ALL DONE!

Seriously! MY. JEANS. ARE. ALL. DONE!

I haven’t had too much trouble finishing them off and I love the look and fit of the cotton lycra fabric. I pieced them together with these patterns: Vogue V2948 and Vogue V8774, along with watching these Craftsy courses: Angela Wolf’s Sewing Designer Jeans and Sandra Betzina’s Pant Fitting Techniques. If you wish to see my previous steps for assembling my black denim Capris jeans and these blue denim jeans, check them out here, here, here, and here.

While making my jeans, I loved distressing the jeans fabric and applying jeans buttons and rivets. So much so that I am now going to keep an eye out for jet black cotton lycra denim for my third pair of jeans!

Please click on the first photo in my gallery to run “How to attach jeans buttons and rivets”…

First step: let’s move outside into the sunshine.

Get your tools ready: cork screw or a nail or even a Brad Awl (if you have one!), hammer, masking tape, wood, scrap denim, Jeans button kit and jeans rivet kit.

Use your hammer to tap your cork screw/nail/brad awl through your jeans layers (where you want the rivet to go), making sure you have your chunk of wood underneath.

Poke your rivet post through the hole.

Assemble your rivet gizmo according to your package directions.

Place your loaded rivet gizmo with the post going through your previously made hole, hold it closed and give it a few taps with your hammer (it took 4 or 5 for me). Pop your rivet gizmo open and TA DA!

If your rivet has to be applied far away from the edge of your jeans you can still use your rivet gizmo, just use it opened up. Poke the rivet post through the hole and load the rivet top into your gizmo, place it and then give it a few taps with your hammer. (Darn, I see a wobble in the topstitching!)

Applying the jeans button is the same technique. You can see the plastic gizmo is the same, but the attachments for it are larger. First: tap your cork screw/nail/brad awl a couple of times with your hammer to make a hole in your jeans where the button is to go.

Poke your jeans button post through the hole.

Place your loaded Jeans button gizmo on your jeans and tap with your hammer (took me about 7 or 8 taps to secure it properly).

Finished jeans button and jeans rivet!

Tip: I hammered really thick layers of my denim to be able to sew through all the layers. The masking tape helped to secure everything while I hammered away. Hammering also distresses your fabric, so if you don’t want it distressed there, hammer the wrong side.

Another tip: switch to screw top wine bottles after getting your cork screw hammered!

I was having such good luck, I decided to redo the jeans button on my black denim Capris pants. That jeans button ended up being a little loose when finished so it was easy to work it off. I lined the inside of the waistband in the small area where the button is to go with two layers of my heavier blue denim and reattached the button. It held much better with the thicker layers.

By the time the job was finished the rain came quite heavily so I have more indoor photos (the lighting is so strange in the house) of the details on my finished blue denim jeans.

Since this fabric had some lycra stretch to it, I made this pair smaller than my black denim cotton Capris – I think I am going to make my next pair smaller again if I use a cotton lycra blend as these still seem a bit loose. Also, I would like to make my next pair with large “tummy control” pockets 🙂 and slimmer pant legs. I might even see if I can make this pair slimmer yet.

Now before I get too carried away with the celebration of a (finally) finished project, let me tell you the winner of last week’s Give Away! I used a random number generator … (drum roll please) … the winner is Thimberlina! Please email me your mailing address at imadeit362436 (at) gmail (dot) com. Congratulations Thimberlina and Thank you everyone for playing along!

Happy Sewing!

Tags: 1/4 ” seam foot Angela Wolf Blind hem foot Cotton jeans button jeans rivet Lycra Sandra Betzina topstitching Vogue

64 Responses to “ALL DONE!”

SewSouthLondon

12 April 2015

I am seriously in awe of anyone who can make jeans. These are great.

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you! It was actually a fun process, taken a piece at a time. I’m happy with these, but as usual with everything I do I think the next pair will have all the kinks ironed out! 🙂
  
  Reply
navybluethreads

12 April 2015

Ditto SewSouthLondon above, seriously impressive work! They look great, even with the ‘funny’ lighting. The top stitching looks super professional 🙂

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you!
  
  Reply
Thimberlina

12 April 2015

I’m leisurely reading your post over my early morning coffee, then I gets to the bit about the giveaway and had to read it twice! What a surprise! I’ll drop you an email….Thankyou so much!
Your jeans are amazing! So much detail, no one will believe you made them! ✂️😀✂️

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  You’re welcome! and Thank you for the compliments! Enjoy your morning coffee!
  
