Sew Jeans Like a Pro: 5 Game Changing Techniques for Denim

[@vinstonvega]

I love this channel. I got my copy of Sewing Jeans today, such an awesome book!

[@helengallagher4346]

I’m just about to make some jeans and I found your tutorial very helpful. Thanks

[@christopherspringmann]

Thanks as my Jeans Education is never ending, as it never occurred to me (as a quilter) to use different weight threads for the needle and bobbin! I use Coates 40wt. topstitching thread with a 90/14 Schmetz needle, BUT lighter thread for the bobbin - of course, even a different color! I use recycled aka upcycled denim, which may contains a plastic-y grid material reinforcing stress-points like pocket edges and around the waistband button. Tough stuff to get thru! My troubles typically occurmwhen working with existing pocket corners or densely layered seams, a combination with the foot stalling or hanging up = bird's nest. The pressure foot with the edge guide will be handy, plus the plastic shims you use to elevate the foot in crucial areas. Also, a walking foot may be part of the answer - that's next.

[@axe609]

My mom used to hammer the thick seams and belt loops. It helps flatten the hump as well as soften the denim up a bit.

[@richlovin2173]

i sew a lot of denim and use a Juki 8700H machine which will easily sew 11 layers of new denim. Thanks for the useful info!

[@northforestfinds6893]

You can also use the chain stitch on a coverstitch machine to do the topstitching in other places beyond the hem! I recently made jeans using a stretch denim and chainstitched all of the horizontal topstitching (i.e. in the direction of stretch). It has held up great so far, and now I need to go back and restitch the back pocket topstitching (done with regular sewing machine) because a few stitches have popped out during wear. We’ll see how that goes, since I definitely have less precise control over that speedy coverstitch!

[@constancergarcia7258]

Beautiful work on your jeans. Thank you for the information, very helpful.

[@Thelaststitch]

Thank you! That makes me very happy to hear!

[@sagepreaumx9903]

I used my edge stitcher foot for the first time to top stitch on a bag I made. It is amazing; I'll be using it a lot more from now on.

[@Thelaststitch]

Yes! It truly is the best foot ever. I love attachments that are easy to use and make us better sewists immediately :-)

[@MeganTuffley]

Fantastic! Thank you for all the hints and tips for jeans making. I've successfully made two pairs of Ginger Jeans and I love them. I'm just about to make another pair, so will apply your great tips!

[@janejarvis6725]

This was good for learning some great how to for jeans. Thank you.

[@edwallace3704]

Great video , I'm learning to sew and love my Jean's and watching this makes me want to try and have a go at making my own when I get more proficient with my sewing machine .Thanks

[@oscar6443]

Your jeans look superb 🐶

[@Thelaststitch]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@guidelineuk4876]

I got your book so much information. its great look forward to trying my first jeans

[@janetrodgers8473]

Great tips which must work, looking at those jeans, which have beautiful stitching....

[@Thelaststitch]

Thank you! It's been a lot of trial and errors to figure out which methods that yields the best result, and each time I learn something new!

[@StayStitching]

Thanks so much for the Wonder Tape tip! Waistbands have been winning for most of my sewing career, but I intend to get the win sometime soon! I will master them!!

[@Thelaststitch]

Same here, it's been such a struggle. So the wonder tape has been such a game changer, so I think you'll really appreciate it 😊

[@silviochan89]

thank you for sharing

[@lindabrown7374]

I have the hump jumper. I love it! Great video, as always.

[@machiningpaper]

Beautiful sewing

[@Thelaststitch]

Thank you!

[@terrigelbaum8066]

Make a hand stitched buttonhole. It looks fabulous and is stronger.

[@tissy_makes171]

Fantastic tips. Embarking on my first pair

[@starfish3704]

Super info...thank you so much? Which is your favorite denim jeans pattern or did you draft it yourself? 👍🤗

[@Thelaststitch]

It's a pattern called Anita from burdastyle.com 😊

[@nancysteiner8814]

Excellent video! Thank you!

[@Thelaststitch]

You're welcome, happy to hear you found the info useful!

[@SultanaBlog]

Thank you for your videos. The part I have most difficulty with is the zip/fly. If you are thinking of doing another video - a tutorial on that would be awesome. :)

[@sallydingle321]

Great tips as usual Johanna 👌. Thanks so much for sharing your skills again 😁😘

[@Thelaststitch]

You are very welcome!

[@jodo3k]

This video couldn't have come at a better time, since I'm doing the men's jeans sew-along on Thread Theory. Also, there's an interesting video on Angela Kane's channel about a technique she uses for the buttonhole. She uses a braiding foot so she can get a gimp thread in there and does it with zigzag, slowly, "by hand". Looks like it takes some practice, but could yield some good results? I'm going to give it a shot anyway. Just thought I'd pass that along.

