The Holy Grail - Part Eight

Finally Getting Started!

Today I finally got the jeans cut out, did some experimenting and got started sewing them together.  The reason for this is that I took a day off to take the children hiking (pictures and info in the Parting Shot).  While the White Mountains are not the biggest mountain range in the US, they do have some nasty and often unpredictable weather, even in summer.  Since I am responsible for not only getting myself to and from a summit, but also my two children, I have watch the weather reports closely and when there's a good day, we'll go hiking.  I also had to hike yesterday because I want to give my legs two day's rest before running a 5K race on Saturday morning.  Anyway . . . back to the jeans.

I've decided that on any straight seams that need double topstitching, that I am going to stitch the seams, then use my coverstitch to topstitch on the outside and finish on the inside.  I think this will be quicker and less bulky than stitching, serging and then topstitching.  The sample looks good:

I have discovered, from experience, that this method does not work well on curves, such as the front pocket edge, but since it is such a small area, I'll just do two passes of topstitching on the regular machine.  I'm pretty happy with the results so far on the back yokes:

I've also done a little experimenting with the lining for the front pockets.  I did not want to line in white as there will be white pocket show through.  After a little experimenting with white, pale pink, and tea dyed muslin, even my son had to agree that from a distance he couldn't see the tea dyed muslin pocket outline.  At close up range, he could barely find the pocket edge.  Good enough!  So far, I've got one pocket almost constructed and it will take less than 30 minutes to do the other one.  That first one always takes longer, doesn't it?  Once you have something figured out, the second one always goes quicker. 

To have less bulk at the hip/pocket area, I only used a partial piece of white twill, coverstitched from the wrong side - after basting on the right side for a guideline and pin free experience.  This will help keep the edges from fraying too much and keep the whole thing much less bulky than turning under the edge and topstitching.  This is how many RTW jeans are constructed - take a look inside those pockets!  Here's the inside of the pocket and you can see the tea dyed muslin pocket bags in this photo:

Tomorrow I hope to get the pockets finished and the zipper installed, and work on SFB, of course.

Parting Shots:  Mt. Jackson, 4052ft.  We hiked Mt. Jackson yesterday.  It was a 5.2 mile round trip hike with a 2150ft elevation gain, not too long for the children.  It was a beautiful day with views in all directions - we could even see the snow fields still on the Presidential Range. 

At the summit with my son:

Mt. Washington (6288ft.) - highest peak in the Whites and home to some of the world's worst weather.  In the winter, some people train for Mt. Everest there.  Notice there are still snow fields, even in early June. 

The view across Crawford Notch to Mts.Willey and Field:

My daughter at the trail junction sign at the summit: