started pinning. I folded the excess fabric along the chalk lines and stuck pins in to hold it in place. I made sure to pin both sides of the jeans equally, so they’d be symmetrical.
- Basting: Next, I got out my sewing machine and basted along the pinned lines. This was just a temporary stitch to hold everything together while I tried them on again. I mean, you can’t really see how the jeans will look when it’s just lying there, you need to see how they fit when on, right?
- Trying On: I slipped the jeans back on and stood in front of the mirror. I turned and twisted, trying to get a good look from all angles. They were definitely looking better, but the waist was still a bit loose, and I decided to take in the side seams a little, too.
- More Adjustments: Back to the sewing machine! I took out the basting stitches from the waist and side seams, adjusted the pins, and basted again. I also decided to taper the legs a little from the knee down, just for a slightly slimmer fit. I mean, why not? I am already in the process, might as well, right?
- Final Try-On: I tried the jeans on one last time, and they were perfect! They fit snugly around the waist and hips, the length was just right, and the legs had a nice, slim silhouette.
Sewing for Real
With the fit just right, I sewed along the basted lines with a proper stitch, removed the basting, and pressed the seams flat with an iron. And there you have it – a perfectly fitting pair of jeans, customized just for me! It really wasn’t that hard, you know. You need some patience, of course. But I am no professional, yet I managed to do it. This just makes me so happy and proud of myself. I can’t wait to wear them out and about!