[@Thelaststitch]

Thank you! I got a tip about her video tutorial from another person too and will check it out for sure. And I agree, that doesn't sound like a method we would nail on the first try! But I can imagine it will be worth the time. I have not been sewing and buttonholes "free hand" in many many years, so this method has me intrigued

[@AtelierDBurgoyne]

JD, how did the Thread Theory jeans fit you? Did you find their size guide worked for you?

[@eleanorthomson2846]

Perfect timing! I'm getting ready to sew my 6th pair (4th for me) and this is all so helpful. Thank you.

[@Thelaststitch]

Sounds like you are on a roll! Making many pairs is such a great way to learn and test different techniques

[@DOCTORJEANS-d4y]

Super info.. Thank you so much🙏Indonesia

[@shanksre6186]

Thank you 🇬🇧

[@susanohrstrom6120]

Great tips!

[@wisaac6502]

Thank you so much for your tips. What would you recommend for a heavy duty sewing machine? What do you use or recommend thanks 🙏

[@clemboutry5993]

Hi there, I bought your book, which, btw, is the best sewing book I have read - so thorough and detailed. I was wondering whether you can recomend any pattern for men skinny jeans? I have tried one but it really did not work/fit. There is not even any point changing it ...

[@glendavanderberg3691]

Thank you! This will help me a lot. I feel a bit more confident starting my Ginger jeans now. I’ve been procrastinating for ages!

[@myralorraine]

Great video Johanna! I love all of your tips and the details you gave for us are awesome! BTW, love your jeans!

[@marymary5494]

Great info. Thank you 😊

[@Thelaststitch]

Happy to hear you liked it!

[@howardgoldstein8290]

Your jeans are beautiful...I also use wonder tape for placement of patch pockets...prevents them from shifting under the presser foot as I sew........button holes are still the bane of my sewing existence............did you use the pre-set bar tack function of your sewing machine to attach the belt loops?.........I make my belt loops with a double needle since I don't have a cover stitch machine & get a very similar result............as always. great video with loads of terrific tips.....................

[@Thelaststitch]

Yes it's truly a wonder tape, will try it for patch pockets too now. I began using the preset bar tack stitch and struggled, cried for help on Instagram and got the advice to increase the stitch length. I had already stitched the tacks around the crotch area at that point but used a longer length for attaching the loops, and that went very well! What is your experience with best bar tack settings!?

[@howardgoldstein8290]

@@ThelaststitchTo be perfectly honest, both my Bernina & my monster Janome both have the bar tack function, which I played around with, but not actually used....being in my 70's & retired, I almost always wear shirts I make to wear outside my pants, so all of my pants have (and don't cringe) an elastic waistband & an inner draw string with an invisible zip front fly....the pants are tailored looking with tapered legs & always in either a stretch denim, stretch twill, or stretch suiting with onseam hip pockets & either patch or welt back pockets....at this age & stage, my goal is to look good but still be comfortable without trying to mimick ready to wear...........

[@2010stoof]

I'm not sure where you're located, but wawak site sells the industrial version of all gutermann thread. The mara 100 is identical to the sew all Tex 30 you find in store. The mara 70 is a bit thicker and Tex 40 Mara 30 is Tex 100. They have a guide on converting retail color numbers to the industrial same color number. They also sell a 400 color sample book (all the sew all Tex 30 mara 100) and a 700 book (all the 400 from the other plus the other 300 available in mara 70 (Tex 40) and mara 30 (Tex 100) colors. The best part about it, is unlike the retail colors of see all that only come in small spools and few that come in 500 yard and the black and white that come in 1000, every color is 1000 yards/meters and the price is less than $3 (less on sale). So what I did was got the little kit of 30 or 50 little spools with 50% off at Joann's here in USA. Then any colors I wanted I converted the numbers and got the 1000m from wawak. I also bought the sample book which has actual thread wound onto sample cards for you to choose colors you want. Waaaay more economical. P.S. the 968 you like is available from them in all the Tex thicknesses. They also sell their own brand of cotton wrapped poly and some poly wrapped poly specialized jeans thread in tex 60 and 80. Many shades and they have a sample card for those too. My two favorites is Lee gold (Lee jeans) and Levi gold (levi color) and light gold. Temple gold is nice too.

[@simiquaver]

Great information. Thanks for sharing!

[@yamishrimali6015]

You are great

[@laurajones4088]

Excellent tips, Johanna! Your jeans look fabulous. Love to use Wondertape and the edge stitch foot for top stitching.

[@missmatti]

Omg.. the wonder tape trick! I need to try it. I have been struggling with a waistband on a pair of denim dungarees. I did create the fold already similar to what you described but struggled to get the seam neat and fasten all of the waistband on the inside.

[@Thelaststitch]

Yes it makes a huge difference, I've really up-levelled the finish once I began using that tape! You should totally try it, those waistband folds are HARD!

[@missmatti]

@@Thelaststitch I am glad to hear you saying that because the pattern I followed made it sound so easy and I was so frustrated.. why am I struggling? Ordered wonder tape now and waiting for it to arrive.

