Closet Core Ginger Skinny Jeans in Super Stretch Denim

We all know the value of a good pair of jeans. Jeans that, not only, fit well and are comfortable, but that make the wearer feel and look her absolute best. Unfortunately, it can be pretty tricky finding a pair of jeans to meet these many specifications. After a million disappointing trips the mall, you start to think that the perfect pair of jeans doesn’t exist. It is at this juncture that we turn to the last, best, and most intimidating conclusion – time to MAKE a pair of jeans!

The good news for those of you ready to take this leap is that The Confident Stitch is here to catch you with Closet Core’s (formerly Closet Case) fabulous Ginger Skinny Jeans in Super Stretch Denim. The pattern includes: View A, a comfortable low rise with narrow stovepipe legs, and, View B, a sexy and high-waisted with skinny legs and a tummy-slimming pocket stay. I chose to have Bonnie make the View B in size 12, since prefer to feel secure and covered in the tummy area.

The Ginger Jean Pattern is designed specifically for stretch so Bonnie used the Robert Kaufman Super Stretch 8.6 oz Denim in Indigo. This denim has a wonderful texture and color, BUT be sure to wash this fabric in cold water with vinegar before cutting, or you will find that you bear a strong resemblance to Smurfette before long!

In general, the quality of this jeans pattern pleased Bonnie. The pattern is cut for a curvy figure, – stretch denim is key to this pattern’s success  – and my measurements lined up almost exactly with the finished size 12. (Yay!) She shortened the hem by 2″, and, due to the particular stretchy-ness of this Robert Kaufman denim, she took the waist in 1″. Additionally, to provide stability, she used interfacing on both sides of the waistband.

Bonnie did have a bit of difficulty deciphering the pocket instructions. As a result, the finished pocket on the right-hand-side of these jeans is wider than it should be. You’ll never catch me saying no to a bigger pocket so no complaints here. However, if you find yourself struggling with the pocket portion of this pattern (or any part for that matter), it can be really helpful to use a similar pair of your jeans, which fit you well, as a guide.

Inspired by the rich indigo of this fabric, as well as Bonnie’s craftsmanship, I decided to do a little floral pocket embroidery. This was a bold move, considering I had never embroidered anything before. But the internet is a magical place, and a quick Pinterest search for ‘jeans pocket embroidery’ and ’embroidery 101′ yielded the inspiration I needed. I embroidered these pockets by hand before Bonnie attached them which, as you can imagine, took a long time. However, if you’re a whiz with embroidery on the sewing machine I definitely recommend giving it a shot. I love the fact that these jeans now have a little something special and uniquely me <3. I would also note that these pockets have both a curved and straight edge which dictate their position on the jean (straight edge to the outside), so if you do decide to embroider keep this orientation in mind!

Attempting jeans definitely requires an intermediate sewing skill level, but the Ginger Skinny Jean is a well drafted pattern on which to start your jeans-making journey. Check out some of our other fun denims, corduroys, and jeans patterns for further inspiration. Happy Sewing!