Plaid Jedediah Ugly Pants That Are a Fail and a Hit!

The last two projects I made for my husband, DD, didn’t come out as planned (here and here). The fit was way off and I was very disappointed in myself. I thought switching to a different pattern company may help, especially one that focuses on menswear. So I turned to Thread Theory for his next gift… the Jedediah Pants!

Now before you send me to an institution for making him something in this not-so-fashionable plaid fabric, let me explain. When DD was in graduate school, he and his friends and nephews wanted to be Braveheart characters for Halloween. They bought a whole roll of this fabric at a home decor fabric store for super cheap. His sister (who is also awesomely crafty) made them all matching kilts from it. Here’s a pic!

Fast forward to a couple of years ago when she gave me the rest of the bolt to do as I pleased. (Thanks, SL!)

I figured I could use it for muslin fabric, but DD wanted me to make him pants. I warned him that they would be kinda weird looking, but he knew what he wanted. I paired it with the Jedediah pattern and I thought if the pattern didn’t work out too well, then it wouldn’t be much of a loss since I have a ton more of this fabric.

Turns out the Jedediahs aren’t too bad! I took his measurements and he was in between sizes, so I cut the smaller size and figured I could sew it with a smaller seam allowance. I did and everything turned out great except… the waist was too small! (I blame our late fall/early winter eating-out binge on that and we have since gotten on the right path and are now eating home-cooked meals packed with veggies!)

Anyway, I definitely needed to move the button over to give him more room since he was wearing them unbuttoned with a belt, which I was nervous about when he wore them in public!

It’s wayyy over there and as you may see, I had a little trouble with the fly front installation. The zipper peeks out a bit but I’m hoping no one will be looking at DD’s crotch that closely to notice. #fail

I didn’t have to spend any extra money (except for more thread) for this project, which is great! I used a button and zipper from a pair of DD’s old blown-out work pants.

I didn’t bother trying to match the plaid on the back pockets. It would have been way too much work!

Getting “creative” with poses

Hmmm looks like I also didn’t bother to match the yoke pieces, either. Whatever! The plaid matches across the front and I think that’s plenty good enough. 🙂

I used a red quilting cotton from my stash for the pockets. It was seriously the only thing that looked somewhat decent with this fabric. DD has a good time showing people his crazy red pockets, though.

So far these Jedediahs made it out to our Home Brew Club’s Christmas party and one day at work. DD was so excited about his plaid pants that he pronounced one Friday “Plaid Friday” in the office for management. Only he and I showed up in plaid that day (I wore my plaid flannel Granville), but the supervisors were freaking out over his pants and one even wished everyone a “Happy Plaid Friday” over the intercom. Needless to say, next time DD calls for a Plaid Friday, more people will participate, LOL!

And even though these are ugly, I’m itching to make myself a matching pair with the True Bias Lander Pants pattern. I think the retro cut will do this fabric major justice.

So I filed this under “Fail February” because they aren’t perfect and they’re a little out there, but overall they’re not a complete fail and now I know to size up for the next and more normal pair of Jedediahs!

Have you made anything wacky for your significant other? I’ll always remember Jamie’s Christmas Cat Shirt she made for her husband – go check it out, lol!

-RED