Sewing Patterns & Supplies

sewing zippered pocket

How can I make my own skinny jeans out of scratch?

I have a sewing machine, but I need to know what kind of material would be the best for this type of jean. And how to make like all the other details as well, like front pockets and back pockets, zipper and button. What kind of measurements should I take before buying the material? What part of the jeans should I start with?
Any good tips for making skinny jeans would help out! I'm an aspiring fashion designer so this would give me some experience!

Hi there!! Can't beat Marcia's answer. But, here's a pattern that you can download online for free. You could try making this one for practice, or use it as a 'guide' to what you might have to consider.

http://www.burdastyle.com/creations/show/1656

Sign up as a member, and click on the pattern number to the upper left of your screen to see details/download. Have fun!!

Simplicity 5268 Nurse Sew Pattern Uniform Zipper Front Size 12 / 34 Pockets $8.99

Lot 2 designer patterns BAGS PURSES TOTE~ flamenco look, zippered pockets~ uncut $8.99

Student Overall

Particular boilersuits or "student overalls" are widely used for specific events at universities and polytechnics in Sweden and Finland. Typically, the overalls are procured by the student associations of faculties or programmes. At the major Swedish universities (like Lund or Uppsala) the use of overalls is limited to engineering students, but their use has spread to students in other fields at some of the smaller university colleges. In Finland, overalls have been foremost identified with engineering students, but see extensive use in all of the student organizations of Finnish institutions of higher learning, such as University of Helsinki and Helsinki University of Technology.

<a href="http://www.himfr.com/buy-Lunatic_Fringe/">Lunatic Fringe</a>These overalls are not only seen in Europe. At McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, the McMaster Engineering faculty has had a group of representatives clad in red coveralls known as "redsuits" for decades.

Student overalls have become one of the most conspicuous academic traditions at some educational institutions, despite its short history. The use of overalls started in the Royal Institute of Technology in the late 1970s, and spread quickly around Sweden and Finland. Apparently protective clothing was needed in excursions to companies, which soon led to use at parties as a way to identify students of different fields and organizations. The height of the use of the overall was reached in the late 1990s. Due to quick rise in popularity, most student organizations now offer the students a chance to purchase their own overalls during the freshman year. Since 1990's, the custom has remained popular although perhaps in slight decline as the overalls are sometimes viewed to signal a lifestyle bordering on alcoholism and drunken misbehavior, up to the point where some pubs and clubs even choose to ban the use of overall uniforms.

Unlike overalls generally, the student overall isn't used for work, but mostly for parties. However, as the overalls are meant to endure years of abuse, the wearer often being under the influence of alcohol, the overalls are made of high quality fabric and usually at least somewhat waterproof. Practical additions such as zippered pockets of various sizes and belt loops are added by the manufacturer, and as a part of the manufacturing process the overalls are usually printed with the particular student organization's logo and ads of the various sponsoring companies, ranging from small local enterprises to national divisions of multinational corporations. Often, the large corporations choose to sponsor the overalls as a part of their recruitment campaign, ensuring that they have the attention of the graduating students when they enter the working life.

The colour of the overalls is usually determined by the faculty or programme, which the subjects being many and colours few, lead to quite spectacular and even humorous ones such as purple, turquoise or pink. Multicolored variants exist, but typically the overalls are of one color. As it is customary to personalize the overalls, they are almost invariably decorated with various badges, souvenirs and inexpensive gadgets. Occasionally an overall will tell of its owner's interests, political views, personal history and even military experience. The time spent as a student can be seen from the amount of decorations one has added to his overalls, as all students start with blank overalls. There's also a practice of swapping a part of the overall with another person, typically with a partner. Also badges are readily swapped, especially amongst friends who are of different organizations. Rarity of a certain badge can be considered a bonus.

Certain traditions relating to the use of overalls exist. Typically, a new student will be given permission to use his overalls during the later half of his first academic year, often after certain amount of "freshman points" have been collected by participating in various social events like parties and contests held by the organizations. During the first academic spring, the various engineering student organizations tend to host events during which the new students are officially taken as a members of their organization. During these events, the students often volunteer to go through a minor rite that often includes diving into a pool, lake or river with their newly issued overalls as a "student baptism". Typically in Finland these events are held around the largest student holiday of May 1st or Vappu, when thousands of students gather outdoors to celebrate. Lesser traditions can dictate that a student should sew his badges onto his overalls by hand, and that the overalls shouldn't be cleaned except either by swimming in the overalls or by hosing it down.

The overall is known by many names, at most universities in Sweden it 's known simply overall. In Finland Swedish the word for overall is halare, similar to the Finnish word haalari. Users of the student overall in Sweden generally refer to them as ovve which translates to "ovvie" in English. Being commonly used by wearers, this term is not generally recognized by the common man.

About the Author

Himfr is a scholar, focusing his research on Chinese cultures. If you are interested in purchasing China goods, please visit www.himfr.com

Simplicity 5268 Nurse Sew Pattern Uniform Zipper Front Size 12 / 34 Pockets $8.99

Lot 2 designer patterns BAGS PURSES TOTE~ flamenco look, zippered pockets~ uncut $8.99

Misses Lined Coat Belt Totes Sewing Pattern Concealed Button Zipper Pockets 5767 $7.93

KWIK-SEW 2543 PATTERN BOY PANTS SHORTS CARGO POCKET FLY ZIPPER CAMPING 4-7 UNCUT $5.50

#6 Pocket Particulars $29.95 Power Sewing Skill Series: #6 Pocket ParticularsLearn all about: * Pockets with a flap * Invisibly stitched lined patch pocket * Welt pockets with and without a zipper * Jean pockets * Trouser pockets with a pant front stayThis product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply....

PRESTIGETM Carry-All Soft-Sided Art Portfolios for 23 x 31 $41.10 Constructed from lightweight, black, water-resistant nylon, this soft art portfolio keeps important projects safe and organized. Wire-sewn frame helps the portfolio to keep its shape. Inside is a zippered pouch to hold smaller objects, as well as a pocket for keeping artwork and papers safe and easily accessible. An elastic cross strap inside holds larger projects securely in place. The 3" gusset...

Carrying Case $59.95 Large Case: Zippered top. A strong metal telescoping and locking handle. 2 easy-glide dual wheels and two foot rests. Outer overall dimensions are 18.75"W x 13"D x 17"H. One large zippered front pocket. Four heavy duty pouch pockets (2 per side) for sewing machine accessories, to avoid scratching. Two very strong lifting-handles allow you to easily take your machine in and out of the car. Padded s...

Tutto Embroidery Bag - 19 X 17 X 6 Inches Embroidery bag, now your embroidery unit can have a special tutto case to coordinate with machine on wheels and Serger bags, each sold separately. This case can easily hold the embroidery unit, hoops, fabric, computer supplies sewing notions and more! The frame is solid and the interior is well padded with compartments. It stacks with the Machine on wheels bags and features a removable shoulder st...