Blue Ginger Jeans

You know how I was going to totally conquer pants last year? Yeah. That certainly fell apart mid-year, didn’t it? Stupid broken leg. Well, it turns out it doesn’t get any easier trying to buy ready-to-wear MATERNITY jeans when you are 5’10” and not-so-petite in the hips. Either I have to not gain any weight at all in this pregnancy (HA!), resign myself to wearing only knit skirts (double HA!), or get really good at sewing maternity pants.

So when I heard that the upper sizes of the Closet Case Files Ginger Jeans pattern was plenty generous in the upper sizes, I decided to ignore that my measurements are a good 3 inches larger than the largest size and spring for the pattern.

It took some finagling, but I think I got it to fit at least as well as my ready-to-wear jeans. That isn’t saying a whole lot. If my ready-to-wear jeans fit nicely, I wouldn’t be trying so hard to figure out how to sew them. right?

A quick note, I also sewed this purple tee with my tried-n-true Jalie Raglan pattern. It turns out the modifications I made for fitting myself before I was pregnant also works nicely for my second trimester belly (grading out the hips a couple of sizes, increasing length). And once you have the pattern, they are so very quick to sew! I have a black one too that I L.O.V.E. but I couldn’t for the life of  me find for this photo. I imagine they will be a bit too short by then end. I might try to make some true “maternity” tees to keep my wardrobe going.

Changes to Ginger Jeans size 18, View B

• Added 1.25 inches along each side seam, then taking it in a little bit more at the calves.
• Scooped the back crotch curve down 1/4 inch (making it more L-shaped).
• Added a 1″ wedge at the center back seam to lengthen the seam.
• Added 1/4″ to the front crotch length at the inseam.
• Scooped in the seams in just the back thigh to reduce bagginess.
• Added length to the pant legs.
• Scooped down the front waistband 2.25 inches to accommodate my growing belly.
• Sewed an elastic waistband instead of the standard waistband and zipper fly.n (Sadly, in my hurry to finish I forgot that I hate underbelly waistbands while pregnant. doh! I’ll have to figure out a full stomach panel next try.)

Unfortunately, I am still not “there” with the back thigh fit, but I am in a season of intense growth and I decided to settle and finish the project. I didn’t want my perfectionism to sour my joy in completion or leave me in a wardrobe famine.

And you know what? I felt awesome wearing these pants around last Sunday, with my handmade shirt and my handmade blazer. No one outside of the sewing world gives a flip about my back thigh wrinkles and knee draglines. I’ll figure it out eventually but I don’t have to wait until someday to enjoy my accomplishments today.

~Top~
Jalie Raglan Tee :: Robert Kaufman Laguna Jersey

~Pants~
Closet Case Files Ginger Jeans :: Jo-Ann Fabrics Stretch Denim