  Reply
Katie Writes Stuff

12 April 2015

Congratulations on finishing this project and having two splendid pairs of jeans to wear! They look fabulous and I can only imagine how wonderful it must be to wear jeans that are made just for you. It’s all very inspirational.

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you! I think it is time for a little break from jeans! Although I really badly want to hammer some more rivets!
  
  Reply
springystitches

12 April 2015

Congratulations on your finished jeans!! They look great and there is so much detail! I am in awe… 🙂

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Oh I loved doing the detail the best!
  
  Reply
Tereza

12 April 2015

I love the princess seam top stitching idea! I also am uber impressed with the overall finish, fit, and use of techniques. I’ve been sitting on denim fabric and Sandra Betzina’s jeans pattern for almost 2 years now. I’m afraid/intimidated by the process. I am so happy to see yours with so many tips/tricks. I’ll also have to check out those craftsy classes. I really want to learn to fit pants and trousers! It is like the next sewing frontier! Enjoy your lovely jeans!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you! And keep in mind I’m not recommending any class or any instructor. I take a lot of courses. And I like how this lady did this and that lady did that. Some go into detail and some don’t. I don’t mind someone asking what I thought of a course. I notice Sewing with Scooby Snacks takes Crafty courses so I always check out what she thought too! I also get on their email list so they tell me when there are sales and I only buy then. I do like the princess seam pants pattern and I will do that one again!
  
  Reply
themateriallady

12 April 2015

They look great – well done! Jeans become a bit addictive. I have recently finished my fifth pair so you can expect a wardrobe fill now you have the pattern and techniques sorted 😃

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  I knew it! It’s just like chocolate! Once you start you can’t stop! I have seen your jeans. You took a different course than me and you have had a lot of success with them!
  
  Reply
Amy

12 April 2015

Those are gorgeous!!!! Fantastic job!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you!
  
  Reply
jvandervlugt

12 April 2015

Your jeans look AWESOME! I really like the colour of the jean material and the detailing, especially that squiggly (is that even a word) decorative design on the pockets and the line down the front of the pant legs. Too cool. Great job.👍👏

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you very much! Those squiggly lines can be so addictive to sew!
  
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Helena

12 April 2015

Great work! They turned out very professional looking. I love the pocket detail – your top stitching looks amazing!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you! Of course I see the wobbly lines here and there… Ah sometimes you just got to live with it! 😀
  
  Reply
cinnaspice

12 April 2015

You know I have been following your jeans adventure, and I am in awe also. I can see using the hammer with the rivets and buttons to relieve any stress the adventure would put me through, along with the cork screw. 😉 You did a fantastic job.

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you! And thank you for your funny comments too!
  
  Reply
Sewing with Scoobys

12 April 2015

I love them!! Nice fit, rivets and jean buttons and all the bells and whistles 🙂 This design element of the princess seams I love as well for the jeans so cool!!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you very much! I do like Sandra Betzina’s pattern – haven’t seen anything similar yet! I bought the Suzy Furrer course on pants fitting that you were talking about, looks like she goes into some great details!
  
  Reply
jay

12 April 2015

Well done! Rivets are the part I usually skip – finding the kit is half a days work, but it does give yours a nice finish. I’m still admiring the topstitching too.

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you! I am lucky there is a store about 45 minutes away in the city that carries stuff that is usually unrecognizable to me! Their choice of fabric is sometimes the same old, same old though. They didn’t have any suitable heavy denim!
  
  Reply
Sue @ A Colourful Canvas

12 April 2015

What a great slide show! I’ve made a few Ginger Jeans, and I’ve not yet attempted rivets or jeans buttons. Those gizmos look awesome! I will have to keep an eye out for the kits! And the masking tape tip is great too…I’ve been trying to hold things with my fingers…not such a great idea, LOL!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you! I knew in advance that a hammer and my fingers were not a good idea!
  
  Reply
lagrancostanza

12 April 2015

Oh wow, great job! My first attempts at pants turned out horrible, I couldn’t even imagine trying my hand at jeans! You’re so skilled!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Well thank you, but I guess, like knitting, it takes a while to get the knack for it!
  
  Reply
  1. lagrancostanza
    
    12 April 2015
    
    Haha, that’s probably true! 😀
    
    Reply
Tia Dia

12 April 2015

Fabulous pair! I love all your topstitching and details. Makes for a one-of-a-kind! Congratulations, and here’s to more pairs of jeans coming out of your sewing room!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  12 April 2015
  
  Thank you! Top stitching and rivets are addictive I find! I only hope to get better and quicker as I go along. It might take me a while to find the right fabric. Anyone have a realiable source for cotton/Lycra?
  