[@rdfjfgjyfdhfghy67456]

Could you do a flatfell seam with a coverstitch?❤

[@2010stoof]

I have an overlocker 1034d brother machine. It takes same needles as my home machines. Curious if it can handle denim since it can use same denim needles as my sewing machines

[@laurenseamsodd]

Hi, Did you make the pocket pressing template or did you buy it? Thanks

[@abiabi521]

Gr8 tips. I don't particularly like the rippling of the commercial jeans hem though. I prefer my hems neat and flat.

[@altar7885]

Great video. Do you think that a seamstress/tailor could make a pattern out of a pair of my own Levi's 513s, and duplicate them? Or would that be a very difficult job? (Levi has stopped making the 513 and they're the only ones that fit me...)

[@rudyguardado8392]

When I stich hight areas my needle missed stitches is there a special foot I need to buy or pls tell me.

[@aleisterlavey9716]

Wondertape didn't worked for me. It made the needle slightly sticky, which jammed my machine. ( yeah ok ok, i was sewing a backpack with heavy canvas) My tipps: 1. Make Button holes by hand (stich'n'braid) It is a pain in the ass to get it regularly, but the life span is incredibly. 2. Oil your needle for many layers. Just rub very little oil on it with a Q-Tipp. 3. If you lose the Fun halfway trough, work like you get paid for it, because you will (experience, training and a new pair of trousers 😉)

[@tosorio339]

I want to make my own jeans. Just for me and the hubs. We are short and it's sometimes hard to find jeans that fit nicely. My question is, should I make a jeans muslin? if so, what material should I use, since you should use a fabric the same approximate weight as the garment you want to sew?

[@hammill444]

Just curious. Do you need a real heavy duty sewing machine to work with denim---- in my case, just to patch up holes or rips. Or can I use a regular home sewing machine, in my case, a Brother 6000i sewing machine.

[@ricky12811]

Man I'm in the same boat I always ripping off my pants

[@annalamb8135]

Gday. Great tips you have shown there, I have not made a pair of jeans yet, not sure if I am brave enough yet. I noticed you had painted only 9 of your nails, or so it looked, did you miss one? Thank u for sharing, have a good day.

[@ricky12811]

What sew machines you use or what will you recommend pleas and thaks

[@lesleyscott2117]

Really helpful tips, thank you. Definitely 2019 is the year for jeans in my world! Did I just put that in writing?! Eeeeek.

[@gremlincomicsr.mackey4276]

I want to make fashion design jeans 👖 wow

[@camillasanchez7493]

Thank you. 👏🏼

[@2010stoof]

Are there any patterns available for men's jeans? Everywhere I look has women's.

[@angelajackson6801]

Can I use a cover stitch machine with top stitch thread for the double row stitching to make sure it’s even rather than using a twin needle or sewing 2 parallel lines? It would also neaten the inside well too.

[@2010stoof]

By color code was that a 90/14 topstitching needle? What Tex thread are you using that you can use such a small needle? That 968 is between Tex 60 and Tex 80. With those size threads gutermann recommends at lease a 100/18 needle. But if it worked for you I'm curious to know!! :-) Thanks. Edit: is the larger eye in the topstitching needle what allows you to use the 90/14 instead?

[@vascolourenco3128]

Amazing jeans, I'm looking forward to make my own pair, but I don't where to buy good quality denim, where did you buy yours?

[@MelindasLifeandstyle]

How did your Sewing machine handle the belt loops

[@Thelaststitch]

Surprisingly well, this time. I used a longer stitch length for the tack and a hump jumper to at a couple of spots. But yeah, not all domestic machines perform well on those for sure

[@anubis33]

Always good to hear your tips Johanna. The finishes you get are superb. Wonder tape is so useful and before the wash away I used wonder web to fix in place. That hump item I know as a cover plate. A different shape that’s like a two thonged fork with two depths. Would the jeans foot work in conjunction with a single hole needle plate to get the force focused directly at the point of the needle?

[@Thelaststitch]

Yes, the fork jumper seems to be the most common one. My old machine came with one of those, but I like this set too as it easy to add height. I have no idea about the single hole needle plate, but I suspect you are right, there would be a lot of force for sure

[@azaleawolfe2072]

What machine are you using in this video?

[@rabthecab]

Great tips; as Wondertape is quite expensive, could you use regular hemming tape instead? Kind of a belt & braces thing 😊

[@SueC56]

If you can, consider buying Wonder Tape from Wawak sewing supplies. They charge $2.99 (US) vs $7.99 at Joann. Even with a half price coupon at JoAnn, Wawak is 25% cheaper. And they have it on sale some times, maybe 20% off. I don't know anything about prices outside the US, sorry.

[@vivianarubino8345]

What needles you use in your serger for denim ?

[@atrinka1]

nobody talks about serger needles!

[@dawneabdulal-bari9313]

Cool! Thank You ;->

[@BADRUBULDURA]

🙂🙂🙂

[@the_dapper_scrapper]

Great tips!