Arthur Pants as Jeans

My most frequently pinned piece of style inspiration on Pinterest is probably some form of super oversized cuffed jeans with a white linen shirt. There is something about the simplicity of it – the “effortless but put together” vibe – that always makes me think: THAT is how I want to look.

Yet, in neither my sewing or RTW life, have I ever come across a pair of oversized jeans in my size that actually created the look that I wanted.

I actually kind of had the idea of oversized-wonder-jeans in mind when I made light-coloured Morgan Jeans a couple of years ago now, but they were nowhere near wide enough and basically totally the wrong shape. You can tell I’m not a huge jeans-wearer. I’d always thought of boyfriend jeans as just being loose-fitting jeans. Yeah, not exactly. So that project did not deliver the results I had hoped and, in any event, they don’t even come close to fitting me anymore.

Then I had the light bulb moment of wondering whether I could use the Arthur Pants by Sew Liberated to achieve the desired look. After all, I’ve already made three pairs: why not another! (You can read about those versions here and here– I wonder how many times I will end up featuring these pants on the blog!!)

I went into this project knowing that denim went somewhat beyond the recommended fabrics for the Arthur Pants. I knew this sewing project would either end up wonderfully or terribly.

Luckily, this time around, it all worked out and I freakin’ love these huge pants!!

My Arthur Pants Jeans

My Arthur Pants, like my previous pairs, are a size 14. This is a size down from the size recommended for my body measurements and I just adjust the back elastic to make sure they fit.

Yes, elastic. Jeans with elastic.

Enough said!!

This denim is 10oz washed denim in the chambray color from Meter Meter.

To try to make the shape of the Arthur Pants more wide-legged and slightly less “balloon” shaped for present purposes, I lengthened them 8 inches at the lengthen/shorten here line and then took that same amount off of the bottom of the pant leg. This creates a much straighter exaggerated wide leg.

While the overall look is just what I want, a couple of words of warning for anyone embarking on a similar endeavour. These legs are WIDE. As in, pay close attention climbing stairs and riding bicycles as you never know where they could get stuck level of WIDE. Honestly, these feel so huge that if I one day found them getting stuck on a door handle, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised.

The other thing is that when I altered the leg shape, I should have still tapered a little bit at the bottom of the leg in order to make it easier to create the hem and cuff. I didn’t have the foresight to do so and I definitely have a lot of fabric going on in this cuff.

Still managed to get there, just about!

The other modifications that I made to create a more “jeans” look were playing around a bit with the back pocket shape and adding belt loops. I wish I had altered the waistband so that the button is in the centre like traditional jeans, as I feel the off-centre look of the Arthur Pants is a bit odd for jeans.

The only other thing I would note when making the Arthur Pants in a heavier fabric, compared to my versions in drapier fabrics, is that I narrowed the leg at the side seams after first trying it on – as there was just too much fabric going on! From just after the pocket all the way down the length of the leg, I narrowed the leg shape about an inch at each side seam.

Arthur Pants Review

I really don’t have much else to say about the Arthur Pants.

After four versions, it’s pretty clear I’m a fan!!

If I had to nit-pick-or-die, one little thing that struck me this time around is that the finishing of the insides of the Arthur Pants is immaculate – flat-felled or French seams just about everywhere.

Except the fly and fly extension edges, which are simply overlocked!

This seems a little like it is letting down the side. Instead, using bias binding to finish these would really elevate the finishing to the same level as elsewhere!

The Arthur Pants are a real TNT for me, so I don’t have much new to add. I guess I’m just going to swan about effortlessly by a window in my ginormous elasticized jeans for a while! Wearing a coordinating hat which is obviously necessary to protect me from all those dastardly sun rays inside the house!

Yes, I am fully aware of my level of ridiculousness and embracing it nonetheless!

If you want to see more of my sewing adventures, you can find me on Instagram here.

2 thoughts on “Arthur Pants as Jeans

  1. You’re totally trending! I saw something on Anthropologie the other day that also uses the balloon-leg silhouette and the front-leg flat fell seaming. Your interpretation looks even more spring-fresh. https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/closed-bella-ultra-high-rise-pleated-trouser-jeans?category=SHOPBYBRAND&color=092&type=STANDARD&quantity=1

    Plus, yours have elastic in the back so you’re totally winning! 😄

    I’ve tried to achieve a similar jean-trouser look using the Flint pattern in the past (https://www.instagram.com/p/CBTczsyla0F/?igshid=c2ka8hnf6xam) but think the lack of a fly front really lets it down!

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