  Reply
Barbara

13 April 2015

Well done! These are very impressive, fit, topstiching, rivets, the lot.

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  13 April 2015
  
  Thank you!
  
  Reply
idaaidasewing

13 April 2015

Aren’t those back pockets adorable? You’ve made them so professionally looking, I like the stitches that you used and that they are simetrical, that is usually a bro let for me, can never make two pieces of a garment totally identical. Well done Linda, enjoy wearing them.

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  13 April 2015
  
  Thank you! It helped to draw up a stencil first and trace it on with chalk and cross my fingers and bite my tongue!
  
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helen

13 April 2015

They look fab – and a great tutorial on inserting the rivets.
I’m wearing my me made jeans today after finishing off the rivets at the weekend and I feel such satisfaction!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  13 April 2015
  
  Thank you! I’m going to have to see yours now! I love how sewist can take the same thing and put their own twist on it!
  
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Andrea

13 April 2015

And miles and miles of top stitching. Impeccable work – well done. This is on my list for this year and I will refer back to your posts when I get my nerve.

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  13 April 2015
  
  Well if I can help that’s great! The internet is so full of information, inspiration, how to’s, etc!
  
  Reply
Creations by Ali

13 April 2015

OH Man…I envy those who can successfully sew any type of pants…esp Jeans! And on top of that you used snaps! Those are so difficult for me that I’ve given up on anything remotely like that!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  13 April 2015
  
  Pants and jeans are challenges I want to conquer! (And I’ve been sewing since middle school – that’s a lot of years avoiding sewing pants and jeans!) 😃
  
  Reply
  1. Creations by Ali
    
    13 April 2015
    
    Omgosh!! Me too!! I’ve been checking out the classes over at Craftsy.com. Very interesting.
    
    Reply
    1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
      
      13 April 2015
      
      Yes, there are some good ones! Sign up for their emails and you will get notice of their sales. That’s when I buy.
      
      Reply
      1. Creations by Ali
        
        13 April 2015
        
        Thank you!! I’ll do that.
Mads (lifeinamadshouse)

13 April 2015

Woo hoo!!! Great job! And with proper rivets on top of all of that detailed stitching?!? Now you’re just showing off. 😉

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  13 April 2015
  
  Thank you! And “oops!” Shame on me! 🙀
  
  Reply
ellegeemakes

13 April 2015

The jeans are fabulous and the stitching on the pockets is so perfect. Making jeans is on my goal list for 2015. I’ll refer to your posts again and again!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  13 April 2015
  
  Thank you! I’m looking forward to seeing your’s!
  
  Reply
sewruth

13 April 2015

Well worth every minute spent on them! Great

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  14 April 2015
  
  Thank you!
  
  Reply
chuichoy

16 April 2015

I love the color of those jeans. I am looking for a pair just like that. I really like the back pocket designs too. Totally impressed with your patience, just imagining from the pictures with the rivets and everything!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  16 April 2015
  
  Thank you! We shall see what colour my fabric is after I wear and wash them a few times! Although I did pre-wash. but you know how jeans fade!
  
  Reply
Simona

17 April 2015

Love the topstitching details! And good tip with the masking tape! I am sure to use it as well! Good job!

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  17 April 2015
  
  Thank you!
  
  Reply
CurlsnSkirls

22 April 2015

Admire you for making your own jeans!
del

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  22 April 2015
  
  Thanks, it was a long process but I love them and I learned a lot for my next pair (some day)!
  
  Reply
  1. CurlsnSkirls
    
    22 April 2015
    
    Ah, better you than me, dear one. Am not a jeans wearer, alas, but do love my summer rayon denim shift. Enjoy!
    
    Reply
    1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
      
      22 April 2015
      
      😃
      
      Reply
sewdooley

26 April 2015

wow, looks like you really did a lot of work. It has a designer look.

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  26 April 2015
  
  Thank you! I really enjoyed doing it and I am planning on another pair – black with a skinnier leg. Every time I sew something I learn more for next time! I love it!
  
  Reply
qplourde

27 April 2015

Yay! They look great! Very brave doing all that stitch-work down the front. It really adds to it, I think. Did you order the rivets online? I can’t seem to find these in any store.

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1. Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
  
  27 April 2015
  
  Thank you. I still want to make a black pair, perhaps a different design, with a slim leg. I bought the rivets at my local fabric shop. We only have one and it seems to supply a bit of everything, except fabric that appeals to me! I know that in the Angela Wolf course she was mentioning an on line store – Wakwak? Or something like that!😃
  
  Reply

ALL DONE!

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64 Responses to “ALL DONE!”