Make Nine 2019: 1 down, 8 to go! Simplicity 8516 Pants

How is it March already and I'm just getting started on my Make Nine??! I have a feeling I'll be working on most of them during summer break when I'm not working. The good news is that I finished one of them...kind of. Let's just say I'm still counting it, even though I changed my original plan 🤣

I was originally planning to use the Mimi G stretch jeans pattern S8222 which I have made once before (see my review here). However, beyond my Make Nine goals, I also set a goal to be more frugal when buying fabric and to use what I have in my stash. So, I opted to use black stretch sateen instead of denim since that's what I had in my stash. I was worried that the fabric wouldn't have enough stretch for the pattern and I couldn't size up without repurchasing it since I already cut the pattern out in a size 14.

Ultimately, I decided to go with another Mimi G pattern that remained uncut in my stash: S8516. I figured this was the better option since it's a very similar pattern, but it's sized for wovens instead of stretch denim. I had a loooooong look at the finished garment measurements chart before cutting and finally decided to go ahead and cut out the size 16. It ended up being the right size, thank goodness! I know I could have traced it off instead, but I'm not about that life 😂.

The pattern pieces and instructions are basically the same as for S8222, so I was able to use the same sew-along video on YouTube, however, I opted to use a different tutorial for the fly front zipper since I ran into some problems with that last time. I went with this one for the Ginger Jeans pattern.

I think it was easier to follow and the zipper is nicely hidden by the fly, but it ended up a little further to the left than I would have liked, so it feels a little off-center. I also had to cut an extra fly piece because the Mimi G tutorial doesn't require it. After completing my pants, I came across another zipper fly tutorial that looked like it might be even easier, so I'll give this one a try next time.

Here is a close up of how my zipper fly turned out. Please excuse the white pattern markings. I use a pen that isn't intended for fabric (I know, I know), so it takes a few washes to get all the markings out. I'll wash these a few more times before wearing them for the general public, but I wanted to get my blog post done while all the details are still fresh in my mind😊This fly front zipper is not perfect by any means, but it's only the second one I've ever done and I'm pretty stinking proud of it 💁🏽‍♀️

Here is my full review of the pattern:

Pattern Description:

Skinny Jeans with slim, average, and curvy fit options. I went with the curvy fit.

Pattern Sizing:

Misses Size 6-14 and 14 -22. I used size 16.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes, however, I had some fit issues with this one that I didn't notice when I made the other Mimi G jeans pattern (S8222). I ended up having some pretty significant gaping at the back, which I addressed by attaching elastic to the back waistband. I'm sure that's not the sexiest solution in the world (and certainly not a perfect fit), but by this point I was exhausted and completely over the thought of working on this pattern any longer, so I called it good enough. I rarely wear my shirts tucked in, so no one will see the small amount of puckering anyway. Plus, the elastic keeps them up on my waist, which eliminated my need for a belt and allowed to me to opt out of making the belt loops! Win-win! At some point, I will learn how to do a proper sway back adjustment on pants and then hopefully I won't have this problem.

Also, I'll say that I wish these were true skinny jeans. They feel a little bit in between "skinny" and "straight leg" to me. I like my skinny jeans to really hug my legs all the way down to my ankles and these seem a little loose below the hips, and particularly around the knees. That's an easy enough fix, I think, but I opted not to change mine since I didn't use denim this time anyway and these will serve nicely as pants for work.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

I didn't use the instructions in the pattern envelope. I followed Mimi G's tutorial on YouTube which was very easy to follow. Since this is my second time following the tutorial, I was able to skip the parts I didn't need help with.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I love that it has the curvy fit option. I wouldn't have purchased it otherwise because I'm not skilled enough yet to make a ton of alterations to a pants pattern. I disliked that the waistband didn't fit all the way around the pants. I ended up cutting another one. This is the same thing that happened when I sewed up S8222 so I should have cut it out in a bigger size to begin with and saved myself the hassle. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this about this pattern or if there's something I'm doing wrong.

Fabric Used:

Black stretch cotton sateen from Mood Fabrics.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I shortened the length by a few inches, added elastic to the back waistband and left off the belt loops. I also skipped the rivets because I didn't feel like attaching them.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I would recommend it to others, but I'll say this: if you're a beginner, TAKE. YOUR. TIME. and try to enjoy the process. Rushing just causes mistakes and frustration. Mimi G has the videos divided into 5 parts, so I would say do no more than one a day, or even half of one if you start to feel like it's getting tedious. Sewing should be fun and when you're done with your jeans, you don't want to feel like you never want to see another sewing machine again for as long as you live 😆