# Can I make my own "designer" jeans? Should I try? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298 "2013-03-07T16:50:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/21 "2013-03-07T23:08:47Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’m not really much of a seamstress. Also, I’m a dude, so nothing too fancy. No Hello Kitty embroidery. Oops. Pardon my boo-boo. I live in a world where few men sew. And then it’s something to do with camping or hunting. But I continue to encourage my husband to give it a try and am almost certain he’d enjoy it if he tried. And, yes, never Hello Kitty. Never. Sewing tailored jeans would be a challenge for anyone who didnt have more than a modicum of experience, I think. But I like St. Germain’s suggestion. Ps. The studs I was talking about were those little round copper circles you use to rivet the corners of pockets to make the jeans look professional, not the dawg collar thingies. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/22 "2013-03-08T12:54:43Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > What I end up with is something baggy that looks like I just took a dump in my pants Well, when circumstances lead to you actually taking a dump in your pants, that bagginess will be a lifesaver. I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/23 "2013-03-08T14:58:18Z")
> [@Tethered\_Kite](#): > > Ps. The studs I was talking about were those little round copper circles you use to rivet the corners of pockets to make the jeans look professional, not the dawg collar thingies. When I say studs I was thinking of something like [this](http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/us/en/zara-nam-S2013/368001/1048639/JEANS%20WITH%20STUDDED%20POCKET). I don’t know if I can get away with something like that without coming off as a douchebag, though. It goes very much against the grain of what I’ve always done in the past. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/24 "2013-03-08T15:18:23Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I had a good experience with [makeyourownjeans.com](http://makeyourownjeans.com). I kept it pretty basic, though. I was looking at that before I started this thread. I don’t know where to begin. It’s like a different language. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/25 "2013-03-08T18:56:37Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] When I say studs I was thinking of something like [this](http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/us/en/zara-nam-S2013/368001/1048639/JEANS%20WITH%20STUDDED%20POCKET). I don’t know if I can get away with something like that without coming off as a douchebag, though. It goes very much against the grain of what I’ve always done in the past. [/QUOTE] If you’re older than 20 or so, it looks stupid. As for making your own jeans, you really need to get some experience with garment construction and practice, practice, practice things like making sure your topstitching is perfectly parallel to itself and the seam. Nothing screams “I made this myself!” like poor stitching. Also, you need a sewing machine that’s mechanically up to the challenge. That nexus of seams in the crotch can get seriously thick with all the layers of fabric. I used to make leather motorcycle pants for a living. There’s just no way I’d ever advise someone to make a pair of pants in denim or leather as their first effort. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/26 "2013-03-08T19:08:09Z")
Start out making sackcloth clothing; you gotta work up to denim. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/27 "2013-03-08T20:06:30Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I was looking at that before I started this thread. I don’t know where to begin. It’s like a different language. Sorry, meant to respond to this earlier. They give directions on the site for you to do your measurements. I already had a pair of jeans that fit pretty well, and I measured against those too. Probably the hardest part was choosing the fabric; I got the heaviest weight that still had some stretch to it, and it turned out fine. If I had to do it over again, I would want the rise to be higher, but for the approximately seventy bucks I paid, they’re a good pair of jeans, and Yay! I didn’t have to try on a zillion pairs in a store. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/28 "2013-03-09T16:37:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Start out making sackcloth clothing; you gotta work up to denim. Republican voter? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/29 "2013-03-09T17:01:19Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I was looking at that before I started this thread. I don’t know where to begin. It’s like a different language. You’de have to learn what all those things mean to make your own jeans anyway. Denimn is a pretty tough fabric to work with, and it’s hard on machines and uses up needles. Pants are a pretty tricky item for a beginner sewer. Do you know how to do a flat-fell seam? Have you ever made a broadcloth cotton shirt with an inset sleeve? Come back when you can do those two things well, and understand that making jeans well is harder. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/30 "2013-03-09T22:11:44Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > If you’re older than 20 or so, it looks stupid. I’d say they’d look stupid if you’re younger than 20 as well. Seriously, **tdn** , do NOT wear anything like those. Not unless you want to burn in fashion hell. Goes for the rest of you too. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/31 "2013-03-11T13:21:30Z")
I ended going to Armani yesterday. I must have tried on a dozen pair. I’ll have a friend check them out tonight. If she approves, I’ll get them taylored. If not, they’re going back. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/32 "2013-03-11T14:33:37Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I ended going to Armani yesterday. I must have tried on a dozen pair. I’ll have a friend check them out tonight. If she approves, I’ll get them taylored. If not, they’re going back. If you’re going to spend that much money on something, you might as well know how the rest of us spell it: It’s ‘tailored’. No ‘y’. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298/33 "2013-03-11T15:26:30Z")
D’oh! I should have payed more attention to my spelling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-designer-jeans-should-i-try/652298.md?page=1)