Small Fry Skinny Jeans Rock My World!

You guys! This pattern. I have a new favorite pattern.

Let me stop here and inform you that I was given a free copy of this pattern for review, but anything I say here is my own opinion, of course.

I'm thrilled to be participating in Frances Suzanne's September Showcase dedicated to rising indie designers. I aspire to be an indie designer so I'm all-in for supporting those out there already. I was able to choose from among ten patterns (all of them fabulous). As soon as I saw that the Small Fry Skinny Jeans from Titchy Threads was an option I jumped on it. I had seen this one making its rounds through the blogiverse, and it was universally gushed over. And now I know why.

I really need to up my photography if I'm going to keep putting dark clothing on this pale child. I swear her feet have skin tone ...most of the time.

Seriously. (Okay now I'm going to gush). This pattern. Guys, THIS. PATTERN. 

I remember as a kid, sometimes you could see right away if another kid's mom sewed. You could tell the clothes were handmade. Especially if the mom attempted jeans. It's always in the back of my mind as I send The Peanut out the door in handmade everything. Clearly that mom I'm remembering needed this pattern.

I honestly don't know where to begin. Laura has compiled a very clear pattern with amazing attention to all the little details. I love me some detailing and this pattern rocks my world because she's already thought it all out for me, including: flat felled seams (finally!), fly options, pocket options, top-stitching recommendations, belt loops (which I omitted), short and pant lengths, and an adjustable waist band. My goodness, this woman, she rocks! Put in as few or as many details as you like, the fit and cut are fabulous and they will not look handmade when you are done.  

I'm still a sucker for some good top-stitching and pops of color, or in this case metallic gold.

Seeing the amount of detail work going in, and all the gushing out and about, I opted to make a Size 5 knowing it would run large on The Peanut. I want to get a lot of use out of these. And I wanted something that I couldn't easily get in a store, so I chose this stretch, damask jacquard bottom-weight in chocolate with black (because she didn't have any Brown to wear on its upcoming color day at school--ten days of wear-this-color kindergarten adorableness). Then I gave it some pretty gold accents in the form of metal button and some top-stitching. I'm a silver person, but apparently easily persuaded by the gold trend of the day for my daughter. 

To get the gold top-stitched look, I threaded my machine as I normally would but with two strands of gold thread instead of one. (No need to buy two spools, just wind a bobbin for the second strand.) I used heavy duty/top stitching thread for the black, but found that I needed to adjust the tension (for seemingly the first time ever) when I used it. But the pattern even warned me about that(!), so I was prepared.

I was afraid to sew a curve in the gold, therefore the asymmetrical X pocket design.

I made two failure-to-read-thoroughly mistakes. (Note, these are my mistakes, not at all the fault of the pattern.) First, I sewed the back rise with an outside flat-felled seam, instead of inside. At least that's the kind of mistake that only I'll notice -- until it catches on something when she sits, that is. Second, I incorrectly marked the placement of the interior button too close to the fly on one side for the adjustable waist. The waistband was already sewn in place when I realized this and so adding another button hole was not an option. After walking away and taking a break, I solved the problem of an unevenly gathered front (instead of a flat front) but stitching the elastic in place where it should have been buttoned. That side is now static, and I can adjust from the other side and then spread the gathers evenly around. It works. 

I will confess I was afraid to try the zipper fly as I've never done one and I knew I didn't have time for a major mistake this time round. I used the half-fly here but I'm eager to give the zipper a go now that I know how well done and educational the rest of the pattern is.

The first time I sew a pattern I like to sew it as written so that I fully understand the construction and detailing the designer was aiming for. I will sew this one again (many times) as written, but I may also try flipping this into a denim skirt with built in legging-shorts. It has all the right detailing to go that way. We shall see.

Really wishing for a serger these days. That pinking-sheared seam finish revealed on the cuff still gives it away as home-sewn. 

Pattern

Small Fry Skinny Jeans from Titchy Threads, Size 5

Fabric

Stretch, Damask Jacquard Bottom-Weight in Chocolate with Black from Joann Fabric

Love

This pattern. Have I mentioned how much I love this pattern?! Seriously.

Notes

Read carefully. I need to take my own advice; the more I sew the more I skim thinking I know what a pattern is saying, only to realize I've got seems inside out and buttons in the wrong place. Learn from my mistakes.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! So much more. Be sure to check out the entire Indie Designer Showcase that Frances Suzanne has put together. Ten wonderful patterns sewn by so many talented bloggers -- it's a must see!

Ren Murphy writes for The Inspired Wren.

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